CURIOSITE

Curiosity

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The dark shape of the Überwintern house appears against an ill-defined landscape covered in snow. Überwintern, the Count of Furbach's house, is like a labyrinth through which the voice of Ariane, the count's keeper, guides us, leading us closer to the place's secrets. From the lavish evening party offered by the sinister master of the house to memories of a silent life unraveling against a backdrop of domestic violence, Ariane not only recounts what she has observed but draws a self-portrait at the same time - the portrait of a remarkable woman, who tries to put an end to the schemes of a man whose hidden motivations she thinks she knows better than anyone else.
Yet the count whose numerous marriages feed the local gossip, giving rise to a growing fascination, does not choose the woman he was expected to elect. Will this one also give into curiosity and open the forbidden door, or will she manage to break the circle of violence and establish a new rule of respect and trust?
A reworking of the Bluebeard tale, Curiosity combines fairy tale and reality, dream and nightmare, offering an unusual and enthralling reading experience. It is also a profound reflection on the question of desire, enslavement, and the need to free oneself.

Anne Terral was born in Toulouse in 1970. She is the author of two novels published by Stock, Après (2001) and Dans la nuit des autres (2003). She is also an editor of illustrated books.