An Astronomer in Love

By Antoine Laurain

LONGLISTED FOR THE DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD 2024

SHORLISTED FOR THE EDWARD STANFORD VIKING AWARD FOR FICTION 2024

'Perfect for the poolside or sitting outside a caféeacute; with a pastis and olives' The Times

Part swashbuckling adventure on the high seas and part modern-day love story set in the heart of Paris, An Astronomer in Love is an enchanting tale of adventure and the power of love from best-selling author Antoine Laurain.

In 1760, Guillaume le Gentil, real-life astronomer to King Louis XV, sets out for the oceans of India to document the transit of Venus. The weather is turbulent, the seas are rough and his quest may be more complicated than initially thought.

250 years later, estate agent Xavier Lemercier chances upon Guillaume's telescope in a property he's sold. As he looks out across the rooftops of Paris, he discovers an intriguing woman with a zebra in her apartment.

Then the woman walks through the doors of his office, and his life changes forever . . .


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Published Jun 27, 2023

288 pages

Average rating: 7.5

4 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

margardenlady
Dec 27, 2023
8/10 stars
Sly dual timeline book that focuses on a telescope, found abandoned in a cupboard. A realtor who is a slightly depressed divorced dad picks up the telescope and shows his son the stars, but while he is figuring out how it works, he sees the woman of his dreams on a balcony across the way. He meets her accidentally and falls in love, but there are complications. Meanwhile Laurain is also telling the story of the original owner of the telescope, Guillaume Le Gentil. Guillaume was an 18th century astronomer who traveled the world to witness the transit of Venus over the sun. Guillaume is a real person! And his exploits are well documented. The story itself is a sweet love story and a fascinating travelogue of the 18th century.

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