Le Boulevard de la Solitude - John Malicorne

‘Le Boulevard de la Solitude’, a story of love and hate, is set in Paris in the1980s with its distinctive character – exhilarating, daunting. When Paul Mortimerarrives there, he is dazed by culture shock. Finding a job in a large company,he befriends a brilliant young director Rachel Cziffra who introduces him intoParisian society. Her husband, Fabrice, is a successful ‘high-tech’ businessmanand a future member of the French Parliament. Immensely rich, they live in the16th arrondissement, the so-called ‘Golden Triangle’, and own amagnificent chateau in Normandy. Yet,Fabrice’s fortune is based on corruption, and when he leaves Rachel for abeautiful Moldovan call-girl, he falls under the influence of a criminal gang. The ensuing divorce destroys them both. Eventually Rachel becomes the victim ofa murder attempt, disappears and is presumed dead. Paul is left searching forher. ‘Le Boulevard de la Solitude’ vividly captures the essence of Parisian society atthat time – from the ‘metro, work and sleep’ lives of commuters to thesplendour of the upper classes in the rich quarters. John Malicorne’scharacters exist in an illusionary world of hierarchies, codes and rituals - aprehistoric dreamtime tribe, harbouring an inner malaise.  Theplot plays out with the effervescent sordidness of Paris as a backdrop.