53 pages • 1 hour read
Patrick DewittFrench Exit
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
French Exit, by Patrick Dewitt, follows the story of Frances Price, a wealthy Manhattan widow, and her adult son, Malcolm, who face financial ruin and decide to move to Paris. As they navigate their new lives, the two encounter quirky characters, such as a clairvoyant, and confront their past, including secrets about Frances's deceased husband, leading to profound personal transformations. This book includes themes of death by suicide.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
French Exit by Patrick DeWitt is a darkly comedic tale of a wealthy widow and her son fleeing scandal in New York for Paris. Critics praise DeWitt's sharp wit, distinctive characters, and eccentric storyline. Some, however, find the plot meandering and the humor uneven. Overall, it is lauded for its unique narrative voice and memorable prose.
Who Should Read French Exit?
Readers who enjoy dark comedies, satirical tones, and flawed, eccentric characters will be captivated by Patrick DeWitt's French Exit. Fans of the social critique in The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe or the absurdist humor in A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole will appreciate this novel.