‘When Leon and Solange entered the church everyone was struck by the difference in height between them. Even though he was wearing heel inserts and held himself ramrod-straight, he still only came just above her shoulder. But no one was bothered by it ’ However, when their first child is born, Leon gradually shrinks by fifteen inches. This is repeated after their second child and his body - apart from one member - continues to shrink until he is little more than a Tom Thumb driving round the family apartment in a toy car
Pascal Bruckner’s novel is a delightful fantasy that can also be read as an impish contribution to the debate on feminism.