Lovers under glass

Genre(s):
• Novella
• Magical realism

Keywords:
• Love
• Fine arts
• Popular art
• Youth and aging
• Switching bodies

Audience: suitable for all audiences, adolescents + adults; fans of fantasy genres

Right sold abroad: /

Concept

When two slightly crooked second-hand dealers spend the night in a retired couple’s home, their hosts steal their bodies for the night.

Universe and references

• Magical realism and Jean Ray’s works
• Film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
• The world of antique and second-hand goods dealers
• The author was awarded the Renaudot prize and the Goncourt for short stories

Pitch

This antique fair is one of the most popular in the world. It would be odd if Golo, a second-hand dealer, didn’t come across a golden opportunity. To be completely honest, his small business could really use it.

He joins up with the beautiful Stella to track down the diamond in the rough. And just like that, bingo! Golo can’t believe their luck! Stella’s every desire seems to materialize. They even miraculously find a room staying with a retired couple.

But in the dark of the night, the bodies switch owners… Have Golo and Stella been tricked by someone who is more cunning than they are?

Author

Georges-Olivier Châteaureynaud, who was born in Paris in 1947, writes short stories and novels. He received the Renaudot award in 1982 for The University of Dreams and now is one of the Renaudot award’s jury members. He has served as president for the “Société des Gens de Lettres de France,” a writers’ association in France that represents all aspects of the profession.

At a glance

• Short story
• Word count: 57,000 characters including spaces
• Available material in English: this presentation (including an overview of the work’s characteristics) and a translated excerpt