Fresh Water for Flowers: OVER 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD

*A NUMBER 1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER*A TLS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021: Beautifully written and compelling to read.”“An appealing indulgence in nature food and drink and above all friendships.”―The Guardian Violette Toussaint is the caretaker at a cemetery in a small town in Bourgogne. Her daily life is lived to the rhythms of the hilarious and touching confidences of random visitors and her colleagues―three gravediggers three groundskeepers and a priest.Violette’s routine is disrupted one day by the arrival of police chief Julien Seul wishing to deposit his mother’s ashes on the gravesite of a complete stranger. Julien is not the only one to guard a painful secret: his mother’s story of clandestine love breaks through Violette’s carefully constructed defences to reveal the tragic loss of her daughter and her steely determination to find out who is responsible.  The funny moving intimately told story of a woman who believes obstinately in happiness Fresh Water for Flowers brings out the exceptional and the poetic in the ordinary. A delightful atmospheric absorbing tale. What readers are saying: “Id read this book over and over again” “One of those books that you don’t want to end” “Absolutely amazing story” “This is one of the BEST BOOKS EVER WRITTEN!” “A really moving story of hope love and determination” “this is one of the most life-affirming books I have read” Review “A beautiful intensely atmospheric bittersweet dream of a book.” ―Matt Haig“Valerie Perrin’s delightful Fresh Water for Flowers is a funny and moving story of one woman’s belief that everything will turn out right.” ―StylistThe story fluctuates between extremes with stylish elegance. It is melancholic and yet ebullient...What may on the surface of it appear gloomy and morose in Perrins hands is an appealing indulgence in nature food and drink and above all friendships. ―The Guardian“A tender and poignant exploration of love loss and redemption.” ―Publishers Weekly“A triumphant celebration of life and love.” ―ForeWord Reviews“Breathtaking.” ―Unidivers“A bad bad bad case of love at first read. This is a splendid moving book.” ―Cest au programma“An insightful novel a book whose droll and endearing characters will bring you from tears to laughter.” -- Michel Bussi“The balance between laughter and tears is spot on.” ―Lire“Thundering applause. And believe us the word ‘thunder’ is not too strong.” ―La Marseillese“A million seller in its native France Perrin’s novel sees the world through the eyes of Violette a cemetery caretaker and the people who pass through her care living and dead with their stories and secrets.” ―The New European“This book is exquisitely composed and utterly devastating in places packed with meaningful meditations on life death and love and may leave you longing to adopt some of Violette’s considered routines - while also hoping to avoid the heartbreak which led her to this more thoughtful way of life... place this right at the top of your wishlist.” ―Cambridge Edition Magazine“This is a novel set in a place of death but Violette makes it a place of life hope and memory.” ―The Book Trail About the Author Valérie Perrin is a photographer and screenwriter who works with Claude Lelouch. Her first novel Les Oubliés du Dimanche won numerous prizes including the 2016 Lire Élire and Poulet-Malassis. Fresh Water for Flowers is her first novel to be translated into English and an international sensation.Hildegarde Serle graduated in French from Oxford University. After working as a newspaper subeditor in London for many years she obtained the Chartered Institute of Linguists Diploma in Translation. She is the translator of A Winter’s Promise and The Missing of Clairdelune.