Symphony of Monsters
Marc Levy
In conversation with JC Agid
Schedule
Thursday, January 29, 2026
2 hours
In English
“Marc Levy crafts a terrifying story whose darkness is at times brightened by an unexpected light” — Elle
“This thriller immerses us in the shocking reality of current affairs.” — RTBF
Join Marc Levy—the most-read living French author—for a discussion about his new novel, Symphony of Monsters, a timely, gripping story inspired by the real and ongoing abduction of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children since Russia’s 2022 invasion.
Nine-year-old Valentyn is an extraordinary child, intelligent and wise beyond his years, but unable to speak. One day, soldiers arrive at his school with buses, tasked with rounding up the children. Only Valentyn and one friend fail to escape their clutches, and the pair are carted away to the Crimea to be reeducated as proper Russian children. Valentyn’s mother is distraught, as is his thirteen-year-old sister, Lilya, who sets out on her own to sneak across the fortified border and find Valentyn. Levy’s moving thriller has been a best-seller in Europe, bringing light to this ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Conversation in English followed by a book signing. L’Alliance Members are invited to a private Pre-event Meet & Greet with the author at 6pm. Email montclair@lallianceny.org for details. Books are available for pre-order from Watchung Booksellers. French and English editions of the book will also be available for purchase at the event.
Venue
Marc Levy
Marc Levy is the author of twenty-six novels. Born in France, his work has been translated into fifty languages and has sold over fifty million copies worldwide. Several of his novels have been adapted for the screen. Le Figaro newspaper commissioned a nationwide poll asking the French to rank their favorite authors: Marc Levy and Victor Hugo tied for first place. Marc currently lives in New York City.
JC Agid
JC Agid is a French-born journalist and cultural commentator based in New York. Founder of the communications agency 37East, he has spent his career building bridges between culture, media, and international audiences. A former foreign correspondent and cultural affairs professional for the French Embassy in the U.S., he regularly moderates conversations with leading voices from the literary and artistic worlds.
Co-presented by Watchung Booksellers
Lead Image: Symphony of Monsters, courtesy of Harper Collins; Headshot © David Ken
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