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Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
 
 
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Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (Paperback)

by Patrick Suskind (Author) "In eighteenth-century France there lived a man who was one of the most gifted and abominable personages in an era that knew no lack of..." (more)
3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin; Film tie-in edition edition (30 Nov 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0141029048
  • ISBN-13: 978-0141029047
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 87,266 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #9 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > S > Suskind, Patrick

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Product Description

Book Description
The internationally bestselling tale of murder and obsession.

Product Description
Survivor, genius, perfumer, killer: this is Jean-Baptiste Grenouille. He is abandoned on the filthy streets of Paris as a child, but grows up to discover he has an extraordinary gift: a sense of smell more powerful than any other human’s. Soon, he is creating the most sublime fragrances in all the city. Yet there is one odour he cannot capture. It is exquisite, magical: the scent of a young virgin. And to get it he must kill. And kill. And kill…

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Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
In eighteenth-century France there lived a man who was one of the most gifted and abominable personages in an era that knew no lack of gifted and abominable personages. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
49% buy the item featured on this page:
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer 3.7 out of 5 stars (20)
£7.19
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (International Writers)
33% buy
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Perfume (Penguin Modern Classics)
8% buy
Perfume (Penguin Modern Classics) 4.0 out of 5 stars (3)
£6.99
Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer [DVD] [2006]
6% buy
Perfume - The Story Of A Murderer [DVD] [2006] 3.3 out of 5 stars (75)
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Customer Reviews

20 Reviews
5 star:
 (8)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:
 (4)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (20 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic romp through an odorous landscape, 5 Mar 2007
By A Common Reader "See all mybook reviews at ww... (Sussex, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)      
I came to this book expecting to find crime novel, or a thriller, about a serial killer. Instead I found a beautifully written and deeply researched novel about a young Frenchman with an unusual sense of smell and a unique gift for the art of the perfumier. In fact, the murders of young girls, so emphasised in the film, take second place to the marvellous descriptions of how perfume is made, and the way in which Grenouille gradually infiltrates the profession, becoming a master perfumier due to his prodigious gifts.

The story starts in 18th century Paris, and Suskind treats us to a vivid word picture of the terrible conditions its poorer residents had to live in, and the vast range of vile aromas surrounding them (and emanating from them!). We read of Grenouille rise from foundling to journeyman, and his obsession with creating the ultimate perfume - the very essence of a young virgin (OK, so there are murders in this book after all).

Grenouille eventually has to flee south, and resides for a period in a cave in the volcanic region of the Auvergne, eventually emerging to resume his career in the centre of the perfume trade in the South of France. Here he makes a huge impact on the people he lives among due to his fantastic gifts, and towards the end of the novel, he commits further murders in pursuit of "essence of virgin". The novel takes a final departure from reality at this stage, as the townsfolk who have assembled to see the perpertrator executed (in a vilely imaginative way), are overcome with a perfume which drives them into a long-lasting sensual orgy.

This is a book for those who can revel in word-pictures and can let their imagination take-off under the spell of this excellent author. They will find they can hardly put the book down, while those of a more literal and logical turn of mind may find it just too unbelievable and perhaps a little too wordy.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars an imaginative scent of horror, 10 Dec 2006
A book that brings Paris in the 18th century alive. The main character Grenouille's early childhood of deprivation and his youth invoke the empathy of the reader. I followed his tale with a sense of comedy that seemed to dwell in the undertones of the book.
The resulting saga of murder, when if happens seems unreal. I could almost sympathise with his plight, but then that is the genius of this book. The ensuing horror is only made worse by my guilt at my original compassion .
A rare book, brilliantly told, that is beguiling and yet utterly horrific.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars BIzarre and compelling, 3 Mar 2007
A compelling study of obsession, this is beautifully and evocatively written. The author has an outstanding talent for describing odours and how they affect Jean-Baptiste Grenouille - and how his lack of a personal odour affects those he meets.
A truly horrifying story which will remain with you long after you finish the book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The scent of ... greatness
I remember first stumbling on Peter Susskind's Perfume by chance over a decade ago as a teenager. I started reading it and could not put it down, staying up the whole night to... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ugochukwu C. Dibia

2.0 out of 5 stars Literary Marmite
It's been such a long time since I found a book that I could not pick up, but Perfume certainly reset the clock. Firstly, the good bits - the writing is like artwork. Read more
Published 6 months ago by S. S. Turner

1.0 out of 5 stars murder your darlings
I came late to this book. On first publication it was widely acclaimed by the 'in' crowd as a brilliant novel. Which it is not. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Jayne M. Turner

2.0 out of 5 stars It stinks
What surprises me about some of the other reviews for this book is praise for the prose.

Whether the blame lies with Suskind or his translator I am unsure, but I... Read more
Published 8 months ago by S. Pollard

3.0 out of 5 stars Partial Beauty. (SPOILERS)
It is rare for me to say I preferred the film to a book.
However, in the case of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, I clearly admit to preferring the movie adaptation. Read more
Published 12 months ago by A. Coulter

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written
This is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. It looses nothing in the translation...
Published 15 months ago by ellevee

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite books
This book is truly unique. It was hard to get into but once you get used to the style of writing you cannot put it down. Read more
Published 15 months ago by T. Young

4.0 out of 5 stars Random but unique tale
A totally obscure topic; bizarre, but absorbing.
The story follows a nobody, with a remarkable sense of smell, who is prepared to do whatever it takes to become somebody... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Miss Paperback Rider

4.0 out of 5 stars Grubby and unique
This certainly isn't a novel for everyone - it has some slow (but always beautifully written) bits. However, the writing is incredibly evocative, from utter filth to shining... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Erisia

2.0 out of 5 stars Clearly popular, but not for me
"Perfume" is one of those novels that really is 'novel' in that it has chosen a subject unexplored by other authors. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Rusty

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