Next to a long-abandoned castle, grows a jungle of burdock. Under the great green leaves live two old snails, descended from a long lineage, whose ancestors were served on silver platters to the inhabitants of the castle. The couple are waiting for just one thing, to be cooked as well... Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, poet and artist. Celebrated for children's literature, his most cherished fairy tales include "The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Little Mermaid", "The Nightingale", "The Steadfast Tin Soldier", "The Snow Queen", "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Little Match Girl". His books have been translated into every living language, and today there is no child or adult that has not met Andersen's whimsical characters. His fairy tales have been adapted to stage and screen countless times, most notably by Disney with the animated films "The Little Mermaid" in 1989 and "Frozen", which is loosely based on "The Snow Queen", in 2013. Thanks to Andersen's contribution to children's literature, his birth date, April 2, is celebrated as International Children's Book Day.

Papa, Maman, mon fiancé Patrick, la Côte d'azur des vacances... En faut-il plus pour être tout à fait heureuse ? Papa et Maman sont si bons, Patrick est si charmant, il roule dans une si grosse voiture, et le soleil est fidèle à son rendez-vous de chaque matin... Et pourtant ! Peut-être notre petite Marie-Chantal devinera-t-elle la vanité de tout cela ? Il suffira qu'apparaisse un visage moins « charmant », que retentisse une voix moins habile, et que deux mains rudes, honnêtes, un peu calleuses peut-être, saisissent les mains d'une jeune fille trop comblée... Mains du potier ? Mains du petit cordonnier, comme dans la chanson ? Qu'importe ; en tout cas, des mains d'homme. Qui l'emportera, de la Cadillac ou de la Ford poussiéreuse ? Du confort ou du risque ? Écrit d'une plume qui vole, colorée et chaude comme le paysage où se place l'histoire, le premier roman de Lise Claris - dont on connaît surtout les reportages et les délicates céramiques - plaira à toutes celles qui ont aimé les uns et les autres. Elles le reliront souvent.

Next to a long-abandoned castle, grows a jungle of burdock. Under the great green leaves live two old snails, descended from a long lineage, whose ancestors were served on silver platters to the inhabitants of the castle. The couple are waiting for just one thing, to be cooked as well...