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Perfume

Perfume

The Story of a Murderer
By&
Psychological ThrillerThriller
Pages
263
Published
1985
Language
English

Synopsis

Born on a Paris fish market in 1738 and abandoned at birth, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille has no scent of his own, yet possesses the most extraordinary sense of smell the world has ever known. Growing up unloved and barely noticed in the stench of eighteenth-century France, he becomes apprenticed to a master perfumer and discovers his single consuming purpose: to capture and preserve the most exquisite scent imaginable.

That scent belongs to young women, and Grenouille's pursuit of the perfect perfume turns him from a strange, solitary genius into a cold and methodical murderer. From the tanneries of Paris to the flower fields of Grasse, he chases an obsession entirely untroubled by conscience.

Patrick Süskind's international bestseller is a dark and sensuous historical novel, part fable and part horror story, about genius, obsession, and a man without a soul. Hypnotic and unsettling, it remains one of the most original novels of the twentieth century.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

DarkAtmosphericGrittyCreepy
Villain Protagonist

Genres

Psychological Thriller Thriller Historical Fiction Crime Horror Literary Fiction Mystery Suspense Classics Magical Realism Dark Fantasy

About the author

P
Patrick Süskind

Patrick Süskind is a German writer and screenwriter, best known for his internationally acclaimed novel Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, first published in 1985. Süskind was born in Ambach am Starnberger See, near Munich in Germany. His father was writer and journalist Wilhelm Emanuel Süskind, who worked for the Süddeutsche Zeitung and is famous as the co-author of the well-known Aus dem Wörterbuch des Unmenschen (From the Dictionary of an Inhuman), a critical collection of essays on the lan...

Characters

Jean-Baptiste GrenouilleProtagonist

A scentless genius with a supernatural sense of smell, driven to murder in pursuit of the perfect perfume.

Giuseppe BaldiniSupporting

An aging Parisian perfumer who takes Grenouille as an apprentice.

Madame GaillardSupporting
Jeanne BussieSupporting
Father TerrierSupporting
All characters in Perfume

Frequently asked questions

  • Is Perfume based on a true story?

    While the story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is fictional, the author drew inspiration from the historical context of 18th-century France and the period's fascination with scent and hygiene. The novel also subtly references the real-life serial killer Manuel Blanco Romasanta, known as the Werewolf of Allariz, for elements of its dark narrative.

  • Is there a movie adaptation of Perfume?

    A film adaptation titled "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" was released in 2006. It stars Ben Whishaw as Jean-Baptiste Grenouille and features Dustin Hoffman and Alan Rickman in supporting roles.

  • What makes Perfume stand out from other historical fiction?

    The novel is unique for its immersive and detailed exploration of the sense of smell, making it a central narrative device and a character in itself. Süskind's prose vividly describes the olfactory world of 18th-century Paris, creating a sensory experience unlike most historical fiction.

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