Gisele Pelicot's Harrowing Memoir Exposes Decade of Abuse and Resilience
Gisele Pelicot, a 73-year-old grandmother hailed as a hero by many, has released a powerful memoir titled A Hymn to Life: Shame has to Change Sides, sharing devastating revelations about her decade-long mass rape ordeal. The book, which we read ahead of its release, delves into the agonising realities of a family torn apart and her determination to uphold her belief in love, even after learning her husband was a monster.
A Marriage Built on Deception and Horror
Gisele's 50-year marriage to Dominique Pelicot was marked by debt troubles and childhood trauma, but she had no idea he was a rapist who indulged his repulsive fantasies while she was unconscious. In December 2024, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for inviting over 50 men into their marital bedroom to abuse the drugged Gisele. She only pieced the horrors together in 2020 when he was arrested for upskirting at a supermarket.
Police found more than 20,000 videos and pictures of the abuse on his laptop, stored under file names like 'Abuses' and 'her rapists', unraveling a seemingly ordinary family. The idyllic home in Mazan, France, where they enjoyed family gatherings, became a chamber of horrors.
Family Torn Apart by the Revelations
The revelations have driven a wedge between Gisele and her three adult children: David, Caroline, and Florian. Caroline, their only daughter, was especially devastated, learning her father took voyeuristic photos of her and her sisters-in-law. In the book, Gisele recalls Caroline's "shriek of anguish" upon hearing the news, and how she destroyed family items in fury.
Caroline's mental health declined, leading to a night in a psychiatric unit, and the trial proved painful as her father denied abusing her due to lack of evidence. Gisele admits in the memoir that she had no idea how to reassure her children, whose happy childhood memories were now tainted with guilt and betrayal.
Health Horrors and Manipulation
During her marriage, Gisele experienced memory lapses, weight loss, and gynaecological issues, undergoing endless medical examinations without a diagnosis. She even jokingly asked Pelicot if he had drugged her, not realizing how close she was to the truth. He wept at the accusation but continued drugging and raping her for seven more years.
Pelicot manipulated her by accompanying her to doctors and urging her not to worry their children. After the trial, Gisele was diagnosed with HPV and had part of her cervix removed. She also discovered a loose tooth crown was due to oral rape.
Suicidal Thoughts and Courtroom Trauma
Gisele faced dark thoughts, briefly considering suicide but dismissing it. She waived her anonymity to face 51 rapists in court, where she heard horrific testimonies, including one where an attacker described her as a "dead woman" in bed. During breaks, the defendants laughed and high-fived, showing no remorse.
Pelicot had stalked her outside assaults, advising others where to find her. A total of 400 years in jail was handed to 50 defendants, with rapes occurring on dates like her birthday and New Year's Eve. Watching footage, Gisele didn't recognize herself, stating, "It wasn't me. It happened to me, but it wasn't me."
Finding Love Again with Jean-Loup
Amid the nightmare, Gisele found happiness with Jean-Loup, a retired Air France steward she met through mutual friends. They bonded over French bulldogs and fell in love in summer 2023, with their courtship being "gloriously tentative". Jean-Loup secretly supported her during the trial and helped her waive anonymity.
He also aided in mending her relationship with her children, described as the "saviour" filling the void left by her husband. Gisele shared, "My body yearned for the warmth of his embrace, transported me to some other place, did not remember."
Financial Struggles and Future Resolve
The marriage was plagued by debts, leading to a divorce in 1999 to protect Gisele's salary, though they remarried in 2007. After Pelicot's arrest, Gisele struggled to afford a lawyer due to his debts. Despite warnings, she plans to visit him in prison to ask burning questions, hoping for answers to aid her recovery.
Gisele's memoir is a testament to her resilience, offering a raw account of survival and hope. A Hymn to Life: Shame has to Change Sides is available in bookstores now.
