Overview
In lush, rural France, a family matriarch unravels the web of lies that stands in for her past...
At ninety-five years old, Philomène still feels ashamed. A summer surrounded by three generations of her beloved progeny would be perfect bliss, if she wasn’t worried that at any moment she might expose the truth—that the woman her daughters have spent their entire lives looking up to is a liar.
Philomène was not the brave war widow of a communist in her youth, not a revolutionary in World War II era France, but a distressed teenage prostitute, willing to do anything to survive the Nazi occupation. As death lurks on the horizon, Philomène dives back into her memories, from childhood in Nantes to childbirth in Paris, and questions whether she can ever truly be forgiven.
Poignant, wistful, and quietly defiant, Philomène examines the unreliability of memory, the dubious proposition of measuring guilt, and the strength in finding happiness even after losing everything.
At ninety-five years old, Philomène still feels ashamed. A summer surrounded by three generations of her beloved progeny would be perfect bliss, if she wasn’t worried that at any moment she might expose the truth—that the woman her daughters have spent their entire lives looking up to is a liar.
Philomène was not the brave war widow of a communist in her youth, not a revolutionary in World War II era France, but a distressed teenage prostitute, willing to do anything to survive the Nazi occupation. As death lurks on the horizon, Philomène dives back into her memories, from childhood in Nantes to childbirth in Paris, and questions whether she can ever truly be forgiven.
Poignant, wistful, and quietly defiant, Philomène examines the unreliability of memory, the dubious proposition of measuring guilt, and the strength in finding happiness even after losing everything.
While major retailers like Amazon may carry Philomene, we specialize in bulk book sales and offer personalized service from our friendly, book-smart team based in Portland, Oregon. We’re proud to offer a Price Match Guarantee and a streamlined ordering experience from people who truly care.
We’re trusted by over 75,000 customers, many of whom return time and again. Want proof? Just check out our 25,000+ customer reviews—real feedback from people who love how we do business.
Prefer to talk to a real person? Our Book Specialists are here Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST and ready to help with your bulk order of Philomene.