The sexual assault that rocked the world. A courageous woman's rallying call for 'shame to change sides'. For the very first time, Gisèle Pelicot tells her story. 'This is quite something - a really brave, honest and heart-rending memoir' SARAH JESSICA PARKER 'Extraordinary ... inspires courage and compassion, but also, crucially, demands change' EMMA THOMPSON 'A page-turning memoir that will move you to live more' GINA MARTIN 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, Gisèle 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 Gisèle's courage in waiving her right to anonymity made global headlines. 'Shame must change sides,' she declared, giving voice and hope to millions. Her words became a rallying cry and her decision marked a turning point in public feeling about sexual violence. 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, Gisèle 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

Portrait

Gisèle Pelicot is an international symbol of courage in the fight against sexual violence. Her case sparked a global debate on women's rights and changed the legal definition of rape in France. In 2024 she was named most noteworthy person in France, and in 2025 she was selected by TIME as a woman of the year and one of the world's most influential people. She received woman of the year accolades from the BBC, Independent, Financial Times and more, and is the subject of a forthcoming HBO documentary. Gisèle has been awarded the Légion d'honneur, France's highest civic honour. Her international honours include the Roosevelt Four Freedoms Award, Spain's Order of Civil Merit, Britain's Woman of Courage Award, Denmark's Freedom Prize, and the Equality Now Trailblazer Award.
A Hymn to Life has been translated into 43 languages; on publication it was an instant Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller. It was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction, and won the Prix Babelio for Non-fiction.