The Reader on the 6.27
Jean-Paul Didierlaurent
Translated by Ros Schwartz
09 July 2026Synopsis
The beloved French bestseller by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent, The Reader on the 6.27, shows how books truly are the answer to all life’s problems.
Parisian book pulping plant worker Guylain struggles to get the most out of his days, growing tired of the monotony of his life. His only joy comes from the spontaneity of his performances aboard the 6.27 metro, where he transforms his daily commute into a one-man show, with different material every day.
A fateful discovery of loose pages introduces him to Julie, whose journal shows that she too faces his plight of tedium. As he falls in love with her words, will he fall for her too?
The Reader on the 6.27 is an inspiring tale of all that life has to offer when you open yourself up to the possibility of more, and how literature can expand both your mind and your heart.
'A delightful tale' – The Independent
'Charming . . . clever, funny and humane' – Sunday Times
Details
09 July 2026
9781035093069Reviews
A delightful tale about the kinship of reading . . . much of the charm resides in the simplicity of Didierlaurent's prose and his vivid characterisation. Ros Schwartz's translation perfectly conveys the warmth and eccentricities of his memorable cast. Already a bestseller in France, The Reader on the 6.27 looks set to woo British readers and become a book club favourite
Charming . . . It is a clever, funny, and humane work that champions the power of literature
The humanity of the characters . . . the re-enchantment of everyday life, the power of words and literature, tenderness and humor . . . The Reader on the 6.27 is a must
This contemporary fable was acquired by more than twenty countries. A beautiful testimony to the universality of the love of books
