Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

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INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • Set in eighteenth-century France, the classic novel that provokes a terrifying examination of what happens when one man’s indulgence in his greatest passion—his sense of smell—leads to murder.

In the slums of eighteenth-century France, the infant Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is born with one sublime gift—an absolute sense of smell. As a boy, he lives to decipher the odors of Paris, and apprentices himself to a prominent perfumer who teaches him the ancient art of mixing precious oils and herbs. But Grenouille’s genius is such that he is not satisfied to stop there, and he becomes obsessed with capturing the smells of objects such as brass doorknobs and fresh-cut wood. Then one day he catches a hint of a scent that will drive him on an ever-more-terrifying quest to create the “ultimate perfume”—the scent of a beautiful young virgin. Told with dazzling narrative brilliance,
Perfume is a hauntingly powerful tale of murder and sensual depravity. 

Translated from the German by John E. Woods.

Editorial Reviews

Review

?A fable of criminal genius?. Remarkable."?The New York Times

From the Inside Flap

An acclaimed bestseller and international sensation, Patrick Suskind's classic novel provokes a terrifying examination of what happens when one man's indulgence in his greatest passion-his sense of smell-leads to murder.

In the slums of eighteenth-century France, the infant Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is born with one sublime gift-an absolute sense of smell. As a boy, he lives to decipher the odors of Paris, and apprentices himself to a prominent perfumer who teaches him the ancient art of mixing precious oils and herbs. But Grenouille's genius is such that he is not satisfied to stop there, and he becomes obsessed with capturing the smells of objects such as brass doorknobs and frest-cut wood. Then one day he catches a hint of a scent that will drive him on an ever-more-terrifying quest to create the "ultimate perfume"-the scent of a beautiful young virgin. Told with dazzling narrative brillance,
Perfume is a hauntingly powerful tale of murder and sensual depravity.

Translated by John E. Woods

"A fable of crimial genius.... Remarkable."
--
The New York Times

"Superb storytelling all the way...the climax is a savage shocker."
--
The Plain Dealer

"An astonishing performance, a masterwork of artistic conception and execution. A totally gripping page-turner."
--
The San Francisco Chronicle

Review:

4.7 out of 5

94.00% of customers are satisfied

5.0 out of 5 stars "Perfume" - A Surreal & Chilling Tale Gloriously Told

J.L. · April 3, 2005

First and foremost, German author Patrick Suskind's novel, "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer," is a celebration of the written word, and an affirmation of good popular literature. Suskind's beautifully crafted narrative excites the imagination and expands the reader's senses - especially that least appreciated of faculties, the olfactory. John E. Woods should be lauded for bringing the richness and texture of the author's language to his English translation. "Perfume" is much more than a murder mystery or suspense thriller. It is an extraordinary tale that defies genre classification.Jean-Baptiste Grenouille was born in the most squalid, stinking marketplace of 18th-century Paris, perhaps even the most putrid place in all France, on July 17, 1738. And, as the author explains, the stench of 18th-century Paris is one that modern man cannot begin to fathom - manure, moldering wood, rat droppings, human excretions both common and exotic, caustic lyes and sulfur from the tanneries, congealed blood from the slaughterhouses, the great unwashed masses, spoiled and rotting food, etc., etc.. His mother, who suffered from "gout, syphilis and a touch of consumption," was otherwise healthy. She was not concerned when her labor began. She had delivered four other babies beneath her fish booth, all illegitimate, and disposed of all four, along with the bloody refuse of fish and entrails at the end of the market day. Amoral, she had no idea she was doing wrong, nor did she particularly care. Jean-Baptiste was fortunate. He cried lustily at birth, thus calling sufficient attention to himself, that his mother was forced to acknowledge him. The baby boy was allowed to live. Taken in by the church, he was placed in the care of a wet nurse.In the novel's wonderful first paragraph, Suskind introduces John-Baptiste. "In eighteenth-century France there lived a man who was one of the most gifted and abominable personages in an era that knew no lack of gifted and abominable personages. His name was Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, and if his name - in contrast to the names of other gifted abominations, de Sade's, for instance, or Saint-Just's, Fouche's, Bonaparte's, etc. - has been forgotten today, it is not because Grenouille fell short of those more famous blackguards when it came to arrogance, misanthropy, immorality, or, more succinctly, to wickedness, because his gifts and his sole ambition were restricted to a domain that leaves no traces in history: to the fleeting realm of scent."Grenouille had no scent of his own - absolutely no odor. This was a terrible handicap which caused all to shun him from infancy, without understanding why they avoided him. However, in a bizarre attempt to balance this aberration, nature provided Jean-Baptiste with the most acute sense of smell of any human that ever lived. At an early age, he was able to clearly distinguish differences in people with his eyes closed. He knew the different scents of wood, which he had to chop everyday, and even which of a variety of cows provided the milk he drank each morning. He spent his every waking hour identifying, ordering and classifying scent. This extraordinary olfactory gift, and his passion to pursue, capture and distill all scents, were to be the cause of his unforeseeable elevation in society, which rarely recognized one of his lowly class, and also, his ultimate downfall. Mr. Suskind chronicles here Grenouille's life - from his stint at the home of Madame Gaillard, who took in orphans like Jean-Baptiste, to his arduous apprenticeship with the tanner Grimal, his work with the famous perfumer Baldini, where he became a journeyman perfumer, and his wanderings throughout all Paris to learn the city's every smell. He aspired to become the omnipotent god of scent. He knew that the person "who ruled scent also ruled the hearts of men," for "scent was the brother of breath." Then came the day he discovered the single most exquisite scent of all, which he became obsessed to possess for his own.Grenouille had never known love or the slightest affection, not even a tender touch. No one educated him about right and wrong, and he had no inherent ability to distinguish between good and evil. From the earliest age, he did what was necessaey to survive. He was truly a man with no conscience - totally narcissistic. Morality played no part in his life - the pursuit of scent was all that gave him joy. It is to Patrick Suskind's credit that I felt such empathy for this creature. I don't excuse his behavior, but given his background and life, how else could he have been expected to turn out?"Perfume's" various settings are illustrated, and the characters depicted, as Jean-Baptiste would perceive them, through smell. The descriptions are so vivid, and the use of language so bountiful, that I found myself reading passages aloud at times, just to savor the words. The historic detail is meticulous and fascinating, as is the process of perfume making, much of which is described here. This is a compelling tale, that is surreal, almost otherworldly. It is also a chilling portrait of a psychopath with a mission. The conclusion is brilliant, unexpected and riveting. A marvelous read!JANA

4.0 out of 5 stars A great read!

t. · May 28, 2024

A well paced and engrossing tale. I loved how the characterization and dynamic of the members unfolded. Ties well together at the end, and you almost have sympathy to Grenouille for all the murders he did, he never found his own scent.

5.0 out of 5 stars I saw this on Netflix, it made me buy the book.

j. · August 27, 2024

As stated above, I saw this on Netflix, I then thought WTF if this is the show the book has to be way more in depth. It was and it was disturbing. If you like books like this where you are like WTF did I just read, and like why and wtf you may like this book. I read it in a weekend, not a hard read, it's back in the day in Paris I believe and about a child who grew up detached and a weird sense of smell which led to him wanting to create perfume in a gross way. As I write this I think I sound weird that I read this but then again I am a stay at home mom who watches dateline all the time so if your like me this will make you think hmmm another weird thing to watch out for and you'll probably check to make sure you have the gland in your armpit which will make you want to guard it a little more than you've ever thought you would.. If you read it you'll be like hmm ok Jennifer I see what your saying.. I also never knew this could ever be a way anyone would think to make perfume... it's different.

3.0 out of 5 stars different

S. · March 3, 2024

Definitely not a book for the faint of heart. Graphic descriptions abound. But a clear picture of a serial killer is created. I enjoyed learning how perfumes are made and created.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Human Condition

p.o.i. · July 3, 2024

THIS BOOK!! 🌟 How can I assign any labels to such a one-of-a-kind read? Reading ‘Perfume’ by Patrick Süskind was such a magical experience that no single label can capture its essence.The story follows Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a boy born in 18th-century France with a magical gift: an extraordinarily heightened sense of smell. From his difficult birth in the squalor of Paris to his rise and fall as a perfumer, Grenouille’s life is marked by his uncanny ability to discern and create scents. What seems like a miraculous talent quickly reveals itself to be more of a curse. Isolated and misunderstood, Grenouille’s obsession with capturing the perfect scent leads him down a dark and twisted path. His journey delves deep into themes of identity, obsession, and the human condition, making this book an immersive exploration of the senses and the psyche.Grenouille’s character is crafted to evoke a strong sense of disgust in the reader. His cold, calculating nature and his lack of empathy makes him a character that is easy to despise. However, despite his insufferable traits, I couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of sorrow and sadness for him. His actions, though horrific, seem detached, as if driven by an internal compulsion rather than a conscious desire for evil. This detachment evokes a tragic dimension to his character, highlighting the loneliness and the profound disconnection from humanity that define his existence. His inability to relate to others and his obsessive pursuit of creating the perfect scent underscore a deep, intrinsic void, making his story as pitiable as it is repellent.I know that I’ll be thinking of this book forever, which is why it’s a 5 🌟 read for me. Süskind’s writing is nothing short of genius. His talent for describing scents is so vivid and evocative that it feels as though you can actually smell them through the pages. Every fragrance, from the most sublime to the most repulsive, is brought to life with astonishing detail. Best. Book. Ever. Can’t wait to rewatch the film!!!

Perfetto

N. · June 6, 2024

Copertina e libro originale, stampa del 1986. Ottimo e bellissimo! Gran romanzo!

ISOLATION & PERFUME TASTE NOVEL...

M. · February 23, 2021

Ever since teen is my most fav novel of all the times!! 🖤🖤🖤“He possessed the power. He held it in his hand. A power stronger than the power of money or the power of terror or the power of death: the invincible power to command the love of mankind. There was only one thing that power could not do: it could not make him able to smell himself.”Perfume is a story about social isolation; it’s a story about not belonging in the world and the negative effects this can wrought on one’s mind. It’s also a story about obsession, a singular pursuit for perfection regardless of the costs.Consequences simply do not matter for Jean. He is completely detached from reality; he lives in his own world of scent, invisible to all others. Murder means nothing to him because he does not fully understand what he is murdering. He has no feelings. He cannot comprehend what it is to snuff out a life because he is not truly alive himself. He is dead inside and numb to all else in his differentness.“He realized that all his life he had been a nobody to everyone. What he now felt was the fear of his own oblivion. It was as though he did not exist.”“He had withdrawn solely for his own personal pleasure, only to be near to himself. No longer distracted by anything external, he basked in his own existence and found it splendid.”As such befalls misery for all those that meet him. His talent is remarkable and his motivation (when roused) is unstoppable. His singular pursuit for his goal is uncompromising and he will stop at nothing to achieve the most perfect of scents. The secret ingredient he has been looking for comes his way and he cannot rest until he has it. Innocence is a mighty hard thing to harvest, though it is the missing piece he has been looking for; it will give his perfume the power to inspire love: it will be irresistible.However, as the tale of Icarus taught us, those who fly too high will burn. As such the ending of this is simply perfection. The moment captures the heart of the book in one beautifully horrific frenzy of emotions and desire. The delivery is masterful. I knew it was coming (I’d seen the film many years previously) though I don’t think the film could every quite capture the intensity and euphoric nature of the situation.The only reason I have not given this five stars is because I found it rambled a little in places. I think the story could have been cut back and made tighter and more effective, though I loved the prose and the plot. Jean makes for an interesting character study for sure.

Histoire prenante

P. · October 16, 2022

Je l’ai acheté car c’est le livre préféré de Kurt Cobain. Lors d’un vieux interview il l’a donné envie de le lire. Et je ne regrette pas, histoire sombre et prenante. A lire.

Inigualável

k. · October 25, 2020

Olá!Venho falar com dificuldade desta obra, pois não creio ter a capacidade de usar as palavras de tal forma que façam jus a essa obra de arte MAGNÍFICA, FABULOSA, INCOMPARÁVEL. Que baste isso. Leia, é uma obra filosófica, que fala de maneira simples e clara sobre memória, sobre afetos e desafetos, sobre a mente humana e sobre a vida na terra e do que somos feitos.Quanto ao produto: chegou com leves riscos na capa, nada que incomode, a edição da capa é linda, as folhas são finas, cuidado para não rasgar!É o tipo de livro que se você encontrar: COMPRE-O!

Brilliantly written

S.P. · May 30, 2021

Reviewing the book, not the Bolo order.The book is quite strange in its storytelling. The principle idea is unique, but some events are bizarre. But fast paced, good read.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

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