The First Line

A sharp, witty send-up of the literary world, set in the world of book publishing--a must-read for anyone who’s ever dreamt of (or dreaded) getting published.

Cyril Cordouan is the beleaguered editor at Fulmen, a distinguished publishing house known for its solid but not particularly popular literary titles. Every day, Cyril faces an avalanche of subpar manuscripts, struggling to find a glimmer of quality amid the piles of drivel. Rejections are a routine part of his job, but aspiring authors don’t take kindly to their works being dismissed, and one distraught writer tragically ends his life after his manuscript is declined.

Devastated, Cyril decides to create an outlet for these rejected writers. Can group therapy for the hopelessly hopeful cure Cyril’s woes? Not quite. Between vengeful widows, surprise bestsellers, and a crippling crisis of conscience, Cyril’s life is a hilarious disaster.

With sharp wit and keen insight, Laclavetine, himself an industry insider, offers a satirical look at the literary world along with thought-provoking commentary on the nature of literary ambition, rejection, and the often ridiculous realities of the publishing industry.

Jean-Marie Laclavetine is a French author, editor, and translator. While known for his own novels, he has also translated Italian literature into French, bringing works by authors like Alberto Moravia and Leonardo Sciascia to French audiences. Teresa Lavender Fagan is a freelance translator living in Chicago. She has published nearly fifty translations, including works by J. M. G. Le Clézio, Roland Barthes, Tzvetan Todorov, Diane Meur, Vénus Khoury-Ghata, and Florence Noiville, among others.