Isabelle Autissier is the first woman to have sailed around the world solo in competition. She was a navigator until 1999, and is currently the President of the French chapter of the World Wildlife Fund. She has published several stories and novels, and was awarded the Legion d'honneur, Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres for her literary work. Suddenly is the first of her novels to have been translated into English. Gretchen Schmid is the translator of several books from French into English, among them Kannjawou: A Novel of Haiti by Lyonel Trouillot, which was shortlisted for the Albertine Prize. She holds a degree in French literature from Columbia University and a certificate in translation from New York University
'Isabelle Autissier sails through literature the way she sails the ocean: with vigor, precision, and determination. . . . The result: a tense and exhilarating read' - Le Figaro 'There's no question about it: Isabelle Autissier is an excellent writer. . . . When it comes to describing nature, there's no one like her. . . You'll devour this novel' - Express 'With a realism that will take your breath away, this novel brings you to the rawest edges of what our humanity becomes when we're far from civilization. . . . Alone at the helm, without ever losing sight of north, Isabelle Autissier proves that in addition to being a peerless sailor, she is also a great novelist' - Lire 'Unfolds like a thriller . . . Icy, captivating, punctuated by questions about nature's deepest instincts-Isabelle Autissier steers this novel to perfection. Get on board' - L'Obs