Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is a 1985 literary historical cross-genre novel by German writer Patrick Süskind. The novel explores the sense of smell and its relationship with the emotional meaning that scents may carry. Above all this is a story of identity, communication and the morality of the human spirit. The story focuses on Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a perfume apprentice in 18th century France who, born with no body scent himself, begins to stalk and murder virgins in search of the "perfect scent", which he finds in a young woman named Laura, whom his acute sense of smell finds... in a secluded private garden in Grasse. Some editions of Perfume have as their cover image Antoine Watteau's painting Jupiter and Antiope, which depicts a murdered woman. Grenouille was born in Paris, France, July 17 of 1738. His mother gives birth to him while working at a fish stall. As she has had given birth five times previously while working, she cuts his umbilical cord and leaves him to die.
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| Author: | Patrick Süskind |
| Genre: | Horror, Magic realism, Historical novel, Speculative fiction, Mystery |
| Year published: | 1985 |
| Number of editions: | 17 |