Lulu Garcia Navarro

That made her a global icon and inspired a movement of women who marched in demonstrations all over France to demand change to the country's consent laws.

Still, despite her fame, Giselle remained in many ways an enigma.

Outside of the trial, she'd never sat down to tell her story until now.

She's written a new memoir called A Hymn to Life, Shame Has to Change Sides.

And over an extended interview last month in Paris, her first with an American media outlet, Giselle spoke with me about the early years of her marriage, the toll the abuse and trial took on her and her family, and how, despite everything she's been through, she's found love and a sense of peace again.

What you'll hear is a voiceover in English of Giselle's original French answers.

Here's my interview with the extraordinary Gisèle Pellicot.

Madame, I am so happy to have you here today.

Your book is gripping.

It is heartbreaking.

It is beautifully written.

And this is the first time that people will be able to have heard from you personally, your own words, your own story.

How are you feeling sitting down and discussing this really in a public way for the first time?

To start, before we talk further, how would you like me to refer to your ex-husband?

Monsieur Pellicot.

Monsieur Pellicot.

I'd like to start your story by talking about the period of time before you knew what was being done to you.

You had retired to the southeast of France in a town called Mazin.

What kind of person were you then?

I mean, how would you have described yourself?