The Foreign Student: A NovelA #1 bestseller in France, this is a nostalgic portrait of a French scholarship student’s discovery of America during the academic year of 1954–1955. I wanted to fit in. I wanted to be American, like any ordinary student, because I figured that was my only chance to survive the immense loneliness looming ahead of me. I was elated to be there, in that remote Virginia alley, on that college campus. I was elated because back there, far away in France, my brothers would never experience this. And the school friends I left behind—they too were missing out on this tremendous adventure. Soon the young freshman becomes seduced by American culture and the popular icons of the mid-fifties: Jack Kerouac, Elvis Presley, James Dean, Fats Domino . . . a green Buick convertible, drive-in movies, and pretty Grace Kelly lookalikes in tight cardigans. Praise for The Foreign Student “One of those books that is beyond criticism . . . a vivid portrait of life, American style.”—L’Express “A love affair with America . . . told with precision, clarity, and warmth.”—France-Soir “A Sentimental Education of the American South.”—Lu “A grand risk, successfully realized . . . F. Scott Fitzgerald, French style. A splendid novel about a fragile, fugitive era.”—Magazine Litteraire “The freshness of a first novel combined with nuanced reporting.”—Le Monde |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Abby afternoon anymore April asked Baldridge barracks beautiful Big Jim McLain blue boys Buck's Buick Cal Cate Cal's called campus Charlottesville dangerous girl dark door dorm Dorsey Brothers dress drove Elizabeth empty everything eyes face Fats Domino feeling felt Ford fraternity houses French French toast friends front Genoa girl going gray fox hair hand happened head heard jacket Johnny kids kiss knew laughed lawn Lefty Frizzell legs lips looked Moacyr Scliar morning mother never night Old Zach pink playing putrid radio seemed Shenandoah Valley silent smile Spring Dance stopped suddenly sure Sweet Briar Sweet Briar College talk tell Tender Trap There's thing thought told took town trying turned voice waiting walked wanted William Heyen words wore young