AUDIO

The Perfume Thief

by Timothy Schaffert
Books on Tape. Aug. 2021. 14:37 hrs. ISBN 9780593408162. $95. F
COPY ISBN
Schaffert’s (The Swan Gondola) sensuous historical novel, set in Nazi-occupied Paris, stars 72-year-old con artist and perfumer Clementine, who has been asked by a chanteuse to steal a book of perfume formulas. What happens next unwinds a complicated series of memories rich in atmosphere and perfume arcana. Gabrielle de Cuir enlivens Clementine’s first-person present-tense voice, bringing a perfect sense of accents and language to her forceful yet nuanced narration of the audiobook. Of particular interest is Schaffert’s author’s note on some of the more recherché aspects of the tale (subcutaneous perfume injections; butterfly essences; books describing exotic scent lore).
VERDICT Recommended for those with a literary bent, a love of Paris, and an interest in perfumery or World War II.
Reviewed by David Faucheux, Lafayette, LA , Jan 01, 2022
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