This beautiful softcover edition is in fine condition, with no marks or tears and only minimal shelf wear. The pages are tight, appear unread, and the book is tight, square, and unmarked. The novel is set in a luxurious apartment building at 7 Rue de Grenelle in Paris, itl follows the lives of two seemingly disparate characters: Renée Michel, a discreetly intellectual concierge, and Paloma Josse, a precocious and disillusioned twelve-year-old. Both hide their true selves to escape the rigid social expectations imposed upon them. Their lives change when Kakuro Ozu, a cultured and compassionate new tenant, moves into the building and perceives their hidden depths. The Elegance of the Hedgehog became an international bestseller and won the Prix des Libraires in 2007.