Perestroika in Paris is a 2020 novel in the magical realism genre. Its author is Jane Smiley, an American novelist with degrees in English Studies and a background in horseracing. The story follows Perestroika, a young horse who escapes her stall one night and ventures into the city of Paris. While there, she meets a cast of characters, including a frightened German Shepherd dog and an intellectual raven who help Perestroika learn what freedom means and find a sense of belonging. Through Perestroika’s journey, Smiley creates an allegory for human life that explores the significance of emotional bonds and poses significant philosophical questions.

This guide refers to the 2020 hardcover edition published by Alfred A. Knopf Books.

Plot Summary

Perestroika, known as Paras, is a curious racehorse whose life is dedicated to racing. Her groomer, Rania, accidentally leaves Paras’s stall door open one night. Though she has no inclination to leave her racing life behind, Paras wants to see life outside. She exits her stall, takes Rania’s purse, and leaves the racetrack behind. On the way out, she meets a German Shepherd dog named Frida, who plans to steal the money in Paras’s purse until Paras catches her. The two travel together, and Frida helps Paras find a place to spend the night.

The following day, a raven named Raoul approaches Paras and Frida, offering to guide them to where Paras can find grass to eat. They wander until they find an enclosed pond next to the Eiffel Tower, where they meet two ducks, Sid and Nancy. Sid thinks the trio has invaded his territory but allows them to stay when he realizes they are no threat to him or Nancy. While Paras sleeps, Frida catches a plastic bag and takes money from the purse to a grocer, who cooperates with Frida and lets her purchase groceries; he assumes she works with a human who cannot leave the house. Frida returns to the group with food and, after everyone discusses food preferences, she returns to the market the next day to gather more groceries. 

Thus far, the only human who knows where Paras sleeps is Pierre, the gardener who maintains the area around the Eiffel Tower; this changes when a boy, Etienne, follows Frida back to their home base and wants to interact with them. The animals scatter to protect the ducks. Etienne works for a wealthy old woman, Madame de Mornay, who lives nearby.

Paras runs through the city the following day during the early morning to stretch her legs. While on her run, she finds a bakery where a person called Anais works; Anais offers Paras some oats, which she accepts before running off into the night. Anais wonders if Paras is a real horse at all. During working hours for humans, Frida goes to the market, where she sees an old lady stumble. She walks up to the woman and offers her assistance, which the woman accepts. The woman is Madame de Mornay.

The weather turns colder, so Raoul spends more time away from the group building his nest. Paras uses the time to reflect on her present happiness at being free. Her coat keeps her warm, but her naivety makes her unaware of her hoofprints in the snow, which Frida uses to follow her, though the dog learns nothing about Paras’s nighttime wanderings. Madame de Mornay attends Mass, allowing Etienne to sneak out and offer Paras food, drawing her back to the de Mornay residence where she and Raoul become trapped. Raoul flies away when Madame and Etienne return, but Paras stays. Etienne sets Paras up with food and water and plans to keep Madame from discovering her. Madame cannot see or hear well, and when she smells something odd, she assumes it is a memory or a mistake. Conrad and Kurt, two rats who live in the walls, notice Para’s presence.

While Paras settles into her new life at the de Mornay residence, Frida roams the Paris streets wondering what to do now that her friend is “in jail.” She patrols outside the gate, hoping to find a way to rescue her friend; she visits shops and performs tricks for food and money; and she finds places to stay to keep warm while the weather is frigid. Kurt introduces himself to Paras inside the house and welcomes her, considering her a friendly presence. 

Paras and Madame have a close encounter, and Paras decides it will be better to stay outside as much as possible. She misses her freedom and attempts to push through the gate; when she fails, she lets out a loud whinny that impacts everyone she connected with since starting her journey. Frida is the most affected; she brings the purse into town and tells Paras to stop making a racket. Paras wants Frida to come inside the gate and live with her; Frida refuses until Paras offers options for her to come and go as she pleases quickly, such as digging a hole under the fence. To celebrate her friendships, Frida goes into the marketplace during Christmastime to buy presents for her friends, which she calls “offerings.”

Madame and Raoul have conflicting feelings about getting old: Madame worries about Etienne’s future without her, while Raoul has concerns about his social status. Meanwhile, Kurt takes two rides, one on Paras’s head around the grand salon and another in the grocery cart, to practice leaving the house to find his perfect mate. When the weather warms, Madame enjoys the pleasant weather but continues to worry about Etienne. In the grand salon, Etienne is taking his first ride on Paras around the grand salon; she acknowledges that he is a natural horse rider. He quickly progresses from riding her around the grand salon to riding her around the courtyard.

At the marketplace, schoolteachers overhear Jerome talking about Etienne. They question Jerome because they know no Etienne at the school; he answers their questions and slips Etienne a note warning him that school officials are asking questions. Etienne sends Frida to the shop alone while he avoids the school officials. Paras ventures to the pond to talk to Nancy; after a short conversation, she finds herself roaming toward the racetrack. She wants to return, but a car almost runs her over, stopping her progress. 

Time passes. Raoul, wanting to break normalcy and prove he can still fly like young birds, flies to the racetrack, where he collapses exhausted. While he recovers, he encounters Sid. They fly back to the pond together, and Raoul watches the reunion between Nancy, Sid, and their ducklings.

The following day, Madame wakes up with energy and tells Etienne they will go to the market. While there, she participates in choosing the best products and enjoys her time outside. When they return home, Etienne puts the groceries away, and the two eat dinner together in the dining room. Madame settles for the night and once again worries about Etienne.

Paras takes Etienne for a nighttime ride through the city to prepare him for when they must leave the de Mornay residence. Conrad finds Madame has died overnight, and Etienne discovers her not long after. He and the animals observe a solemn day of mourning. That night, the animals take Etienne out of the house and into the streets. Their path returns them to the racetrack. She jumps a gate and almost wins a race she had not entered. Rania and the other humans celebrate finding Paras, and Paras willingly returns to racehorse life. Paras’s owner makes space for Paras’s friends to live with her, including Etienne, and they live together with new hope for the future.