katoï
Léo grew up in Bangkok, where his father served as an ambassador. Despite his impeccable upbringing, this young Frenchman hides a secret: he was born in a body he cannot accept. Léo longs to become Joséphine, but in his social circle, this is unthinkable. He pursues a career in medicine, becoming a skilled surgeon specializing in gender transitions. He marries Delphine and has a daughter, Eva, but remains torn between his true self and societal expectations. Will Léo find the courage to complete his quest for identity?
A moving novel that portrays the challenges faced by a transgender person in a conservative, high-society setting.
French version only, soon in English
Inspiration behind the novel​
​I was immediately fascinated by the katoï during my many stays in Thailand and elsewhere in Asia. After long conversations with the ladyboys of Phuket and transgender individuals in Europe, I realized there is both integration and rejection across these two continents with their contrasting customs. The katoï, with their unique beauty, now represent a third gender. Léo, my character, who lived within me for years, deeply moved me with his existential suffering, his emotional confusion, and his sexual journey as Léo and the woman he longs to become, Joséphine.