This short novel was published in 1967 but it has worn well and this is a new and lively translation. Marguerite and Emile have married late in life – and that was probably a mistake! Emile thinks that Marguerite has poisoned his favourite cat and, in revenge, he has pulled out the tail feathers of her favourite parrot and, now, both, the cat and the bird, are dead.

The outcome is that Emile and Marguerite correspond only through terse notes left around for the other to read, so that their entire life is wound up in a kind of sustained non-verbal hatred. It may not sound like it but there is actually some comedy in their mutual determination to make sure that the other is not happy and is certainly not having a better time!

Over the years, the pointlessness of this mutual hatred wears them both down but, ironically, as the mutual dislike lessens and the relationship thaws so does the meaning and purpose of their existence.

There’s a lesson in here somewhere about not bearing grudges and resolving clashes and, although this is an extreme example, there are many elderly people who live in this kind of state after a lifetime with plenty to disagree about. It might be worth contemplating the odd act of kindness to your partner before things get worse!