Inside the world of the super-rich


Lydia and her husband spot an ad for a steward and housekeeper for an upmarket property in the land of the cicadas, the south of France. They decide to apply for the positions looking after the superb country house and serving its wealthy owners. 

And so Lydia enters the world of the super-rich. She works in several houses with various owners - who all share the same penchant for making outrageous demands: her life is one of long hours, obligatory uniform, slavish responses to a bell, contempt, neuroses, intrusive surveillance and insults... Lydia shows us what really goes on behind the castle walls, where the work of a housekeeper ressembles the 12 labours of Hercules.

Traps are set for Lydia like those in the fairy-tale "Le Petit Poucet": Madam hides a grain of rice under a rug, a cherry stone in a drawer and a cotton bud at the back of the dressing room and then accuses the housekeeper.

Danger is everywhere, for when Madame is not there, the other members of the household act as her zealous spies in the hope of currying favour with their employers. 

This is an intimate exposé that shares numerous anecdotes - astonishing, exasperating, even unthinkable experiences. The book speaks out to denounce these little-known archaic practices that are  virtually a form of modern slavery. 

Author: 

Lydia Lecher in 40 years old and was a housekeeper for over 10 years. Today, she has decided to reveal all. Doan Bui is a journalist for the magazine Le Nouvel Observateur. 

 

Publication date: February 2016 

Pages: 250

Rights available: world

 

CONTACTS
  • Michel Lafon Publishing
    118 avenue Achille Peretti
    CS 70024
    92521 Neuilly-sur-Seine Cedex
  • Honorine Dupuy d'Angeac
    Foreign Rights Manager
    contact
    +33 (0)1 41 43 09 79

ÉVÈNEMENTS

  • Du 17/03/2024 au 17/03/2024
    SALON DU LIVRE - LA SAUSSAYE

    Mathieu Pigné dédicacera son roman Royal Bourbon dans le cadre du 15e salon du livre de La Saussaye.

  • Du 16/03/2024 au 17/03/2024
    SALON LES AILES DU LIVRE - LONGWY
    Stéphane Galas dédicacera ses romans samedi et dimanche à l'Hôtel de ville.
  • Du 16/03/2024 au 16/03/2024
    LIBRAIRIE VAUBAN - MAUBEUGE

    Floriane Joseph dédicacera son roman Les vivants sont des rois de 14h à 18h.

  • Du 16/03/2024 au 16/03/2024
    LIBRAIRIE M'ENFIN - RENNES

    Sébastien Piquet dédicacera sa BD Vert de rage - Les enfants du plomb de 14h30 à 17h30.

  • Du 16/03/2024 au 17/03/2024
    SALON POLARLENS - LENS

    Alexis Laipsker et Céline Denjean seront présents samedi et dimanche à la Halle Bertinchamps.

PARUTIONS