After years of studying France’s literary top brass – Baudelaire, Hugo, and Flaubert among others – it was a much different kind of storyteller who officially ushered me into expat life in Paris. Marc Levy, the most widely read French author in the world, is known for his narratives of impassioned love, searing loss and buoyant hope. As I initially struggled to navigate as an adopted Parisian and embrace an all-French lifestyle, his words proved as educational as they were edifying. His work, forever connected to this formative time in my life, was also a launchpad for discussion with French people I encountered – even my sister-in-law had his entire collection. His novels are ubiquitous because they’re so eminently relatable. And when you need a novel to be a source of comfort, you turn to Marc.

With thirteen #1 bestsellers in France, printed translations in 45 languages and several big-screen adaptations of his work (Just Like Heaven with Reese Witherspoon, for one) since he ventured into twelve years ago, Marc’s novels have only just become accessible to American readers. English translations are now available through Amazon and iTunes so you can dive right in from the beginning.

And to help you get to know him…

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