Goodbye, Sadness. 12 Lessons of Happiness from French Literature

Why are we so drawn to the "French" way of life? How can we learn the mythical joie de vivre – the purely French ability to enjoy the moment? Journalist, writer, and comedian Viv Groskop has been pondering these questions since childhood. Every summer she traveled to France, diligently learned the language, and dreamed of absorbing at least a bit of "Frenchness," becoming a little closer to Françoise Sagan – freer and bolder. Viv gradually discovered other authors who managed to capture the essence of French culture and mentality. Like Groskop's previous book "Self-Development According to Tolstoy," "Goodbye, Sadness!" helps re-evaluate the classics, finding something new and relevant in them. Behind the funny and witty facade lie lessons of nostalgia from Proust, altruism from Hugo, psychology from Stendhal, and even a lesson on love for mustaches from Maupassant.