The Train to Paris

"Sebastian Hampson is that rare thing: a writer of ideas who is also compulsively readable."—Nicholas Edlin, author of The Widow's Daughter

"This book will charm and engage."— Books + Publishing

After a disastrous holiday with his girlfriend in Madrid, Lawrence Williams takes the train back to Paris where he is studying art history. Lawrence is twenty years old and discovering how to see the world, which means he doesn't mind too much when he gets stranded at the station of a sleepy border town.

Nothing prepares Lawrence for the arrival of the glamorous socialite Élodie Lavelle. Twice his age she is intrigued by his lack of culture and sophistication, but also his earnestness. She makes it her goal to educate him about the complex world of her society and treats him to an unforgettable evening. But she has not counted on what Lawrence might teach her in return, or how much their unlikely encounter will mark them both.

The Train to Paris travels from the Basque country to the grimy streets of Paris against the backdrop of the fading glories of European life. Sebastian Hampson's debut is a surprising and compelling love story.

Sebastian Hampson was born in 1992 in Auckland, New Zealand. He has spent time living in Europe and currently resides in Wellington, where he is a student of art history and literature. This is his first novel.