Lead Review

• Book: The President’s Hat
• Location: France
• Author: Antoine Laurain

Review Author: Tina Hartas

4.5*
Oh, just imagine how you might feel if you are in a restaurant and the the president of France sits down at the next table. Daniel is all aflutter when François Mitterrand sits down with two companions at the next table! He is trying to focus on his excellent seafood selection but the frisson of excitement of the president’s arrival means he can hardly concentrate on what he is eating. He espies that Mitterrand orders a dozen oysters and the salmon, with a splash of Pouilly Fuissé to set off the meal.

The presidential party leaves but the president’s hat remains behind on the banquette! Circumstances conspire to see the hat come into his possession and away he goes with a jaunty swagger, crowned by the eponymous president’s hat of the title. It somehow gives him confidence and authority and as such he stands up to one of his colleagues, which is so out of character. And after his star turn he sets off for new pastures but, much to his alarm, he misplaces the hat. The hat then passes into new hands, to Fanny Marquant, who of course has the same initials as the original owner. Is fate playing her a mysterious hand? But it doesn’t stay with her for long and moves into new ownership. And then the author really gets into his element when he becomes involved in the world of perfume (in The Red Notebook he delights in bringing Habanita by Molinard to the reader’s attention!).

And there are of course many ways a hat can capriciously change hands. The hat is in some ways a metaphor and enables people to be true to themselves, at times it is quite empowering and enables souls to be stirred. The author beautifully details how a single item can serendipitously bring people together. The author writes with a delightfully light and deft hand, you can feel him playing with storylines. These are stories that will make you smile, a perfect antidote to Covid times.

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