Gisèle Pelicot, who became a symbol of France’s fight against sexual assault, is sharing her story in a new book a year after her ex-husband and 50 other men were convicted in a landmark case. Her memoir, A Hymn To Life, details the years following the discovery of the abuse she endured and her journey toward rebuilding her life.
A Public Reckoning
Pelicot remembers feeling a mix of relief, exhaustion and dizziness after exiting the courtroom in Avignon, France, on Dec. 19, 2024, the final day of the trial. She was then escorted by dozens of police officers through a crowd of supporters chanting her name. The four-month-long trial had thrust her into the public eye, with her name making headlines around the world.
“I needed to withdraw from all this media turmoil. To repair myself a little, to try to find some calm, to recharge,” she said. “I needed to do some introspection, to take stock of my life, and to try to rebuild on this minefield.”
Following the trial, Pelicot returned to her home on l’Île de Ré, an island off western France, and filled her days with restorative routines: time at the beach, bike rides, dinner parties with friends and movie nights.
From Shame to Strength
For nearly 10 years, Pelicot’s husband had been drugging her and recruiting men online to come into their home and sexually assault her while she lay unconscious. The case gained international attention after Pelicot chose to waive her anonymity and oppose a closed court hearing, a measure commonly used in French sexual-assault trials to protect victims’ privacy.
Initially, for four years leading up to the trial, Pelicot desired to keep her name out of the press, feeling ashamed. “I spent hours in the shower, trying to wash all of this dirt off. I think that’s what happens to a lot of victims. We all spend hours in the shower, trying to wash it all off,” she said.
However, as the trial date approached, she feared being in a courtroom with 50 strangers, her ex-husband, and their lawyers. During a walk on the beach, she realized “shame has to change sides,” and that the rapists should be the ones to hang their heads in shame.
A Symbol for Survivors
As the case made headlines, Pelicot felt her fight became bigger than herself, realizing her story resonated with other survivors of sexual assault. “I was happy to offer my story as an example, and my name as a banner. I saw how it transformed all the pain of the trial into a liberating song,” she said. “They gave me strength, and this book is also a way of thanking them.”
Pelicot’s book details decades of her life, including financial struggles, career milestones, and the loss of her mother at age nine. She doesn’t shy away from describing her 50-year relationship with her ex-husband, recalling falling in love with him in the 1970s.
She revealed that her husband secretly crushed sedative pills into her food and drinks, masking his abuse as affection. She also learned of disturbing photos of her daughter, raising fears she had been subjected to similar abuse.
Following the discovery, Pelicot’s family struggled to cope, and she found herself sleeping in the marital bed, haunted by the scene of the assaults. “The scene of rape, but still my bed,” she wrote.
Looking Forward
Since the trial, Pelicot has been named one of Time’s most influential people of 2025, awarded France’s Legion of Honour, and received numerous accolades. She doesn’t identify as a feminist icon, but rather as an ordinary woman who has done something extraordinary.
Pelicot enlisted journalist Judith Perrignon to help her tell her story, allowing Perrignon to immerse herself in her life on Île de Ré. The resulting memoir feels intimate and personal, and Pelicot feels it accurately captures her experiences.
“I can’t forget what happened to me,” Pelicot said. “The scars are indelible, but I’ve tried to make something out of them. That’s who I am, I’ve always tried to bounce back.”
Pelicot is now in a loving relationship with a widower who lives on Île de Ré, and looks forward to enjoying the years ahead with her loved ones.
Discover more from Archyworldys
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
