Vertigo

Translated by Geoffrey Sainsbury
The original breath-taking psychological thriller behind Hitchcock’s legendary film—the story of a man tormented by his search for the truth, and ultimately destroyed by a terrible secret

It could have happened to any of us, but it happened to a man named Flavieres. His days as a detective were over, and everyone knew he had his reasons. But when an old friend appeared out of nowhere with concerns about his withdrawn and mysterious wife, Flavieres didn't have the heart to refuse. Soon, he would be scouring the streets of Paris in search of an answer—in search of a girl who belonged to no one, not even to herself. Intrigue would be replaced by obsession, and dreams replaced by nightmares. 

This is the story of a desperate man. A man who ended up compromising his own morality beyond all measure, while World War II raged outside his front door. A man tormented—and destroyed—by a dark, terrible secret.
Pierre Boileau (1906-89) and Thomas Narcejac (1908-98) are two of the most celebrated names in French crime fiction. Together, they collaborated on more than forty thrillers. Their most notable works are Vertigo and She Who Was No More, which were turned into classics of noir cinema by Alfred Hitchcock and Henri-Georges Clouzot respectively.

About

The original breath-taking psychological thriller behind Hitchcock’s legendary film—the story of a man tormented by his search for the truth, and ultimately destroyed by a terrible secret

It could have happened to any of us, but it happened to a man named Flavieres. His days as a detective were over, and everyone knew he had his reasons. But when an old friend appeared out of nowhere with concerns about his withdrawn and mysterious wife, Flavieres didn't have the heart to refuse. Soon, he would be scouring the streets of Paris in search of an answer—in search of a girl who belonged to no one, not even to herself. Intrigue would be replaced by obsession, and dreams replaced by nightmares. 

This is the story of a desperate man. A man who ended up compromising his own morality beyond all measure, while World War II raged outside his front door. A man tormented—and destroyed—by a dark, terrible secret.

Author

Pierre Boileau (1906-89) and Thomas Narcejac (1908-98) are two of the most celebrated names in French crime fiction. Together, they collaborated on more than forty thrillers. Their most notable works are Vertigo and She Who Was No More, which were turned into classics of noir cinema by Alfred Hitchcock and Henri-Georges Clouzot respectively.

Books for National Depression Education and Awareness Month

For National Depression Education and Awareness Month in October, we are sharing a collection of titles that educates and informs on depression, including personal stories from those who have experienced depression and topics that range from causes and symptoms of depression to how to develop coping mechanisms to battle depression.

Read more

Horror Titles for the Halloween Season

In celebration of the Halloween season, we are sharing horror books that are aligned with the themes of the holiday: the sometimes unknown and scary creatures and witches. From classic ghost stories and popular novels that are celebrated today, in literature courses and beyond, to contemporary stories about the monsters that hide in the dark, our list

Read more

Books for LGBTQIA+ History Month

For LGBTQIA+ History Month in October, we’re celebrating the shared history of individuals within the community and the importance of the activists who have fought for their rights and the rights of others. We acknowledge the varying and diverse experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community that have shaped history and have led the way for those

Read more