Ode to Life
E-book, Czech
Ode to Life
The Shame Must Change Sides
An Ode to Life is not a victim's story. It is the memoir of a woman who refused to give up.
When sixty-eight-year-old Gisèle Pelicot was summoned to the police station, she had no idea that her life as she knew it was about to end. Her husband of fifty years had been caught by supermarket security guards filming up women's skirts. The subsequent investigation revealed a devastating truth – for nine years, Dominique Pelicot had been secretly drugging his wife, raping her while she was unconscious, and inviting dozens of strangers into their home to abuse her as well. He meticulously documented everything.
Four years later, he stood trial with fifty other men. And Gisèle took a step that would change her destiny, French legislation, and the world's perception of sexual violence.
“They are the ones who should hang their heads in shame, not me,” she declared, and opened the court proceedings to the public.
Gisèle Pelicot became the voice and face for millions of victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence. Her words travelled around the world. Her courage inspired. Now, she tells her story in her own words. She looks back at her childhood, career, motherhood, and marriage. She delivers a powerful message of recovery.
She reminds us that victims have no reason to be ashamed. That even after an unimaginable betrayal, it is possible to move on – and to find joy in life and love again. “I still believe in people. It used to be my greatest weakness. Today, it is the source of my strength.”
In this book, you will discover, among other things:
Why Gisèle decided to break her silence and step out of anonymity.
How Dominique Pelicot’s cruel childhood shaped his personality – and why that is not an excuse.
Why it is so difficult to recognise psychological and sexual violence, even when it is happening right in front of loved ones.
How her case transformed the public debate on rape, consent, and the abuse of power.
What victims really need – and why silence is the perpetrators' weapon.
How the courage of one woman gave a voice to thousands of others.
We believe that change begins with naming the problem; and it must continue with concrete help...
What they wrote about the book:
Gisèle's story moved me deeply. She found the courage to speak up and name what many victims of sexual or domestic violence are still ashamed of. I believe this book can help open people's eyes and give strength to those who need it right now.
- Martina Rybičková, Commissioning Editor
Gisèle Pelicot
(* 1952) is a mother of three, a grandmother, and a woman who, even after an extreme experience, decided to assert her right to a dignified and free life. Her story and the subsequent trial, which took place in the final months of 2024, fundamentally changed the debate on sexual violence, guilt, and responsibility. In France, they also led to a revision of the legal definition of rape. She was voted the most important French person of the year and awarded the highest state decoration, the Legion of Honour. The British newspaper the Financial Times named her one of the twenty-five most influential women, and in 2025, The Independent declared her the most influential woman on the planet.
Specifications
Basic
Format & type of protection
Jan Melvil Publishing s.r.o., Roubalova 383/13, 602 00 Brno 2, Česká republika, www.melvil.cz
Specifications can be changed without notice. Images are for illustrative purposes only.
