A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot review

February 17, 2026

TL;DR

Gisèle Pelicot's memoir, 'A Hymn to Life,' details her survival of horrific abuse orchestrated by her husband, Dominique.
Pelicot was 67 when her husband was arrested for upskirting and police discovered videos of her being sexually assaulted by many men.
The book explores Pelicot's transformation from an 'ordinary woman' to a figure of strength, confronting the shame of not understanding what was happening.
She examines potential links between her husband's behavior, his family background, societal sexism, and her own past.
Pelicot reflects on her successful career potentially fueling her husband's resentment and questions if different actions might have prevented the abuse.
Her initial attempts to cope involved denial and seeking comfort in past happy memories, which caused rifts with her children.
Pelicot critiques the societal pressure on victims to react in a specific way, asserting her right to navigate her trauma on her own terms.
She emphasizes that her courage stems from love and the support of women who gathered daily outside the court.
The memoir concludes with Pelicot moving forward, releasing her husband without being defined by hate, and finding new love, affirming that 'love is not dead.'
Pelicot's famous statement from the trial, 'shame has to change sides,' encapsulates her defiance against her abusers and societal judgment.

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