Hymn To Life, A: Shame Has To Change Sides

The sexual assault that rocked the world. A courageous woman's rallying call for 'shame to change sides'. For the very first time, Gisele Pelicot tells her story. A BEST BOOK OF 2026 FOR THE OBSERVER, TELEGRAPH, GUARDIAN, FINANCIAL TIMES, NEW YORK TIMES, DAILY MIRROR, IRISH TIMES, GQ MAGAZINE, LIT HUB, BBC AND MORE One November day, Gisele Pelicot was called to a local police station and life as she knew it ended. Her husband of fifty years had been caught by a supermarket guard filming up women's skirts. But on his computer was shattering evidence: for nearly a decade, he had been secretly drugging and raping her and inviting dozens of strangers into their home to abuse her. Four years later, he and fifty other men were put on trial and Gisele's courage in waiving her right to anonymity made global headlines. 'Shame must change sides,' she declared, giving voice and hope to millions. For the first time, and with unwavering honesty and grace, she describes a difficult childhood, first love, her career and motherhood. It is a life in determined search of happiness, both before and after her devastating discovery. She is an ordinary person who faces extraordinary catastrophe, whose example changes the world. Ultimately, Gisele Pelicot emerges with a renewed passion and reverence for living, and for love. A Hymn to Life is an unforgettable testament and promise: that victims have no reason to feel ashamed; that even after unimaginable betrayal we can go on; and that colour will always return to life. 'A Hymn to Life is novelistic and resounds with grace ... An extraordinary achievement' FINANCIAL TIMES 'A unique memoir by a figure of astonishing power' GUARDIAN 'Extraordinarily courageous' THE TIMES Extraordinary ... a powerful tale of a mighty woman * Daily Telegraph * An emblem of resilience for women everywhere * Vogue * The bravest woman in the world ... A powerful and devastating memoir * Daily Mirror * It is the end of silence, unconsciousness, forgetting, unknowing. It is the start of consciousness; the start of change * Observer * Not only does Pelicot want to use her story to give others strength to stand up to their rapists, she also wants survivors to know that they can rebuild their lives ... Finding love and happiness again is remarkable after what destroyed her life -- Christina Lamb * Sunday Times * A living testament to a woman whose spirit will not be broken ... Gripping ... a redoubtable woman with a remarkable mind, who writes throughout with clear-headed, self-possessed precision. She lets the story speak for itself ... Not a single word is wasted or unnecessary ... Fearless ... It is this indomitable, insubmissive spirit which makes [Gisele] such a wonder and an inspiration * Independent * Mme Pelicot's powerful book leaves no stone unturned, detailing her life before, during and after the court case that captured the world. The most incredible takeaway? That she refused to let the horror she endured dampen her faith in people * Grazia UK * A courageous, inspirational and powerful read * The Sun * One of the most harrowing books I've ever read, but essential * Literary Review * Intimate ... What A Hymn to Life sets out to do is strip away some of the gilt from the monument, to bring Gisele Pelicot down to a tangible scale. In so doing, a more nuanced, richly layered portrait emerges * New Statesman * Author Biography: Gisele Pelicot was named as the most noteworthy person of 2024 in an opinion poll in France, eclipsing world leaders, and was honoured by Time. To mark International Women's Day, the Independent named her the most influential woman of 2025. Her case contributed to the national debate on sexual violence in France, which led to a change in the legal definition of rape. She has been awarded the Legion d'honneur, France's highest civic honour.