How I failed at life

An essential book for reflecting on the meaning of life… happiness and what true wealth really is.

When I was little, I lived in an enormous castle, hidden in the heart of a magical forest, where the weather was beautiful every day. But one day, I grew up…

This little gem of irony is built around a striking interplay between text and image, inviting us to question the way we look at our lives and the choices we make.

Powerful, thought-provoking, funny and biting, the book asks readers young and old a deceptively simple question: what does it mean to succeed in life? Is it becoming rich and conforming to other people’s expectations, or preserving the sense of wonder and the treasures that shaped us as children? Does happiness lie in material wealth, or in the things we carry deep within our hearts?

First published in a different form by Éditions Autrement in 2009, this unusual picture book was reissued by Grasset-Jeunesse in 2019 in a new hardback edition. Its message and distinctive treatment make it a universal and essential book for readers of all ages.

New edition: September 2026

Author & Illustrator

Since the publication of Le Yark in 2011, Bertrand Santini has become one of the leading voices in French children’s literature. His books published by Grasset include Jonas, le requin mécanique, Hugo de la Nuit and L’étrange réveillon. He is also the author of the bestselling Le Journal de Gurty series, published by Sarbacane.

A graduate of ESAG, Bertrand Gatignol is a scriptwriter, illustrator and colourist. He divides his time between character design for television series, comics and children’s-book illustration. His work has been published by Delcourt and Dargaud, among others.