Watching Over Her

The international bestseller that has captivated Europe

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In an Italian monastery, a celebrated sculptor lays on his death bed. For decades, Mimo has lived among the monks to watch over his masterpiece, an arresting statue that haunts all who see it.





During his final hours, he reveals his life story: his impoverished childhood, his apprenticeship with a brutal alcoholic and most importantly, his meeting with Viola, the daughter of a powerful aristocratic family.





Mimo and Viola are instantly drawn to one another. Together, they traverse the unrest of the twentieth century, from the violence of war to the rise of fascism. While Mimo becomes a celebrated artist, Viola chases her own dreams of becoming an emancipated woman.



Over the decades, they will lose and find each other, but never will they give up on the love they share.

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Readers around the world love Watching Over Her



'One of the most beautiful, best-written books I have ever read'



'Something truly special'



'Reading this book is pure joy'



'An authentic masterpiece'



'It is a long time since I have been so impressed by a novel'



Born in 1971, Jean-Baptiste Andrea is a writer, script-writer and French director, awarded the most prestigious literary prize in France in 2023, the Prix Goncourt, and the Prix du Roman Fnac, France's premier bookseller prize. The first part of his professional career was devoted to cinema. He is the author of Ma Reine (2017), which won the Prix Femina des Lycéens and the prix du premier roman; Cent millions d'années et un jour (2019); Des diables et des saints (2021). Veiller sur elle was published in 2023 to great critical and commercial success, with 700,000 copies circulating in France. It is currently being translated into 31 languages. Andrea's works are renowned for their narrative and emotional strengths. He tackles themes such as childhood, friendship, art, love and loss.



It's high-quality popular literature... and that is what the Goncourt is about



Extremely refreshing... like a hyacinth emerging in the undergrowth