9781784704100 Paris Echo Sebastian Faulks

“Paris Echo” by Sebastian Faulks

Sebastian Faulks who will always be best known for “Birdsong” his WW1 novel that made his name has war-time Paris as part of the theme of this story based in modern times with accounts of civilian memories of the Nazi occupation authentically adding to the main experiences of the two principal characters in the French capital in the current decade.

The reader first meets Tariq a nineteen year old Moroccan boy, who is not that interested in his studies, his fellow student Laila is his girlfriend. He foresakes his home comforts for an unplanned trip to Paris, not telling either his father or Laila of his intentions. He travels to France meeting a girl, Sandrine en route with whom he hitches a lift to Paris, where they both end up sleeping rough. Paris is not what Tariq had imagined from the films, or as the home town of his late mother.

In alternating chapters American history academic, Hannah, is returning to Paris where a decade earlier she studied for a year during her college days to do research for a section of her Professor’s book. Her interest is in the war-time experiences of local girls during the occupation by the Nazis. Some of these have been recorded for prosperity and Hannah has access to them.

Faulks offers us the experiences of Mathilde and Juliette. He has obviously enjoyed constructing these histories, and as a sub-plot they add that extra angle, and atmosphere to this tale.

Faulks other offering is his knowledge of Paris and the Metro and the book, particularly Tariq’s chapters are sprinkled with references to the Metro system, and journeys he undertakes. Even an old puppeteer, called Victor Hugo which again adds another dimension to Tariq’s account, as do his two work colleagues. Good characterisations.

The two main characters meet after Hannah rescues a sickly Sandrine from the streets, and gives her a bed then allows Tariq to stay. The story then follows each of their lives in Paris. Tariq with a job in a food outlet, Hannah pursuing her research, with Tariq helping her with translations.

How their lives evolve makes for an enjoyable read. Faulks writes well particularly when he bases his books in France, equally his Morocco is convincing as well. This is a good novel, with much more within the story than the blurb shows. It is about relationships, and observations, filtering through history and memories.