Edouard Character Analysis in Sarah’s Key

Bertrand’s father, and Julia’s father-in-law. Edouard is formal and reserved. Julia reflects that she “could not imagine him showing any other emotion apart from anger, pride, and self-satisfaction.” While Edouard is very close with Zoë, he is stiff and impersonal toward Julia, giving her the feeling he is “holding something back.” As Julia ultimately learns from Edouard himself, Edouard was a young boy living in the rue de Saintonge apartment when Sarah Starzynski returned and uncovered her brother’s body. This event—and his father’s insistence that he never speak of it—traumatized Edouard. Over the course of the novel, Edouard becomes much more emotionally open and he and Julia bond over the effort of uncovering Sarah Starzynski’s story.

Edouard Character Timeline in Sarah’s Key

The timeline below shows where the character Edouard appears in Sarah’s Key. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...evening. A few minutes later, Julia gets another phone call, this time from her father-in-law, Edouard Tézac. Edouard has learned from Mamé, his mother, that Julia has been asking her questions... (full context)

...Today, though, she is visiting Mamé. When she arrives at the nursing home, she recognizes Edouard’s car in the parking lot. After visiting with Mamé, Edouard asks to speak to Julia... (full context)

...she can show them. Sarah races to her old apartment, where a twelve-year-old boy (young Edouard) answers the door. Sarah demands to see Michel. She pushes past the boy, who cries... (full context)

Through tears, Edouard describes the day of Sarah’s return to Julia. He can’t remember what was done with... (full context)

At home, Julia reads the letter given to her by Gaspard. She shares it with Edouard over the phone. The letter is dated September 1946 and in it Geneviève thanks Alain... (full context)

...determined to track down Richard Rainsferd and, in doing so, Sarah. Before leaving, Julia calls Edouard and promises him she is going to do her best to find out what happened... (full context)

A few weeks later, Julia is back in Paris on bed rest. Edouard visits every Friday. He is as distressed as Julia over how the visit with William... (full context)

...and a key—item that he recently discovered while visiting his father. Julia’s phone rings—it is Edouard, who tells her that Mamé has been asking for her. Julia asks William to come... (full context)

Julia visits Mamé, along with William, Bertrand, Colette, Edouard, Laure, and Cécile. After the family is informed that Mamé’s condition has stabilized, Julia introduces... (full context)

...family, along with Bertrand and Zoë, waiting in the living room. The family is split: Edouard, Zoë, and Cécile agree with Julia’s decision to research Sarah’s fate, but Colette and Laure... (full context)