Unravelling secrets

Valérie Perrin's fourth novel, Tata, is set in France and follows the story of Agnes, a celebrated film director who receives a series of audio cassettes from her deceased aunt Colette. The tapes contain Colette's confessions of secrets from her past, leading Agnes to question the true nature of her aunt's life and death. As Agnes delves deeper into her aunt's life, she must navigate her own personal challenges, including her ex-husband, teenage daughter, and the potential danger from someone who Colette was trying to hide from.

The novel spans nearly 90 years, taking readers through various settings and historical events, from rural France to oppressive landowners, Nazi occupation, and circuses with abusive ringmasters. Despite the harsh realities faced by some characters, there is an undercurrent of hope and kindness throughout the story. The translation by Hildegarde Serle makes Tata feel like a well-crafted English-language novel set in France, rather than a work in translation.