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The novel The Heart-Keeper (La Garde du cœur, 1968) is one of Françoise Sagan’s most unusual and witty works, blending her signature melancholy with elements of dark comedy and Hollywood satire. Set in the sunny yet cynical landscape of Los Angeles, the story follows Dorothy, a successful and laid-back screenwriter in her forties living a relaxed life surrounded by friends and lovers. Her daily routine is upended when, after a party, she encounters Lewis—a mysterious, attractive young drug addict. Dorothy takes him under her wing, helping him recover and offering him the warmth of a home. However, Lewis’s gratitude soon takes on dark and bizarre dimensions. He becomes her literal "heart-keeper"—transforming into a silent, devoted, and utterly emotionless shield that eliminates anyone who causes Dorothy anxiety, pain, or stress. Deaths within her circle begin to occur in strangely convenient ways, leaving Dorothy caught in an absurd dilemma between horror and the secret satisfaction of being so fiercely protected. Through this novel, Sagan effortlessly explores the boundaries of loyalty, free will, and moral compromise.