Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution

by Michelle Moran (Goodreads Author)

3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 · rating details · 7,647 ratings · 1,451 reviews

The world knows Madame Tussaud as a wax artist extraordinaire . . . but who was this woman who became one of the most famous sculptresses of all time? In these pages, her tumultuous and amazing story comes to life as only Michelle Moran can tell it. The year is 1788, and a revolution is about to begin.

Smart and ambitious, Marie Tussaud has learned the secrets of wax sculpt...more The world knows Madame Tussaud as a wax artist extraordinaire . . . but who was this woman who became one of the most famous sculptresses of all time? In these pages, her tumultuous and amazing story comes to life as only Michelle Moran can tell it. The year is 1788, and a revolution is about to begin.

Smart and ambitious, Marie Tussaud has learned the secrets of wax sculpting by working alongside her uncle in their celebrated wax museum, the Salon de Cire. From her popular model of the American ambassador, Thomas Jefferson, to her tableau of the royal family at dinner, Marie’s museum provides Parisians with the very latest news on fashion, gossip, and even politics. Her customers hail from every walk of life, yet her greatest dream is to attract the attention of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI; their stamp of approval on her work could catapult her and her museum to the fame and riches she desires. After months of anticipation, Marie learns that the royal family is willing to come and see their likenesses. When they finally arrive, the king’s sister is so impressed that she requests Marie’s presence at Versailles as a royal tutor in wax sculpting. It is a request Marie knows she cannot refuse—even if it means time away
from her beloved Salon and her increasingly dear friend, Henri Charles.

As Marie gets to know her pupil, Princesse Élisabeth, she also becomes acquainted with the king and queen, who introduce her to the glamorous life at court. From lavish parties with more delicacies than she’s ever seen to rooms filled with candles lit only once before being discarded, Marie steps into a world entirely different from her home on the Boulevard du Temple, where people are selling their teeth in order to put food on the table.

Meanwhile, many resent the vast separation between rich and poor. In salons and cafés across Paris, people like Camille Desmoulins, Jean-Paul Marat, and Maximilien Robespierre are lashing out against the monarchy. Soon, there’s whispered talk of revolution. . . . Will Marie be able to hold on to both the love of her life and her friendship with the royal family as France approaches civil war? And more important, will she be able to fulfill the demands of powerful revolutionaries who ask that she make the death masks of beheaded aristocrats, some of whom she knows?

Spanning five years, from the budding revolution to the Reign of Terror, Madame Tussaud brings us into the world of an incredible heroine whose talent for wax modeling saved her life and preserved the faces of a vanished kingdom.(less)

Hardcover, 446 pages

Published February 15th 2011 by Crown Publishing Group

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Historical Fiction 2011

1st out of 115 books — 582 voters

Best Historical Fiction Books that Are Actually Historical Fiction

46th out of 725 books — 581 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Aug 04, 2011 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historic-fiction-1700s

Follow all my reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

There are probably readers who disagree with me but I really enjoy Moran’s books. She has a wonderful style of writing and manages to relate a lot of history without sounding like my college professors. I had a lot of trouble putting this book down. If not for the demands of a one year old I would have been glued to the couch unable to close it. Moran’s stories have kept me entertained cover to cover and this one was no exception....more Follow all my reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

There are probably readers who disagree with me but I really enjoy Moran’s books. She has a wonderful style of writing and manages to relate a lot of history without sounding like my college professors. I had a lot of trouble putting this book down. If not for the demands of a one year old I would have been glued to the couch unable to close it. Moran’s stories have kept me entertained cover to cover and this one was no exception.

I would recommend this book to friends but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a few criticisms. To begin with, this novel should be titled Mademoiselle Grosholtz. The story begins in 1788 and takes us up to 1795, the year Marie married Tussaud. The remaining 55 years of Marie’s life are wrapped up like an after thought which disappointed me because I find her life in England very interesting even compared to her time in France. The book is a wonderful story of the French Revolution. I just don’t think it is a particularly good novel of Marie. I greatly enjoyed Moran’s story, I rated it four stars, but I do feel the title is a bit misleading. For the record I am aware that the full title is Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution. My point is that the two don’t mesh well. Madame Tussaud is an entity completely separate from the war and it comes off as a cheap attempt to sell copies. Unlike a lot of books, this one shouldn’t need to resort to such marketing tactics. It is a great book in its own right.

I am beginning to see a pattern in novels featuring Marie. Very few authors bother to do much research on the art for which she is known. Either that or they do the research and opt to omit much of it from the final draft. Some books have more content than others but all agree that she was extortionately passionate about her craft. Why no author has written a scene where Marie is actually molding the wax, painting the figures or creating the tableaux is beyond my comprehension. I want to read what goes through her mind while a face is forming beneath her fingers, I want to recognize the effort that goes into a completed figure and really understand the pride she felt when one of her figures finally went on display. Her thoughts are overwhelmingly consumed by her business and I feel she might be a more understandable character if an author would explore her art and the enthusiasm she had for it in detail. As it is she comes off as detached from both wax modeling and the events taking place around her. Her only concerns are for the money generated by her business which undermines any attempt to give her depth resulting in a one-dimensional protagonist who falls flat in a richly colorful setting.

Finally, I understand that Marie had a more personal view of the royal family than most but why does she feel no sympathy for her peers until they are being killed? She grew up with these people. Perhaps I think too much about it but I would feel more conflicted in her situation. On the same note I would think that the disparity between social classes would have made Marie more sympathetic to men like Marat and Robespierre, at least until their ideas took on a life of their own and led Paris into utter chaos.

Minor complaints aside, this is a solid read. A fantastic novel of the French Revolution. Moran has expertly executed a well-crafted story. Highly recommended to any lover of historic fiction. (less)

20 likes · like · see review

Jan 27, 2011 Cryselle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, historical

This is an engrossing tale about a woman who has become a byword for tourist-attraction, but was so much more in her own lifetime. This novel sheds a clear light on an amazing person and a turbulent time.

Told in first person and present tense, the book reads like a friend is telling you, moment by moment, about living through civil war and anarchy. Much closer to the main players than I had ever expected to learn, Marie Grosholtz (her maiden name) relates how so many visitors to her family's sal...more This is an engrossing tale about a woman who has become a byword for tourist-attraction, but was so much more in her own lifetime. This novel sheds a clear light on an amazing person and a turbulent time.

Told in first person and present tense, the book reads like a friend is telling you, moment by moment, about living through civil war and anarchy. Much closer to the main players than I had ever expected to learn, Marie Grosholtz (her maiden name) relates how so many visitors to her family's salon became major figures in the French Revolution, and how calls for bread became calls for blood.

We forget what life was like before television, but it seems that wax exhibits filled that function -- Marie and her family would create new tableaux on a weekly, sometimes daily, basis, to show the scenes and the people who made the news, or perhaps the tabloids. For most Parisians, a fifteen sou admittance fee brought them as close as they could come to the Queen and her bedchamber, or to the makers and shakers of public life. For Marie, designing these scenes was a political dance -- to depict one person could mean offending another, possibly one who would rouse the mob.

Her bittersweet romance with Henri Charles is not allowed to overwhelm the political issues: Marie was a very modern woman in some respects. Her relationship with Henri and later, Francois Tussaud, and always, with money, make her understandable to us, if perhaps a bit odd in her own time.

The author has done some amazing research and has translated it into a highly readable account; it isn't necessary that we understand every political current of the time, and she doesn't overstuff the tale (although an infodump in chapter 3 worried me, it was an isolated instance.)We see what Marie sees, and know what a citizen would be able to find out, although this citizen is surely closer to the power struggle than most.

If I have any complaint, it is that the narrator reports more than she emotes, though she must step back from some events to stay sane. The ending is a bit rushed -- surely Henri had a few pointed questions by then, but this is after the Revolution has passed, and the Revolution could be said to be the most important character of all.

I was fortunate to get this book through the Goodreads first reader program. I would rate it 4.5 for its merits, but in a whole number system I am happy to round up.
(less)

23 likes · like · see review

Jan 27, 2011 Marsha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

There was a time when I was obsessive about reading historical fiction - but at some point I found I was having a hard time finding quality works into which I might immerse myself. I am so glad that I won Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran. It has brought me back to a genre that I have missed by providing me with a very well written novel of the French Revolution.

I must say, the only thing that I struggled with was the tense. It was written in the present tense - as though all the events were unf...more There was a time when I was obsessive about reading historical fiction - but at some point I found I was having a hard time finding quality works into which I might immerse myself. I am so glad that I won Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran. It has brought me back to a genre that I have missed by providing me with a very well written novel of the French Revolution.

I must say, the only thing that I struggled with was the tense. It was written in the present tense - as though all the events were unfolding as you were reading them (which, as it turns out, drew me in even more). But, I wasn't used to that, most books that I've read of late are written in past tense and it just seemed to be a struggle for me at first (strange, I know).

Anyway, with that complaint out of the way, I'm on to the praise.
I found this book VERY well written - plain and simple. The writing style drew me in and kept me reading without feeling as though I had to force myself to continue. It moved along, adding detail about the setting, clothing, appearance, etc, without feeling as though it stopped the story. It only added to the genuine feel of the story, making me feel as though I was there, looking around and taking in the beauty (and sometimes horror) of the times. The dialogue was also well done. All of the words seemed to fill a purpose for the story: character development, moving along the plot, creating a sense of tension, etc. No unnecessary information that made me stop and ask, why on earth do I care about this exchange?

The story was written from the point of Marie Grosholtz - who becomes Madame Tussaud - a talented wax sculptress. She is a very likable character - she is strong and determined, yet believably fearful of her ability to complete the task of teaching the young princess after she has caught the attention of the King and Queen. As the revolution builds and families are forced to chose their loyalties, Marie finds herself brought front and center as a result of her (family's) business and connections.

Even if you have read other accounts (fiction or otherwise) of the French Revolution, I think that this book will provide you with a fresh and intense take on it. Obviously it is an historical FICTION, but the major events noted in the novel actually occurred. The reason I was drawn to historical fiction in the first place (providing an environment around which those facts/events took place and, thus, making it more real and understandable - though fictionalized) is embodied in this wonderful work by Michelle Moran.

I would absolutely recommend this book to others. (less)

15 likes · like · see review

Jan 03, 2012 Emma rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: france, historical-fiction, 1-star, historical-women, in-which-i-rant

40 pages in, the writing was awkward and nothing in the characters or story had yet caught my attention. By my estimate, Moran is a few steps above Philippa Gregory, but that’s not saying much.

And now I am going to use the rest of this “review” as a soapbox. Ranting ahead.

1st: DECKLE EDGE PAGES. DO NOT WANT. EVEEEER!

2nd: What’s with all the illogical use of first-person present tense these days? This book has a prologue set in 1812. Then it goes back to the main story starting in 1788, and that’...more 40 pages in, the writing was awkward and nothing in the characters or story had yet caught my attention. By my estimate, Moran is a few steps above Philippa Gregory, but that’s not saying much.

And now I am going to use the rest of this “review” as a soapbox. Ranting ahead.

1st: DECKLE EDGE PAGES. DO NOT WANT. EVEEEER!

2nd: What’s with all the illogical use of first-person present tense these days? This book has a prologue set in 1812. Then it goes back to the main story starting in 1788, and that’s in present tense. How can the character be telling her story in present tense when it’s all already over? Okay, the first-person conceit itself often makes little sense and we overlook that. (And the bookend prologue and epilogue don't actually help that here, because she isn't telling her story in 1812, just being reminded of it.) But dammit, if your story is in the present tense then it’s happening right now. In which case, it isn’t over. Please, authors, think about this.

3rd: This book just has such a bourgeois sensibility (I learned how to spell that word just for this review. I did not learn it from this book because it is not used in the first 40 pages, and I wouldn’t be surprised the characters never use it, even though they actually speak French). And that’s not what I’m looking for when I read a book about the French Revolution. You know, there are literally thousands of wars and conflicts you could write about if you want a “oh, they’re murdering people! How terrible!” sort of book. The French Revolution is different. It came up time and time again in completely unrelated history and literature classes in college, not because people got killed but because it’s rather important in world history. And what I learned in class is basically all I know about it--the historical fiction on point just doesn’t seem to be very good. I’ve read A Tale of Two Cities, which is the only Dickens so far that I haven’t liked. But I’m pretty confident that it still did a better job than this book. If I’m going to read a novel about the French Revolution, I want it to really deal with the ideas and the effects and the underlying causes. I want it to care as much about a peasant dying of starvation as it does about a royal being guillotined. I want it to let me make my own moral judgments. I want main characters who are not from the upper classes and revolutionaries who are at least sympathetic, and an aristocracy that is not whitewashed. And I want it to be at least somewhat well-written. And this was not going to be that book.

In fairness, the book does have a picture of a woman in a fancy dress on the cover, so it’s not exactly hiding anything. But she was a career woman*, not a noblewoman, so I thought it might be okay. Then she started saying things like “The king and queen have gifted the city with as much firewood as they can spare from Versailles” and I realized no, no it wouldn’t. A book that thinks a little bit of charity makes systemic abuses okay is not the French Revolution book I’m looking for.

So, if you know of the book I’m looking for, please let me know. This is not it.

* And I was so excited to read historical fiction featuring a career woman who actually existed, which meant I wouldn't have to wade through a bunch of reviews by people who know no more about history than I do but are nevertheless firmly convinced that the character is anachronistic because everybody knows no woman ever made her own way before the 20th century. But Moran's rendering of this character was so bland that it didn't matter.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 14, 2011 Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

Two words: Loved it.

4.5 Stars.
Readers have many ways to hear of the atrocities of the French Revolution, but Michelle Moran's is one that should not be overlooked as among the best. Through the eyes of Marie Grosholz, the famous sculptress known later as Madame Tussaud, we become witnesses to the crimes of the anarchists who stylized themselves as Revolutionaries. With what first begins as a documentary view of the fall of the monarchy under Louis XVI, Madame Tussaud evolves into a passionate f...more Two words: Loved it.

4.5 Stars.
Readers have many ways to hear of the atrocities of the French Revolution, but Michelle Moran's is one that should not be overlooked as among the best. Through the eyes of Marie Grosholz, the famous sculptress known later as Madame Tussaud, we become witnesses to the crimes of the anarchists who stylized themselves as Revolutionaries. With what first begins as a documentary view of the fall of the monarchy under Louis XVI, Madame Tussaud evolves into a passionate first-hand look into the horrors and the fears that the French people faced during the Revolution.

The novel begins as a sedate look at the salon of wax figures that Marie is running with her Uncle Curtius, which is a pleasant trade that allows her mother and she to thrive. Her greatest ambition is to be noticed by Queen Marie Antoinette, and is not until much later that she realizes that this one ambition for greatness could mean the guillotine for her family. Marie is extremely talented in portraying the wax sculptures with lifelike accuracy, and the salon does become recognized throughout France especially after the Royal family visit. With a devastating turn of events, the revolutionaries also visit the salon and her uncle, who becomes one of Robespierre's National Guard. The politics of the Third Estate and the plight of the poorest people are well developed in the story, and it is with a crescendo of suspense and fear that we read on as King Louis's head is brought to the salon's doorstep.. with several other horrors beforehand that pulls you into this story of a remarkable time and a woman who showed great fortitude and resilience during those times of extreme crisis.

There are many notables in the novel, from the royal family to the revolutionaries, and then there are those members of Marie's small circle that help bring a stunning clarity to the tenuous position Marie found herself in every day during the Revolution. Not knowing what was the right thing to say at any given moment (for the king or for the people?) as Marie was forced to put aside her morals and sense of right and wrong, in fear of those leaders who were making names for themselves as writers of political papers that brought chaos to the kingdom and the monarchy. No one was safe, innocent women and children were slaughtered just as the King and Queen were.

Although the start of the novel felt a bit rushed to document the events of France that brought the monarchy to its knees, the climatic story redeemed itself as this reader became completely engrossed in the travails of Madame Tussaud and her friends. I had little knowledge of the devastation the Revolutionaries caused for the entire country, and was stunned at the sanction of murder that was committed in the name of freedom. The seemingly simple title of French Revolution brings to me now a new found respect for those that lived, died or endured during the Revolution, such as young Marie Grosholz, and it is only through the magnificent storytelling via Michelle Moran from which I have achieved this. Brava to Michelle Moran for another job well done for a spectacular (heartwrenching and nerve wracking!) piece of work.

(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 14, 2011 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: goodreads-first-reads

I am a lucky winner of this book from the goodreads first reads program! I am so excited and looking forward to receiving it and reading it!

Let me start off my review by saying that I have loved all Michelle Moran's books. I think she is a great writer.

I really liked this one, but I can't say I loved it. Mostly because I felt our main character, Marie, was a little too cold or removed emotionally. I just can't seem to come up with an adjective to describe my feelings. I didn't feel the warmth...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 31, 2011 Barb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: gr-first-reads, french-revolution-terror, new-in-2011, read-in-2011, women

I want to thank Crown Publishing for giving away copies of this book here on Goodreads First Reads. I was so excited that I was chosen to receive one of the giveaway books.

This is the first novel I've read by Michelle Moran and I think she's a very talented writer. I will be keeping an eye on what she publishes and if she puts out something that interests me I won't hesitate to pick it up.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I thought the writing was very well done and I didn't find a false note or...more

I want to thank Crown Publishing for giving away copies of this book here on Goodreads First Reads. I was so excited that I was chosen to receive one of the giveaway books.

This is the first novel I've read by Michelle Moran and I think she's a very talented writer. I will be keeping an eye on what she publishes and if she puts out something that interests me I won't hesitate to pick it up.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I thought the writing was very well done and I didn't find a false note or false step anywhere in this story. Which is really a huge endorsement because it is a very rare thing for me to be able to say that.

The events that unfold during the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror are frightening and insane yet Moran is able to convey the craziness of the period without losing the reader explaining the rapidly changing and complicated politics.

Moran shows the reader how difficult and frantic it is for Marie to change the displays in the family’s wax museum just to stay current with the daily political developments. She also does an excellent job showing the reader the fear that everyone lived with at that time.

One particular example that sticks in my mind is when Marie and her mother are teaching Marie's young nephew the new names of the months and the new date according to the new government’s calendar. The names of the months are; Vintage, Fog, Frost, Snow, Rain, Wind, Seed, Blossom, Meadows, Harvesting, Heat, Fruit. And it is Year Two. The child becomes frustrated and doesn't understand how he could have been born before time began. Marie and her mother explain he doesn't need to understand he just needs to learn the rules and follow them. The consequences have already been demonstrated.

I thought this was an excellent novel about a fascinating woman living in a tremendously difficult period of time. I think this novel would be a wonderful companion read to ‘The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette’ by Carolly Erickson. I also read and enjoyed ‘The Sparks Fly Upward’ by Diana Norman set during the French Revolution as well.
(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Oct 26, 2011 TheFountainPenDiva rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: characters-artists, heroines-who-rock, characters-queens, genre-historical-fiction, opinions-read-this-book-now, settings-france, settings-the-french-revolution, historical-figures-marie-antoinette

What a wonderful way to complete this year's personal reading challenge on Goodreads! I won a galley copy of this last year from Ms. Moran and though many books came before it, this is historical fiction at its most vibrant and engaging. Let me make one thing perfectly clear--winning a galley copy from an author does not ensure that I will automatically love the book. Then again, I wouldn't enter a contest/giveaway for something I'm not interested in.

Michelle Moran has long been known for her h...more What a wonderful way to complete this year's personal reading challenge on Goodreads! I won a galley copy of this last year from Ms. Moran and though many books came before it, this is historical fiction at its most vibrant and engaging. Let me make one thing perfectly clear--winning a galley copy from an author does not ensure that I will automatically love the book. Then again, I wouldn't enter a contest/giveaway for something I'm not interested in.

Michelle Moran has long been known for her historical novels of Ancient Egypt, and though those novels don't engage me quite as much as those of Margaret George and Pauline Gedge (the reigning queens of Egyptian historical fiction in my opinion), Ms. Moran has really hit her stride with Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution. I had the feeling that Moran really enjoyed the meticulous research and the writing of this sweeping panoply of a novel, and that joy translates very well to the printed page.

The sad part about history is how little women tend to figure in it. Yes, there are notable exceptions to the rule, such as Elizabeth I, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Cleopatra and Marie Antoinette, but for the most part, women are portrayed as pawns to great men or observers of the great events happening around them. Not here with the vibrant life of one Marie Groscholtz, soon to be known to the world as Madame Tussaud, the genius behind the world-famous wax museums which still bear her name. Marie is no mere spectator, but an active participant in the events that will shape France. She is a practical, headstrong but loyal and loving woman with a gift for being able to recreate the wax portraits of the famous and the infamous in France. What I found fascinating was her unconventional family who supported her goals to put career before marriage and family.

The French Revolution and the Reign of Terror that follows is depicted in all of its bloodcurdling detail. Ms. Moran doesn't spare the reader from the horrors of the guillotine as Paris became awash in the blood of aristocrats and innocents. Notable figures from history such as Ben Franklin, the Marquis de Layfayette and Thomas Jefferson make their appearances and are treated like human beings with a great hope for freedom. I was actually surprised that Ms. Moran even had Sally Hemings, Jefferson's slave-mistress greet Marie at the door. Most historical novelists--fictional and otherwise--like to gloss over her presence because she's so problematic for them (I wonder why, LOL). We also see Robspierre, Marat, Desmoulins as both perpetrators and eventually victims of the mayhem they inadvertently unleashed. Even that infamous reprobate, the Marquis de Sade does his best to scandalize Marie, with surprisingly comical results.

The most important aspect of Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution is that Marie is a survivor and a woman far ahead of her time. An astute businesswoman who took charge of her destiny in a time when few women dared. Bravo Michelle Moran!

Something I planned to point out yesterday. There is a certain irony about the fact that I'm reading a book about the French Revolution considering the Occupy Wall Street movements that are happening all over the world. (less)

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 23, 2011 Kristy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I heart Michelle Moran! I need a T-shirt.
I think she is one of those authors you either can't get enough of or you are completely bored with. I am the first! I want to gobble up everything she writes. I loved "The Heretic Queen", "Nefertiti' and "Cleopatra's Daughter".
~But~
I wasn't overly thrilled with "Madame Tussaud". I think I would have enjoyed it more had I never read "The Hidden Diary of Mary Antoinette" or a few other French Revolution Novels. While this did bring a new light with Marie...more

11 likes · like · see review

Mar 10, 2011 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-favorites, biography, history, in-france, published-in-2011, politics, 18th-century, royalty-in-history, read-in-2011, reviewed

Just when I thought I really knew a lot about history, a book like this comes along and makes me realize how little I actually do know (and how much more I want to learn!!)

I finished reading "Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution" last night. Michelle Moran is an absolutely fantastic writer, and I cannot imagine how much research she had to do in order to write this book, because there are more details included in this book than I ever expected to find. Before I started reading, I tho...more Just when I thought I really knew a lot about history, a book like this comes along and makes me realize how little I actually do know (and how much more I want to learn!!)

I finished reading "Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution" last night. Michelle Moran is an absolutely fantastic writer, and I cannot imagine how much research she had to do in order to write this book, because there are more details included in this book than I ever expected to find. Before I started reading, I thought the book would be mostly about Madame Tussaud's relationship with Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, but it was so much more than this. In fact, her time spent at court was not a very large part of the story at all. It really is "A Novel of the French Revolution," which is the subtitle of this book.

Marie Grosholtz (Madame Tussaud's maiden name) is a fascinating person, and her life and work is incredibly well presented in this novel, in addition to her personal thoughts and feelings. She was a woman who was very far ahead of her time. I loved the way this book is written in the first person, from the perspective of Marie Grosholtz.

I learned things about the French Revolution that I had never known, and I have to say that the story of the French Revolution, described by Ms. Moran, is just unbelievable and completely shocking. And I learned so much about people whose names I have known and heard of, but never really knew much about. One example is Jean-Paul Marat. I'm very familiar with Jacques-Louis David's famous painting entitled "The Death of Marat" and Michelle Moran describes in vivid detail the scene of Marat's murder and how Marie Grosholtz was brought to Marat's bathtub (where he was killed) by Jacques-Louis David in order to make a wax model of Marat, dead in the tub. This is exactly what we see in David's painting.

Other famous people from the time of the French Revolution who are very strongly depicted here are Robespierre, the Duc d'Orleans, Camille Desmoulins, and the Marquis de Lafayette. Thomas jefferson is also included in some very interesting scenes, as is the mad man, the Marquis de Sade.

Marie Grosholtz goes to the Bastille to sketch the Marquis de Sade, in order to create a wax model of him. When she arrives at the Bastille, she is led to the Marquis de Sade by the governor of the prison, the Marquis de Launay. I find this scene to be unbelievable. While de Launay is guiding Marie through the Bastille, she hears the sound of a violin coming from one of the cells and asks de Launay if the prisoners are allowed to have musical instruments. "Of course," de Launay says. "Books as well. What else would keep them occupied?" (chapter 9). Marie is told that the Bastille only has seventeen prisoners, and that there are various forms of socializing for them, including bowling and billiards. ??!!???!!!! Yes, I was completely shocked when I read this!!! Not to mention the shock and horror I felt when, later on in the novel, I read about the bloody storming of the Bastille, and the fact that the revolutionaries thought they were releasing the prisoners from "decades of unfair imprisonment." (chapter 26.)

But everything I have just described is just a small part of this novel, which is filled with so many shocking horrors in addition to some very beautiful moments of love and friendship.

Marie's friendship with Madame Elizabeth, sister to Louis XVI, is really very special, and I loved the descriptions of Montreuil, Madame Elizabeth's home near the palace in Versailles, in addition to the exquisite descriptions of the hall of mirrors at Versailles and all of the magnificent gardens filled with orange trees and wildflowers. King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette treat Marie Grosholtz (Madame Toussaud) with so much kindness and respect, and Madame Elizabeth is an absolutely wonderful and giving person. What happens to these people is just horrifying.

I don't want to say much more about the story, because I do not want this review to be a spoiler for anyone. Although it is a story based on history, each time I turned a page I was in for a new shock and/or surprise. This is definitely a page turner, and it is so well-written that I felt as though I was part of this world. Michelle Moran really knows how to tell a story, and this story is especially fascinating because it's based on real people and actual events.

When I finished the book, I wanted more. In fact, there really is still a lot more of Madame Tussaud's fascinating life, after the French Revolution, that I would love to know about. If Ms. Moran ever writes a sequel, I will be the first person to buy a copy of it.

Thank you to Crown/Random for listing this amazing book as a First Reads giveaway, and thank you to Goodreads for selecting me as a winner. And, of course, thank you to Michelle Moran for writing such an excellent book. This is the first of Ms. Moran's books that I've read, and I am looking forward to reading all of her books now. She is an absolutely magnificent writer.

(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Mar 14, 2011 Alix rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, fiction

For full disclosure... I won this in a First Reads Giveaway.
Overall, I enjoyed this book despite the difficulty it had in keeping my interest for lengthy periods of time. The overall story was developed well and I found the timeline writing style to be easy to follow. I enjoyed the presence of many big Revolutionary players (although I'll be the first to admit that I am no French Revolution scholar!). I certainly couldn't tell where the story deviated from actual events. I did appreciate the fin...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 06, 2011 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, own-arc, own-print, signed-copies, fiction, historical-fiction, read-2011, met-author

If you haven’t heard of Madame Tussaud’s wax museums, then you need to do some Googling pronto because Madame Tussaud’s museums are about a million kinds of amazing. I’ve been to the one in Las Vegas twice (there are also museums in London, NYC, L.A., to name just a few) and both times was absolutely in awe of the wax figures and the amazing level of detail and craftsmanship that goes into them. But I’ve always wondered who was Madame Tussaud, really? I loved the museums, but knew nothing about...more If you haven’t heard of Madame Tussaud’s wax museums, then you need to do some Googling pronto because Madame Tussaud’s museums are about a million kinds of amazing. I’ve been to the one in Las Vegas twice (there are also museums in London, NYC, L.A., to name just a few) and both times was absolutely in awe of the wax figures and the amazing level of detail and craftsmanship that goes into them. But I’ve always wondered who was Madame Tussaud, really? I loved the museums, but knew nothing about the real person behind the persona, so when I saw that Michelle Moran was releasing a book about the real Madame Tussaud, I was curious and excited. I hadn’t yet read any of her books, but so many people have raved about them that I was interested to see how this one turned out. I was definitely not disappointed.

Madame Tussaud is a wonderful piece of historical fiction based on the life of Marie Grosholtz, the French woman who ran the Salon de Cire in Paris with her “uncle” Phillipe Curtius in the time of the French Revolution. Marie and her uncle sculpted wax figures of many of the celebrities and royalty of the day, and the Salon was a prominent destination on the Boulevard de Temple, visited even by the royal family. Her uncle hosted one of the most popular salons in Paris as well, drawing the likes of Robespierre and the duc d’Orleans to discuss politics and philosophy. Marie is even asked at one point to become a tutor in the art of wax modeling for the king’s sister, and travels to Versailles to teach her.

It is during this time of happiness and relative prosperity for the family that the French Revolution breaks out. Marie and her family ride the fence of the Revolution as long as they can, with nobody knowing where things will go, and where the violence will strike next. Many of the Revolution’s leaders have frequented Uncle Curtius’s salon and become friends or acquaintances, but Marie’s loyalty initially lies with the royal family as she begins tutoring the king’s sister. As the Reign of Terror is well under way, Marie and her family must deftly manage their political allegiances and tread carefully to survive the Revolution with their heads intact. Marie is forced to endure tragedy after tragedy, and it’s her skill that saves her in the end, and eventually leads her to become Madame Tussaud.

Michelle does an amazing job with Madame Tussaud’s story; the book is both well-written and absolutely engrossing. I got to meet Michelle at a signing shortly after the book came out, and she had a really great depth of knowledge about what happened, even though Marie’s story is not well-known. I would absolutely recommend Madame Tussaud to any lover of historical fiction or anybody looking for a great story, and I know I’m definitely going to be reading the rest of Michelle Moran’s books.

I received an ARC of Madame Tussaud from the publisher in a First Reads giveaway on Goodreads. (less)

5 likes · like · see review

Feb 02, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-general-fiction, first-reads-giveaway-wins

Won as a goodreads giveaway!

I really, really enjoyed this. This is a historical novel, not a historical romance - which I appreciated!

It takes you through the French Revolution from the point of view of Marie Grosholtz (who later becomes Madame Tussaud under circumstances I could hardly believe!). Marie is a perfect narrator, because she straddled both sides of the revolution - the royal family and the Jacobins - which only adds to the drama of an already fraught time.

Seriously, if more history...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jun 20, 2012 April rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, for-review

I love it when a book leaves me thinking long after I have read it. I’m the type that flippantly reads books and trots on to the next one without sparing a thought except for the review. However, come to think of it, maybe I read historical fiction a bit differently, being a history nerd and all. Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran takes place during one of my favorite periods of history to read about, The French Revolution. It’s a fictionalization of Marie Tussaud’s life during the French Revoluti...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 27, 2011 Caitlin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

To be honest, I didn't like this one as much as I did Moran's other books set in Egypt. Part of that is that Egyptian history, and its ties to Roman history, are mush more interesting to me. Also, since much more is known about the events of the French Revolution, there was a lot more detail, and it was a little overwhelming at times. But I did enjoy learning about the origin of Madame Tussaud- to be honest, I thought she was a character made up as a marketing ploy for today's Madame Tussaud's w...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 31, 2011 ☮Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-books

Thank you goodreads for letting me win this book! Very well written, interesting, and so informative. I'm torn between 4 and 5 stars. Wax museums have always given me the creeps; but this book taught me that during the French Revolution, the figures and displays changed frequently and were actually a form of reporting the news. People and rooms would be sketched and then transformed into wax models and "tableaux". So while the descriptions of the wax people didn't bother me, the guillotine usage...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 20, 2011 Mad_Maudie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bio-auto-memoir, historical-history

Once I picked up this book, if I'd had the time to do so, I wouldn't have put it down until it was finished. Madame Tussaud was intelligent and quick-witted, as well as creative and artistic. She somehow managed to keep her head when so many around her were losing theirs (both literally and figuratively) during what was surely one of the bloodiest and most chaotic periods in modern history.

Author Michelle Moran has done with words with Madame Tussaud did with wax: she has recreated, with intima...more

5 likes · like · see review

Aug 27, 2011 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, fiction

I'm so thankful I won this book through Good Reads first-reads. So far it's really good.

This is the first book I've read by Michelle Moran but ut won't be the last. She does a wonderful job of striking the right balance between history and story which is what I'm always looking for in historical novels. I came away from this book with a new understanding of how scary it must have been during the French revolution. I've been to Madams Tussaud's wax museum's before but had no idea of the history b...more

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 08, 2011 Maggie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, books-for-challenges, real-people-history

This book tells both the personal and factual story of Marie Grosholtz who, after marriage, became Madame Tussaud. She was the wax model creator who helped establish the museum which became the world famous "Madame Tussaud's".

The book is set during the French Revolution, and most of the action relates to that turbulent time and her friendships / business relationships with both royalty and the revolutionaries. I learnt quite a bit about French history whilst reading this book. I wondered how m...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 15, 2011 Isis rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: revolution-age-1650-to-1837ce-ficti, all-starting-to-look-the-same

Anachronisms and historical inaccuracies have been a big problem in Moran’s past novels, and Madame Tussaud has a scattered few, none that are too major, but just enough to take away from that feeling of authenticity that all historical novelists must strive for, and they do feel quite odd in the novel’s setting. In terms of anachronisms, I caught characters using all-too modern vernacular on a couple of occasions, fortunately nothing too bad. For the most part, the niggles stayed that way, alth...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 07, 2012 Sara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, history

I don't know a whole lot about the French Revolution so I found following some of the characters of this book difficult. However, I think the French Revolution itself was a confusing time, full of politcal intrigues, quick reversals in fortune and so forth. So I'm feeling okay about not having mastered the intricacies of the history here.

That said, enjoyable story. Fascinating to see a woman in that time period walk a very delicate line between romantic love and career as well as a delicate and...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 18, 2011 Chantelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Well, I finally read it.
I adore Michelle Moran - I think she's a fabulous author - Cleopatra's Daughter is one of my most favorite books of all time, and her other two are not far behind. I love that she interacts with her readers here on goodreads. Suffice it to say - I'm a fan.

I remember being slightly taken aback upon hearing that her next book was about Marie Tussaud. I knew virtually nothing about her, other than I'd walked past the museum a few times in NYC and never quite had enough of...more

2 likes · like · see review

Aug 27, 2011 Karla rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, france, historical, romance, french-revolution, favorites

Wish authors like this were around when I was in High school or college. I retained and learned more about The French Revolution than I ever learned growing up listening to a monotone History teacher preach dates in time at me. The whole time I was thoroughly entertained with her approach by picking a female character who met and knew all sides of the Revolution with brains and talent, who had to tiptoe between the middle of all sides of The Revolution was brilliant! A real historical look into...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 19, 2012 Pamela (slytherpuff) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, library-book, ebook, audiobook, z-complete-2012-fbc, cried-like-a-baby, favorite-authors, favorites, pimp-out, romance, scary-shit, strong-heroine

See more of my reviews at Bettering Me Up.

I was a French major in college, studied in Paris for a year, and consider France to be my home away from home. I have studied the French Revolution and knew all of the major dates and the most important players.

But those years of study don't come anywhere close to affecting me the way that this novel does.

Michelle Moran has done an amazing job bringing Madame Tussaud -- someone I never gave much thought to -- and the French Revolution to life. It has g...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 14, 2013 Farnoosh Brock rated it 5 of 5 stars

In February 2011, I flew cross-country to Los Angeles to meet the amazing and authentic Michelle Moran on the debut of her book on "Madame Tussaud".

I first fell in love with Moran when she opened me to the world of Ancient Egypt and Roman Empire times through her fabulous books (links here go to those deeply personal reviews, not to Amazon) Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen, and Cleopatra's Daughter. Moran's story telling takes hold of you and her writing voice captivates you to the point where you...more In February 2011, I flew cross-country to Los Angeles to meet the amazing and authentic Michelle Moran on the debut of her book on "Madame Tussaud".

I first fell in love with Moran when she opened me to the world of Ancient Egypt and Roman Empire times through her fabulous books (links here go to those deeply personal reviews, not to Amazon) Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen, and Cleopatra's Daughter. Moran's story telling takes hold of you and her writing voice captivates you to the point where you put stops on all other things in life and turn the pages obsessively until you finish the story.

In the case of Madame Tussaud, sweet pleasure is not the exact way I would describe my reaction to this grim and deeply sad book on the life of the wax sculptor, Anne-Marie (née Grosholtz) Tussaud but I am beyond pleased to have read it. Before reading it, I knew this was Moran's darkest book and still, nothing could have prepared me for the horrors of the French Revolution and the intensity of the anarchy that follows during Madame Tussaud's lifetime. She gave me history and fiction in one place and I know that it is important for us to be informed about the horrors of that period.

Marie Tussaud might just be one of the best-developed characters in all of Moran's books. I thoroughly enjoyed Moran's portrayal of all the encounters between Marie Tussaud and the royal family. She gives us a side of the royalty that was human, caring, sincere and caught between a rock and a hard place. Those encounters at Versailles with the King and Queen are however very short-lived.

Would I recommend it? It depends what kind of experience you seek in your reading. I seek experience from many sides of the spectrum and historical fiction, done the right way, fills a curious gap and leaves me wanting more. Moran always leaves me wanting more. This was a fantastic read, I do recommend it, and I warn you that if you start it, you will have to finish, despite the heaviness of it all.

Thank you Michelle! You did it again and I know you will do it again in your next novel.(less)

like · see review

Apr 06, 2013 Grace Elliot rated it 4 of 5 stars

Madam Tussaud is the story of a woman driven by the need for financial security and acceptance. She has a rare talent for remembering faces and a gift for wax modelling - combined this means she creates life-like replicas in wax of the 'celebrities' of her day.
The first chapters skillfully show how Marie aligns herself to the French royal family at a time of flux when rebellion is in the air. The book maps how the rise of Marat, Robespierre and Danton, at the expense of royalty and the old regi...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 05, 2013 Sx rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2013

Think Saw: the gory book version. This was exactly what this book felt like, senseless murders, bloodthirsty audiences, and death, lots and lots of it.

A book about the life and times of Madame Tussaud doesn't disappoint, though I wished Moran would just tell her readers that Henri was a figment of her imagination to save us from googling the facts out. Marie was extremely talented, but also business savvy, which was what saved her from the bloodthirsty maelstrom that was the French Revolution....more

like · see review

Jan 26, 2013 Regina Lindsey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran
4 Stars

"Few women from this period are remembered as having straddled both worlds and lived to tell the tale." (pg 434). Few people, period, are remembered for surviving these events, much less straddling both worlds. However, Marrie accomplishes this and goes on to have as immortalized as the subjects she sculpts through the famous Madame Tussaud Wax Museums.

I have to admit I resisted reading this book for quite some time because I'm not a frequent visitor to the...more Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran
4 Stars

"Few women from this period are remembered as having straddled both worlds and lived to tell the tale." (pg 434). Few people, period, are remembered for surviving these events, much less straddling both worlds. However, Marrie accomplishes this and goes on to have as immortalized as the subjects she sculpts through the famous Madame Tussaud Wax Museums.

I have to admit I resisted reading this book for quite some time because I'm not a frequent visitor to the museums. I have been to a couple, and they are usually well done, but I'm more attracted to history and art museums. I know, in a sense, I guess these are somewhat historical musuems. It wasn't until I finally realized that Marie lived during the French Revolution that I realized there may be more to her story than I was originally aware.

There are some aspects that I truly commend Moran for in this work. First, I've heard people state that reading about the French Revolution can be confusing. Since the reader sees events unfold through the eyes of Marie and how it impacts daily life, particularly as the Reign of Terror sets in, this is a good read for a basic understanding of the events and the players of the time. Secondly, I thought she superbly showed how early Robespierre began his thirst for power and how the public was manipulated into enflamed passions by Roberspierre, Desmoulins, and Marat. I found the terror in the streets of Paris credible and palpable, as described by Moran. The reader should truly get a sense of how bloody the Revolution and the Reign of Terror both were. Finally, I always appreciate when an author delineates between historical fact and where liberties were taken. Moran always provides this for the leader, and she does a good job, with the exception of one item I take issue with. But, here she went further. I appreciated the follow up of what happened in the aftermath of the Revolution to the characters of the book.

I can never quite give Moran the 5th star because, while she always provides an interesting story weaved around history, her characters never seem to be fully developed. I felt she followed suit here. With the exception of Marie, all of the characters are one-dimensional. The sympathetic view of the monarchs was an interesting perspective, but it was a little overdone. The courtship between Marie and her future felt incredibly rushed. I also wish that sense she included the Thomas Jefferson quote many people like to repeat, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants”, I wish she would have somewhere mentioned that Jefferson saw more clearly as events unfolded that the French cause was vastly differently than the American. But, my major criticism was in laying the blame for Lyon at the feet of Robespierre. I agree that Robespierre was despicable, but Lyon is more complicated than was portrayed here.

For me the mark of an excellent historical fiction was did I learn something? There was nothing new for me about the French Revolution; however, for those new to the subject I think this is a wonderful introduction in an engaging tale. But, I was completely ignorant of Marie's role in events. I will view the museum's bearing her name in a different light.

(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jan 16, 2013 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Marie Grosholtz, the talented wax sculptress who became Madame Tussaud barely survived the French Revolution. Her family ran a salon frequented by revolutionaries, particularly Robespierre. She also had entrée to Versailles as a tutor to the king’s sister. In the course of her work she met almost everyone of the period who was interesting or important. The story is a blend of extensive research and a lively imagination. It isn’t possible to write about the French Revolution without a great deal...more

like · see review

Dec 27, 2012 Rick rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very engaging and very well written, this book draws you right in and makes you feel like you are there in the midst of the French Revolution. I am not a scholar of those times and was shocked, saddened, and fascinated to see how completely and quickly those who set forces in motion lost their sense of why they did it or their ability to control the events.

For me, this story helped me better understand more current events in which dictators have been overthrown and the resulting power vacuum lea...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
What did you think of this book?	18	81	Apr 21, 2013 03:58pm
Book Giveaways: Madame Tussaud Giveaway	1	19	Dec 27, 2011 04:42pm

combine
Other Editions (14)

More editions...

Genres

Historical Fiction

887 users

Cultural > France

97 users

European History > French Revolution

41 users

Romance

27 users

Literature > 18th Century

26 users

Adult

23 users

Adult Fiction

18 users

War

17 users

Book Club

16 users

Politics

8 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Michelle Moran

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Michelle Moran was born in southern California. After attending Pomona College, she earned a Masters Degree from the Claremont Graduate University. During her six years as a public high school teacher, Michelle used her summers to travel around the world, and it was her exp...more

More about Michelle Moran...

Books by Michelle Moran

The Second Empress: A Novel of Napoleon's Court

The Egyptian Royals Collection: Three Historical Novels by Michelle Moran: Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen, and Cleopatra's Daughter

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Madame Tussaud: A...

11 trivia questions

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from Madame Tussaud: A Nove...

“But we are all sorry when loss comes for us. The test of our character comes not in how many tears we shed but in how we act after those tears have dried.” — 68 people liked it

“Sometimes, it is not the kings and queen who make for the most fascinating history but the shadowy souls who happen to be in the right place at the right time.” — 44 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution
avg rating	preview: Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution Goodreads rating: 3.95 (7647 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8689913-madame-tussaud?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320558120l/8689913.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8689913-madame-tussaud?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution by Michelle Moran[/url]

Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website