Le collier des jours: Souvenirs de ma vie

A vivid memoir opens with a striking memory of a newborn’s fierce resistance to the world, setting the tone for a life lived with intense feeling. The narrator recalls an early encounter with a doctor’s startled grasp, an episode that foreshadows a lifelong passion that will bring both joy and heart‑ache. From these first cries emerges a portrait of a child raised by a nurse in a modest Parisian suburb while her mother, a celebrated Italian opera singer, tours the stage.

The narrative weaves together the bustling household of performers, the scent of bouillon and wine, and a mischievous episode where a tiny hand steadies a glass of wine for a drunken father, earning unexpected applause. Through these early scenes, the author captures the paradox of innocence and defiant will, hinting at the strong, artistic spirit that will shape her future.

With lyrical language and keen observation, the memoir invites listeners to step into a world where memory shines like a necklace of days, each bead a vivid, unforgettable moment.