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Mistress of the Revolution
A singular new voice in historical fiction. A time of decadence in a country embroiled in revolution. An unforgettably high-spirited heroine.
Set in opulent, decadent, turbulent revolutionary France, Mistress of the Revolution is the story of Gabrielle de Montserrat. An impoverished noblewoman blessed with fiery red hair and a mischievous demeanor, Gabrielle is only fifteen when she meets her true love, a commoner named Pierre-André Coffinhal. But her brother forbids their union, choosing for her instead an aging, wealthy baron.
Widowed and a mother while still a teen, Gabrielle arrives at the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette in time to be swept up in the emerging cataclysm. As a new order rises, Gabrielle finds her own lovely neck on the chopping block—and who should be selected to sit on the Revolutionary Tribunal but her first love, Pierre-André. . . .
Replete with historical detail, complex and realistic characters (several of whom actually existed), and a heroine who demands—and rewards—attention, Mistress of the Revolution is an unforgettable debut.
A stunning new talent in historical fiction makes her debut with a novel perfect for readers of In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant
Set in opulent, decadent, turbulent revolutionary France, Mistress of the Revolution is the story of Gabrielle de Montserrat. An impoverished noblewoman blessed with fiery red hair and a mischievous demeanor, Gabrielle is only fifteen when she meets her true love, a commoner named Pierre-André Coffinhal. But her brother forbids their union, choosing for her instead an aging, wealthy baron.
Widowed and a mother while still a teen, Gabrielle arrives at the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette in time to be swept up in the emerging cataclysm. As a new order rises, Gabrielle finds her own lovely neck on the chopping block—and who should be selected to sit on the Revolutionary Tribunal but her first love, Pierre-André. . . .
Replete with historical detail, complex and realistic characters (several of whom actually existed), and a heroine who demands—and rewards—attention, Mistress of the Revolution is an unforgettable debut.
A stunning new talent in historical fiction makes her debut with a novel perfect for readers of In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant
451 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
33 people are currently reading
6346 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Delors
6 books145 followersAuthor of Gabrielle ou les infortunes de la vertu (in French), Mistress of the Revolution and For the King. All are historical novels set in Paris around the time of the French Revolution.
Catherine was born and raised in France. She is also an attorney with an international practice, and splits her time between Paris and Los Angeles.
Catherine was born and raised in France. She is also an attorney with an international practice, and splits her time between Paris and Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
December 5, 2007
I absolutely loved Mistress of the Revolution. It's a great historical fiction about a lady's life during the French Revolution. I wish I had read the book when I was learning about the French Revolution in college...it clears up a lot of confusion. This is great for people who love historical fiction but don't want a whole lot of cheesy romance. I have my B.A. in History and am always impressed when authors such as Catherine Delors puts an amazing amount of effort to get not only the historical facts correct but also the feeling of the era as well. I'm looking forward to more books from this author.
March 20, 2012
Amid the present plethora of bestselling novels set in the Tudor Era, there are a few gems in the historical novel genre set during France’s Ancien Régime and Revolutionary Period. “Mistress of the Revolution” is one such priceless gem. It begins in 1780 in France’s Auvergne Region with the arrival of a young girl (Gabrielle de Monserrat, whose red hair already makes her standout among famille and friends) at her family’s estate, Fontfreyde, from convent school, where she had spent the early years of her life. Gabrielle’s family (made up of an unfeeling mother; an older brother, the Marquis, who has assumed the role of guardian for the 11-year old Gabrielle; and 2 older sisters, one married to a fellow aristocrat, and the other, a nun living in the convent of Noirvaux) have plans for her future.
In the succeeding 4 years, Gabrielle leads a life much in fitting with young ladies of her social class. One day, while riding in the woods near the family estate, she meets her first love, Pierre-Andre Coffinhal, a young doctor and commoner. Upon learning of Gabrielle’s meetings (wholly innocent, for Gabrielle and Pierre-Andre at most exchanged a few, chaste kisses and a tender embrace) with this commoner, the Marquis is enraged and forbades Gabrielle from having anything to do with him. Pierre-Andre, with his brother Jean-Baptiste (who serves Gabrielle’s family as their lawyer), acting as intermediary, petitioned the Marquis for permission to marry Gabrielle. The Marquis strongly rebukes Pierre-Andre, and quickly makes arrangements to have Gabrielle married to a distant family relation, the Baron de Peyre, who is 30 years her senior, highly wealthy, and newly widowed. Gabrielle, intent on eloping with her first love, is betrayed by a trusted servant, and is placed under close confinement by the Marquis until she’s married off.
Upon learning of Gabrielle’s marriage, Pierre-Andre, in deepest despair, leaves for Paris, where he retrains as a lawyer under the tutelage of another brother, Joseph, who practices law there.
The marriage proved to be a cross to bear for Gabrielle, beginning with the wedding night. Baron de Peyre was an imposing, mercurial man much used to getting his own way. He ruled over his estate with an iron hand and was insistent on Gabrielle providing him with a son. She gives birth to a daughter, Aimee, and later suffers a miscarriage (the dead child proved to be a boy). The Baron dies of a heart attack, leaving Gabrielle and Aimee virtually destitute. By feigning a third pregnancy, Gabrielle buys herself some extra time to live on the estate. But, she cannot expect to maintain the pretense of being with child (according to the Baron’s will, if Gabrielle gave birth to a son, the bulk of his estate and wealth would be hers; otherwise, if there was no pregnancy, Gabrielle and Aimee would be given a few thousand francs apiece and forced to vacate the estate), and so, eventually, Gabrielle asks the Marquis to permit her to return to Fontfreyde. He refuses her request and turns his back on Gabrielle.
In the meantime, Gabrielle makes the acquaintance of the Chevalier des Huttes, with whose help she and Aimee move to Paris in late 1787, where their lives are transformed on a vast scale.
Paris would be Gabrielle’s home for 8 years, until the cataclysmic events arising out of the French Revolution and Great Terror would compel her and Aimee to leave France for England.
“Mistress of the Revolution” is told in part in the form of Gabrielle’s memoir. But mainly it is through the author’s skilled storytelling, with her clever juxtaposition of both fictional and historical characters, that the reader is treated to a rich and poignant tale of love, joy, man’s inhumanity to man, and loss.
In the succeeding 4 years, Gabrielle leads a life much in fitting with young ladies of her social class. One day, while riding in the woods near the family estate, she meets her first love, Pierre-Andre Coffinhal, a young doctor and commoner. Upon learning of Gabrielle’s meetings (wholly innocent, for Gabrielle and Pierre-Andre at most exchanged a few, chaste kisses and a tender embrace) with this commoner, the Marquis is enraged and forbades Gabrielle from having anything to do with him. Pierre-Andre, with his brother Jean-Baptiste (who serves Gabrielle’s family as their lawyer), acting as intermediary, petitioned the Marquis for permission to marry Gabrielle. The Marquis strongly rebukes Pierre-Andre, and quickly makes arrangements to have Gabrielle married to a distant family relation, the Baron de Peyre, who is 30 years her senior, highly wealthy, and newly widowed. Gabrielle, intent on eloping with her first love, is betrayed by a trusted servant, and is placed under close confinement by the Marquis until she’s married off.
Upon learning of Gabrielle’s marriage, Pierre-Andre, in deepest despair, leaves for Paris, where he retrains as a lawyer under the tutelage of another brother, Joseph, who practices law there.
The marriage proved to be a cross to bear for Gabrielle, beginning with the wedding night. Baron de Peyre was an imposing, mercurial man much used to getting his own way. He ruled over his estate with an iron hand and was insistent on Gabrielle providing him with a son. She gives birth to a daughter, Aimee, and later suffers a miscarriage (the dead child proved to be a boy). The Baron dies of a heart attack, leaving Gabrielle and Aimee virtually destitute. By feigning a third pregnancy, Gabrielle buys herself some extra time to live on the estate. But, she cannot expect to maintain the pretense of being with child (according to the Baron’s will, if Gabrielle gave birth to a son, the bulk of his estate and wealth would be hers; otherwise, if there was no pregnancy, Gabrielle and Aimee would be given a few thousand francs apiece and forced to vacate the estate), and so, eventually, Gabrielle asks the Marquis to permit her to return to Fontfreyde. He refuses her request and turns his back on Gabrielle.
In the meantime, Gabrielle makes the acquaintance of the Chevalier des Huttes, with whose help she and Aimee move to Paris in late 1787, where their lives are transformed on a vast scale.
Paris would be Gabrielle’s home for 8 years, until the cataclysmic events arising out of the French Revolution and Great Terror would compel her and Aimee to leave France for England.
“Mistress of the Revolution” is told in part in the form of Gabrielle’s memoir. But mainly it is through the author’s skilled storytelling, with her clever juxtaposition of both fictional and historical characters, that the reader is treated to a rich and poignant tale of love, joy, man’s inhumanity to man, and loss.
January 5, 2013
4.5 Stars.
As an avid book reader, I love books, but rarely does a book become a favorite. This had been in my pile forever. I bought it off a $1.99 clearance rack. After seeing the movie Les Mis, I decided to break into the French Revolution pile. I also want to add that I do not tend to like historical fiction books with fictional characters. I'd rather read about real people. Well, to my surprise fictional Gabrielle locked me in from the beginning. Born into a poor aristocrat family, we journey her life saga with her and a saga it was. As most story book heroines, she meets the man she loves at 15, but cannot marry him because he is a commoner. Surprisingly, this story did not feel like the same old same old. It felt fresh and new. I hung onto every word. She was forced to marry the not so nice Baron (this is on the back cover so no spoiler) and when he leaves her penniless she heads to Paris to try and survive. That's all I'll say, because I don't want to ruin the story for you. Some call this historical romance......do you consider romance to be abusive relationships (well, maybe if you're into Fifty Shades of Grey) No, this to me was not romantic. This to me was about a woman trying to survive in the 18th century during the French Revolution, who was not easy on anyone...man, woman or child. Marie Antoinette and her court were in the background. This story was about Gabrielle, but the author threw in lots of Revolution history and real people. This was also the first HF book I've read about the judicial side of the Revolution. I simply loved this book. I'm glad I have found a new author.
As an avid book reader, I love books, but rarely does a book become a favorite. This had been in my pile forever. I bought it off a $1.99 clearance rack. After seeing the movie Les Mis, I decided to break into the French Revolution pile. I also want to add that I do not tend to like historical fiction books with fictional characters. I'd rather read about real people. Well, to my surprise fictional Gabrielle locked me in from the beginning. Born into a poor aristocrat family, we journey her life saga with her and a saga it was. As most story book heroines, she meets the man she loves at 15, but cannot marry him because he is a commoner. Surprisingly, this story did not feel like the same old same old. It felt fresh and new. I hung onto every word. She was forced to marry the not so nice Baron (this is on the back cover so no spoiler) and when he leaves her penniless she heads to Paris to try and survive. That's all I'll say, because I don't want to ruin the story for you. Some call this historical romance......do you consider romance to be abusive relationships (well, maybe if you're into Fifty Shades of Grey) No, this to me was not romantic. This to me was about a woman trying to survive in the 18th century during the French Revolution, who was not easy on anyone...man, woman or child. Marie Antoinette and her court were in the background. This story was about Gabrielle, but the author threw in lots of Revolution history and real people. This was also the first HF book I've read about the judicial side of the Revolution. I simply loved this book. I'm glad I have found a new author.
November 4, 2012
The French Revolution is a vast, complex subject that begs for epic fiction. This is not it.
The problem begins with a weak-willed, vapid protagonist named Gabrielle, who has a penchant for making bad decisions that lead to one crisis after another. She's a problem only aggrivated by a series of male characters who are, everyone, slightly unhinged, from an incestous brother to a sadistic husband to a serial-killer lover. It's a rather perplexing reading experience, because Catherine Delors is a skilled writer. The prose is engaging, the dialogue crisp, and the characters are sharply drawn. But there is not a single admirable person in this novel. They do not grow, learn, or change. And there is the real shortcoming of 'Mistress.' It's chief character, Gabrielle never grows on the reader. She merely drifts from one crisis to another, pulled and pummeled by events, without any sense of purpose or ambition, which makes for a disappointing resolution to a plot that, ultimately, has no point.
The problem begins with a weak-willed, vapid protagonist named Gabrielle, who has a penchant for making bad decisions that lead to one crisis after another. She's a problem only aggrivated by a series of male characters who are, everyone, slightly unhinged, from an incestous brother to a sadistic husband to a serial-killer lover. It's a rather perplexing reading experience, because Catherine Delors is a skilled writer. The prose is engaging, the dialogue crisp, and the characters are sharply drawn. But there is not a single admirable person in this novel. They do not grow, learn, or change. And there is the real shortcoming of 'Mistress.' It's chief character, Gabrielle never grows on the reader. She merely drifts from one crisis to another, pulled and pummeled by events, without any sense of purpose or ambition, which makes for a disappointing resolution to a plot that, ultimately, has no point.
March 20, 2008
This was a difficult review to write. I enjoyed the book very much and I wanted to do it justice but sometimes there are so many things you appreciate that you get overwhelmed when it comes to writing the review.
This book reads like a memoir, the heroine is looking back on her past and telling us about her life. There are only a few occasions in which we are brought back to the present and actually know her as an old woman.
This is a book about a very sensitive period in history. The French Revolution gave us the ideals we still live by today but at the same time it was a period of such blood shed that sometimes, when I read about it, the good parts pale in comparison.
The book starts as Gabrielle de Montserrat is brought to her family to live after a few years living with a nurse and then a few more in a convent completing her education. Her family belongs to the impoverished aristocracy and it is understood that she will be expected to marry well. However Gabrielle ends up falling in love with a young commoner - Pierre Andre Coffinhal - and to prevent them from being together her brother marries her to a man thrice her age when she is only 15. Said husband will mistreat her before finally dying and leaving her penniless and with a little daughter. Without any other options she accepts to go to Paris and live with an old relation. There she will be in touch with the court life and the last moments of the Old Regime. Her story is not uncommon when it comes to the history of women in general. Dependent on men to provide for her, as due to her status work can't be considered, she becomes the mistress of a rich men. Her position as Lady In Waiting to the Countess of Provence will allow her to get to know the most important personalities in the political scene. After the monarchy is abolished she is reduced to a "ci-devant" (an ex) Baroness and in a world where titles are no longer tolerated she finds herself imprisoned and in constant danger of being tried and killed just because she was an aristocrat. As the situation collapses she asks for the help of Pierre-Andree who has risen to be an important member of the Revolutionary Tribunal and a close friend of Robespierre. The relationship that they develop will allow Gabrielle and us to follow the period of the Terror and its political changes especially it what concerns civil rights. From its beginning till the moment when the leaders of the revolution end up being led to the guillotine themselves.
I found it strange at first that Gabrielle could mention so many horrifying things in a detached manner. But then it struck me that she is looking back into the past, some events are long gone and we are watching them through her eyes. The first person point of view also helps with that. It’s an interesting way of telling the story and I also found it important in a different level. She manages to convey both the old world and the new society that comes out of the revolution without being judgemental. It’s through Pierre-Andre’s character that we have most of the analysis and condemnation of the old regime and the defence of the new order. Gabrielle has a more feminine approach to reality with worries about family and friends which make her observations very interesting in a different way. I felt that last part of the book was the stronger one and why I ended up loving it so much.
The romantic element is strong but this is Gabrielle's story, not a romance, and in the end she survives and becomes stronger. When she reaches the end of her story she is in London and thinks about how twenty three years later the émigrés are returning to France as the Bourbons were restored to the throne. She, however, will never be able to go back…
The characters are interesting and I felt that the more I knew them the more I wanted to know. The historical background is really well done. We get a true feeling of the period without it taking centre stage.
One final note to say the book is populated by real people, who actually existed – starting with Coffinhal - and I really liked that.
Grade: A
This book reads like a memoir, the heroine is looking back on her past and telling us about her life. There are only a few occasions in which we are brought back to the present and actually know her as an old woman.
This is a book about a very sensitive period in history. The French Revolution gave us the ideals we still live by today but at the same time it was a period of such blood shed that sometimes, when I read about it, the good parts pale in comparison.
The book starts as Gabrielle de Montserrat is brought to her family to live after a few years living with a nurse and then a few more in a convent completing her education. Her family belongs to the impoverished aristocracy and it is understood that she will be expected to marry well. However Gabrielle ends up falling in love with a young commoner - Pierre Andre Coffinhal - and to prevent them from being together her brother marries her to a man thrice her age when she is only 15. Said husband will mistreat her before finally dying and leaving her penniless and with a little daughter. Without any other options she accepts to go to Paris and live with an old relation. There she will be in touch with the court life and the last moments of the Old Regime. Her story is not uncommon when it comes to the history of women in general. Dependent on men to provide for her, as due to her status work can't be considered, she becomes the mistress of a rich men. Her position as Lady In Waiting to the Countess of Provence will allow her to get to know the most important personalities in the political scene. After the monarchy is abolished she is reduced to a "ci-devant" (an ex) Baroness and in a world where titles are no longer tolerated she finds herself imprisoned and in constant danger of being tried and killed just because she was an aristocrat. As the situation collapses she asks for the help of Pierre-Andree who has risen to be an important member of the Revolutionary Tribunal and a close friend of Robespierre. The relationship that they develop will allow Gabrielle and us to follow the period of the Terror and its political changes especially it what concerns civil rights. From its beginning till the moment when the leaders of the revolution end up being led to the guillotine themselves.
I found it strange at first that Gabrielle could mention so many horrifying things in a detached manner. But then it struck me that she is looking back into the past, some events are long gone and we are watching them through her eyes. The first person point of view also helps with that. It’s an interesting way of telling the story and I also found it important in a different level. She manages to convey both the old world and the new society that comes out of the revolution without being judgemental. It’s through Pierre-Andre’s character that we have most of the analysis and condemnation of the old regime and the defence of the new order. Gabrielle has a more feminine approach to reality with worries about family and friends which make her observations very interesting in a different way. I felt that last part of the book was the stronger one and why I ended up loving it so much.
The romantic element is strong but this is Gabrielle's story, not a romance, and in the end she survives and becomes stronger. When she reaches the end of her story she is in London and thinks about how twenty three years later the émigrés are returning to France as the Bourbons were restored to the throne. She, however, will never be able to go back…
The characters are interesting and I felt that the more I knew them the more I wanted to know. The historical background is really well done. We get a true feeling of the period without it taking centre stage.
One final note to say the book is populated by real people, who actually existed – starting with Coffinhal - and I really liked that.
Grade: A
February 22, 2008
I learned a lot from this book. I wrote it!
July 26, 2011
This was a fast read, engaging, and I learned a bit about the French Revolution, which is not an era that I have read much about.
It is written as a memoir, and the fictional woman who writes it is a penniless aristocrat, a stunning beauty, a victim of circumstance, with impeccable morals and incredible courage. She is kind to the ugly, aged and odd, to whom so many others are not kind. She was a member of the court and inside the palace when King Louis and Marie-Antoinette were arrested, but was not one of those terrible, shallow courtiers. Sound a little cliche? Yes, I thought so, too.
It is written as a memoir, and the fictional woman who writes it is a penniless aristocrat, a stunning beauty, a victim of circumstance, with impeccable morals and incredible courage. She is kind to the ugly, aged and odd, to whom so many others are not kind. She was a member of the court and inside the palace when King Louis and Marie-Antoinette were arrested, but was not one of those terrible, shallow courtiers. Sound a little cliche? Yes, I thought so, too.
April 23, 2010
In the second year of my history degree, I had the opportunity to write a dissertation, and naturally I chose my favourite subject, eighteenth-century France. The post-revolutionary period was particularly rich in memoirs and I decided that I would analyse seven autobiographies by noblewomen. This is an extract from my conclusion:
Mistress of the Revolution, which takes the form of a memoir by a fictional character, Gabrielle de Montserrat, reflects exactly this historical reality. This is not the type of historical novel which features a twenty-first century woman in historical dress: Gabrielle is very much of her time.
Raised in Auvergne by a cold and abusive family, Gabrielle hopes to find escape through her love for a commoner, Pierre-André Coffinhal. Her brother, who is also her guardian, won’t hear of her demeaning herself by such a match and instead forces her to marry a much older nobleman who treats her alternately with generosity and brutality. His death does not bring her independence, because he has failed to provide for her financially. Faced with the necessity of supporting herself and her small daughter, Gabrielle moves to Paris to become the companion to a dowager, her cousin the Duchesse d’Arpajon. With so little money, her chances of marriage are slim, but she finds several men willing to consider a less orthodox arrangement. She enjoys a brief period of glamour and luxury before the Revolution begins. And from that point, I couldn’t put the book down.
Catherine Delors manages to convey both the excitement of the early days of the Revolution, when liberal nobles like Gabrielle dreamed of a new, more democratic society, and the Terror, when Gabrielle finds her life in danger simply because she was born noble. To protect herself and her daughter, she turns to Coffinhal, now a member of the revolutionary government – only to find he bears her a grudge.
Catherine researched the book using many of the same sources I studied in college, and the text has a lovely authentic flavour. Here is an extract from Gabrielle’s first conversation with Marie Antoinette:
This little scene presents Marie Antoinette in a less than flattering light – which is exactly how she appeared to those (the vast majority) who were not admitted to her private circle of friends. Although Marie Antoinette appears only briefly in the book, we get a very good idea of why she was so unpopular and so misunderstood.
In conclusion, recommended, especially for anyone who would like to know more about what it was like to live in Paris during the Revolution.
Read my interview with Catherine at The Misadventures of Moppet: http://bit.ly/9dqOPy
The role of women of the eighteenth-century noble elite was in many respects strictly limited. The task to which they were dedicated by their own order was to form a marriage alliance with another noble house for which they provided heirs. Marriage was therefore usually the most important event in their lives and it was one over which they had little control. In normal circumstances daughters of noble houses had only the right of refusal and knew little of their suitors. They were expected to obey their husband and if their behaviour displeased him he could imprison them permanently in a convent. Independence only came with widowhood and throughout their lives, women were governed by strict rules of etiquette which few dared transgress.
Mistress of the Revolution, which takes the form of a memoir by a fictional character, Gabrielle de Montserrat, reflects exactly this historical reality. This is not the type of historical novel which features a twenty-first century woman in historical dress: Gabrielle is very much of her time.
Raised in Auvergne by a cold and abusive family, Gabrielle hopes to find escape through her love for a commoner, Pierre-André Coffinhal. Her brother, who is also her guardian, won’t hear of her demeaning herself by such a match and instead forces her to marry a much older nobleman who treats her alternately with generosity and brutality. His death does not bring her independence, because he has failed to provide for her financially. Faced with the necessity of supporting herself and her small daughter, Gabrielle moves to Paris to become the companion to a dowager, her cousin the Duchesse d’Arpajon. With so little money, her chances of marriage are slim, but she finds several men willing to consider a less orthodox arrangement. She enjoys a brief period of glamour and luxury before the Revolution begins. And from that point, I couldn’t put the book down.
Catherine Delors manages to convey both the excitement of the early days of the Revolution, when liberal nobles like Gabrielle dreamed of a new, more democratic society, and the Terror, when Gabrielle finds her life in danger simply because she was born noble. To protect herself and her daughter, she turns to Coffinhal, now a member of the revolutionary government – only to find he bears her a grudge.
Catherine researched the book using many of the same sources I studied in college, and the text has a lovely authentic flavour. Here is an extract from Gabrielle’s first conversation with Marie Antoinette:
That night we attended the Queen’s gaming salon. She was seated at a card table, quite different from the woman I had seen before. Here, she was alive, enthralled by the game, the rules of which were unknown to me. All I understood, from the quantity of gold louis piled in front of each player and in the middle of the table, was that the stakes were very high. The Duchess de Polignac occupied the chair next to the Queen’s. The two friends were whispering to each other and giggling like schoolgirls…
Madame de Polignac looked at me and said something to the Queen’s ear. Her Majesty smiled at her friend and addressed me.
“Madam, will you not sit? The Count de Vaudreuil will gladly surrender his place to you.”
I obeyed, my heart beating fast. There were but two gold louis of twenty-four francs each in my pocket.
“Why, Baroness,” said the Queen, “do you not play?” Her manner had become haughty again.
I took a deep breath. “Your Majesty is very kind, but I have neither a taste for games of cards nor the means to indulge in them.”
The whole room became silent. After what seemed a very long pause, the Queen said: “How odd! What do you like then, Baroness?”
“I enjoy music and riding, madam, and more particularly reading.”
Madame de Polignac chuckled while the Queen shrugged and turned her attention back to the cards without paying me any further attention. I heard whispers and giggles behind my back. I rose and curtseyed to the Queen as soon as the game was over.
This little scene presents Marie Antoinette in a less than flattering light – which is exactly how she appeared to those (the vast majority) who were not admitted to her private circle of friends. Although Marie Antoinette appears only briefly in the book, we get a very good idea of why she was so unpopular and so misunderstood.
In conclusion, recommended, especially for anyone who would like to know more about what it was like to live in Paris during the Revolution.
Read my interview with Catherine at The Misadventures of Moppet: http://bit.ly/9dqOPy
February 5, 2010
This is Catherine Delors' first novel, and I would call it a great success. I confess I was a little worried; the French Revolution has been written about so widely that it's not easy to capture the interest of dedicated readers of historical fiction. Delors pulls this off, because her character and story are strong enough to overcome background historical events that are - to some at least - too familiar. From her website, about this novel:
Which sounds a great deal like other novels and plots. But wait. If you ask Delors directly, you get a much more interesting take on the novel:
And then from the first page of the novel itself:
These things taken together might have been enough for me to order the book, but the kicker was her resources page. Go on, have a look. Now, Lelors is a native of France and as such knew a lot about the Revolution to start with (especially as her father is a professor of history). But she knew she needed more material than what she had learned from second hand historical works and textbooks, and so she immersed herself in memoirs of the time.
The sheer number of available memoirs is stunning. It's not surprising that so many people in that time and place recorded their memories, given the terrible events they lived through (or failed to live through). But these are riches for the historical novelist. I'm particularly aware of that these days as there are so few memoirs written by women who lived in my version of New-York between 1794 and 1824. I am reading one right now -- Elizabeth Cady Stanton's Eighty Years & More -- and it is so well written and full of excellent detail that it makes me sad that there aren't more memoirs like this one. Reading memoirs and diaries (diaries are sometimes even better) is the closest I can get to really hearing the voices of the women who interest me.
Delors made good use of the materials available to her, and the results are quite tangible.
In 1815 England, an exiled Frenchwoman, Gabrielle de Monserrat, begins a memoir of her days before and during the French Revolution. Gabrielle, the youngest daughter of a family of the impoverished nobility, recalls her journey through hardships and betrayals by three men in her life.
Which sounds a great deal like other novels and plots. But wait. If you ask Delors directly, you get a much more interesting take on the novel:
My ambition became to make the French Revolution, often perceived as a confusing medley of events and characters, understandable for a reader without any scholarly knowledge of the period. I wanted to explain in an accurate manner how the chain of events led from idealism to bloodshed and international catastrophe, all through the eyes of an intelligent female witness.
And then from the first page of the novel itself:
These tidings from Paris have affected my spirits today. I never cry any more, yet feel tears choking me. I know that I must not allow myself this indulgence, for it is far easier to keep from crying than to quit. Nevertheless, over twenty years have passed since the great Revolution, and it is time for me at last to exhume my own dead and attempt to revive them, however feebly, under my pen.
These things taken together might have been enough for me to order the book, but the kicker was her resources page. Go on, have a look. Now, Lelors is a native of France and as such knew a lot about the Revolution to start with (especially as her father is a professor of history). But she knew she needed more material than what she had learned from second hand historical works and textbooks, and so she immersed herself in memoirs of the time.
The sheer number of available memoirs is stunning. It's not surprising that so many people in that time and place recorded their memories, given the terrible events they lived through (or failed to live through). But these are riches for the historical novelist. I'm particularly aware of that these days as there are so few memoirs written by women who lived in my version of New-York between 1794 and 1824. I am reading one right now -- Elizabeth Cady Stanton's Eighty Years & More -- and it is so well written and full of excellent detail that it makes me sad that there aren't more memoirs like this one. Reading memoirs and diaries (diaries are sometimes even better) is the closest I can get to really hearing the voices of the women who interest me.
Delors made good use of the materials available to her, and the results are quite tangible.
April 1, 2008
From a writer's technical viewpoint, the impeccable prose style of this book is remarkable. Delors is a native French speaker, and English is her second language. The book is written from Gabrielle's (the main character's) point of view in 1815, while exiled in England. Like Delors, Gabrielle writes in her adopted English. In the historical note in the book's endpapers, the author admits, "I strove to write this novel in the British English Gabrielle would have used in 1815." I find that it reads a lot like Balzac in translation, and I'm reminded of his A Harlot High and Low (Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes), written in the 1830s, and treating, as Delors' book does so well, the dynamics of sexual politics trapped in the web of human history.
Read my full review on my blog, Boychik Lit.
Read my full review on my blog, Boychik Lit.
April 10, 2021
I don't seem to find my words to talk about this book. It will break your heart. It's the story of a young aristocrat who writes her memoirs of The French Revolution. It doesn't sugarcoat the history, it just tells the way things were: brutal and bloody.
The book has a very slow introduction though, but i kinda understood why.
4,5 ✨
The book has a very slow introduction though, but i kinda understood why.
4,5 ✨
November 23, 2015
Ms. Delors' heroine, a beautiful redhead with grey eyes (naturally) goes through a series of unbelievable adventures from almost the moment she hits puberty. I mean, boy howdy! Everyone who meets her wants to possess Belle, making her sort of the French Revolution's Judy Tenuta. Even her own brother dopes her with laudanum in order to . . . heaven forfend, I cannot speak of it! But man, oh man, Ms. Delors sure can, and does, in prose so tortured that it makes even the massacres seem boring. And Belle gets to see a lot. Quick, over there, it's the Princesse de Lamballe's dismembered body! Oops, are those the Swiss Guards, stripped naked, dismembered (there is a lot of dismembering in this book!) and with their private parts sewn as decorations on dresses! Sacre bleu! Ms. Delors kind of makes Baroness Orczy's historical romps look like grim realism.
But none of this prepared me for Belle's tender farewell to her One True Love. Be prepared, and don't make the mistake of eating something either just before or during your perusal of that.
Just ouch.
But none of this prepared me for Belle's tender farewell to her One True Love. Be prepared, and don't make the mistake of eating something either just before or during your perusal of that.
Just ouch.
January 12, 2020
"Iubire si sange" este una dintre cele mai frumoase carti pe care le-am citit vreodata!
Am gasit aceasta carte din intamplare intr-un anticariat si am cumparat-o deoarece m-a atras titlul, nestiind insa pe ce comoara literara am pus mana!
Nici nu stiu ce as putea spune despre aceasta carte, cuvintele nu sunt de ajuns. Actiunea se petrece in timpul revolutiei franceze intr-o epoca violenta in sec XVI, povestea este captivanta, de multe ori am avut impresia ca traiesc acolo cu Gabrielle, personajul principal al cartii.
Este un roman istoric fabulos cu nobili si regi, numeroase detalii despre revolutia franceza, despre ura si deasemenea despre iubire si sange.
Atat va spun: citit aceasta carte!
Am gasit aceasta carte din intamplare intr-un anticariat si am cumparat-o deoarece m-a atras titlul, nestiind insa pe ce comoara literara am pus mana!
Nici nu stiu ce as putea spune despre aceasta carte, cuvintele nu sunt de ajuns. Actiunea se petrece in timpul revolutiei franceze intr-o epoca violenta in sec XVI, povestea este captivanta, de multe ori am avut impresia ca traiesc acolo cu Gabrielle, personajul principal al cartii.
Este un roman istoric fabulos cu nobili si regi, numeroase detalii despre revolutia franceza, despre ura si deasemenea despre iubire si sange.
Atat va spun: citit aceasta carte!
April 19, 2009
I'm sort of surprised that I managed to finish this -- the prose was wooden at times and it felt as if the author were shoehorning an encyclopedia article on the French Revolution into a mediocre romance novel. Even the sex was boring. I also didn't like the fact that all the men in the heroine's life kept telling her she was stupid and was going to screw everything up -- and they were correct every single time. Nice message there.
December 17, 2014
I was enraptured by this book of revolutionary France, and thoroughly enjoyed the characters and narrative. I'm very impressed by Ms. Delors, as this was an amazing first book. I'm eager to read her second, "For the King". Highly recommended!
June 21, 2011
Mistress of the Revolution was AMAZING. Historically accurate, romantic and so enticing I could not put it down! A lot of joy and much heartbreak and it takes you on the journy with a young aristocrat stuck in the harsh and cruel times of the revolution.
February 19, 2009
A young woman's struggle for independence featured against the devastating backdrop of the French Revolution.
March 9, 2020
I want to start by saying that I did really like this book. I feel like it was well researched and it flowed nicely. I liked how it spanned a longer period of time, showing what life was like for the main characters before the Revolution started and all the way through it to what life is like for them after the revolution (if they survived!)
The issues I had with this book were only with the characters themselves. I can honestly say there was not ONE character I liked as a person. I enjoyed reading their story, but most of the time I was not feeling sorry for them much. Gabrielle, the main character, was a beautiful aristocrat. She fell in love with a commoner, Pierre-Andre Coffinhal, for some reason. I get that she was fifteen and didn't know any better but he was obnoxious. She was innocent enough at the time that I did feel bad when her family made her marry that awful older man. She suffered through a terrible marriage. Thankfully, it didn't last long, though. I was very surprised she went to Paris, knowing Pierre-Andre was there too, and did not contact him right away. She had nothing to be embarassed at that point about because she was forced into marrying the older man. It would have been nice for them to reunite here and have more time together to build on their love. But she becomes a mistress of another aristocrat who is also a revolutionary. He's nicer to her than her husband but I still don't like him much at all. Finally, when she reunites with Pierre-Andre I was like "YES!"...for about a second. He was still as obnoxious, proud, arrogant, and downright mean. I have no idea why the main character loves him like she does except that she feels she owes him a debt. That doesn't create love, though, so I have no idea. And then he's gone in the blink of an eye. They got barely any time together and then the book was over. I feel the main character, Gabrielle, didn't grow or learn much through her terrible journey through the Revolution.
Another issue I had is that most of the horrors of the Revolution were not experienced by the character herself, but relayed to her through friends or news outlets. So she was basically retelling second-hand accounts of what was going on. It would have been a much better story if more had happened to her during the Revolution. That's not to say she did not see some horrors and deal with some truly terrible things. Just not as much as I would have thought for being an aristocrat in Revolutionary Paris.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction and the French Revolution. It wasn't a sappy love story, but there was love in it, so I feel it could be enjoyed by just about anyone.
The issues I had with this book were only with the characters themselves. I can honestly say there was not ONE character I liked as a person. I enjoyed reading their story, but most of the time I was not feeling sorry for them much. Gabrielle, the main character, was a beautiful aristocrat. She fell in love with a commoner, Pierre-Andre Coffinhal, for some reason. I get that she was fifteen and didn't know any better but he was obnoxious. She was innocent enough at the time that I did feel bad when her family made her marry that awful older man. She suffered through a terrible marriage. Thankfully, it didn't last long, though. I was very surprised she went to Paris, knowing Pierre-Andre was there too, and did not contact him right away. She had nothing to be embarassed at that point about because she was forced into marrying the older man. It would have been nice for them to reunite here and have more time together to build on their love. But she becomes a mistress of another aristocrat who is also a revolutionary. He's nicer to her than her husband but I still don't like him much at all. Finally, when she reunites with Pierre-Andre I was like "YES!"...for about a second. He was still as obnoxious, proud, arrogant, and downright mean. I have no idea why the main character loves him like she does except that she feels she owes him a debt. That doesn't create love, though, so I have no idea. And then he's gone in the blink of an eye. They got barely any time together and then the book was over. I feel the main character, Gabrielle, didn't grow or learn much through her terrible journey through the Revolution.
Another issue I had is that most of the horrors of the Revolution were not experienced by the character herself, but relayed to her through friends or news outlets. So she was basically retelling second-hand accounts of what was going on. It would have been a much better story if more had happened to her during the Revolution. That's not to say she did not see some horrors and deal with some truly terrible things. Just not as much as I would have thought for being an aristocrat in Revolutionary Paris.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction and the French Revolution. It wasn't a sappy love story, but there was love in it, so I feel it could be enjoyed by just about anyone.
February 3, 2020
Mistress of the Revolution was an unexpected gem. I do not remember what made me add it to my TBR pile, but I am glad that I did. I wish that I had read this novel in university while I was studying the French Revolution as it gave colour and life to this infamously bloody period in France. It felt like a social history as opposed to a political timeline of events, and although the protagonist's storyline seemed quite far-fetched at times, I enjoyed reading this hefty tomb.
The main character, Gabrielle, had numerous struggles throughout her life as a member of the aristocracy, both due to the culture of 18th century France and because of the French Revolution. My stomach often turned at the horrors she suffered under the rule of her brother, husband, and lovers, but I do not think that this experience was excessively exaggerated. Some individuals feel that she was vapid and made poor decisions, but when the novel began she was a child of 15 - the choices she made were not surprising as she was brought up with little instruction or care. She was subsequently at the mercy of men in her life for pecuniary needs and other basic necessities, which would have been common for female members of the aristocracy at this time. Her attempts to become self-sufficient were admirable, and yet my heart broke for her all the same. I became emotionally invested in her life, but the other intriguing aspect of this fictitious memoir was the description of important (real life) figures that she came into contact with during her time in Paris. This novel would not replace a textbook on the subject matter, but as an historical novel to pique interest in the topic it is definitely a must-read.
The main character, Gabrielle, had numerous struggles throughout her life as a member of the aristocracy, both due to the culture of 18th century France and because of the French Revolution. My stomach often turned at the horrors she suffered under the rule of her brother, husband, and lovers, but I do not think that this experience was excessively exaggerated. Some individuals feel that she was vapid and made poor decisions, but when the novel began she was a child of 15 - the choices she made were not surprising as she was brought up with little instruction or care. She was subsequently at the mercy of men in her life for pecuniary needs and other basic necessities, which would have been common for female members of the aristocracy at this time. Her attempts to become self-sufficient were admirable, and yet my heart broke for her all the same. I became emotionally invested in her life, but the other intriguing aspect of this fictitious memoir was the description of important (real life) figures that she came into contact with during her time in Paris. This novel would not replace a textbook on the subject matter, but as an historical novel to pique interest in the topic it is definitely a must-read.
March 10, 2008
From The Associated Press:
¶ "Mistress of the Revolution" (Dutton, 464 pages, $24.95), by Catherine Delors: Raised in an impoverished aristocratic family by her penny-pinching mother and lascivious brother, Gabrielle de Montserrat is forced into a brutal marriage at 15.
¶ When a lucky heart attack strikes her husband during a hunting excursion, Gabrielle finds herself a penniless widow at 17. She takes refuge with a family friend in Paris in 1787, as momentum is beginning to build toward revolution.
¶ Gabrielle becomes the mistress of a wealthy count to survive and provide for her daughter. The relationship gives her notoriety that puts her in danger when Paris revolts. Desperate, she pleads for help from her childhood sweetheart, who has become a powerful judge.
¶ First-time author Catherine Delors comes from a family of French aristocrats who lived in the same area where her heroine grew up. Gabrielle's love and savior, Pierre-Andre Coffinhal, was a real person with a street named after him in the town where Delors spent part of her childhood.
¶ "My father told me that he had been Vice President of the Revolutionary Tribunal," Delors wrote in a note her publisher made available to The Associated Press. "I was intrigued and looked up the man. And I found someone everybody hated! It was too tempting."
¶ The novel contains two other historical characters from her home region, the Chevalier des Huttes, a loyal servant of Queen Marie-Antoinette, and Jean-Baptiste Carrier, who massacred thousands of counterrevolutionaries and others in Nantes.
¶ Delors, who lived in Los Angeles for nearly two decades and wrote the novel in English, said she hoped to make the French Revolution _ "often perceived as an utterly confusing mess of events and characters" _ understandable and appealing to readers without a background in French history.
¶ She does this with short summaries of historical events scattered throughout the novel. It provides an education for Americans, whose history classes probably jumped quickly from the storming of the Bastille in 1789 to the Reign of Terror, which ended in 1794.
¶ Delors' fine use of historical events to drive the plot and her skillful weaving of truth and fiction have produced a historical romance that's a cut above much of the genre.
¶ Using Gabrielle as narrator, Delors explains at each turn how the tumble of events might affect one individual trapped between factions of aristocrats and the rising bourgeois.
¶ At one point, Gabrielle reflects that she, like the nation, is adrift and uncertain about her course. Should she leave her wealthy count or attempt to mend the rifts between them? The relationship, like France, descends into violence.
¶ In terms of entertainment value, "Mistress of the Revolution" holds up well against best-selling historical novels such as Tracy Chevalier's "Girl With a Pearl Earring" and Philippa Gregory's "The Other Boleyn Girl." Delors keeps the plot moving and her leading male characters have all the sex appeal required for a hot romance. This is definitely a contender for one of the best reads of the year.
¶ "Mistress of the Revolution" (Dutton, 464 pages, $24.95), by Catherine Delors: Raised in an impoverished aristocratic family by her penny-pinching mother and lascivious brother, Gabrielle de Montserrat is forced into a brutal marriage at 15.
¶ When a lucky heart attack strikes her husband during a hunting excursion, Gabrielle finds herself a penniless widow at 17. She takes refuge with a family friend in Paris in 1787, as momentum is beginning to build toward revolution.
¶ Gabrielle becomes the mistress of a wealthy count to survive and provide for her daughter. The relationship gives her notoriety that puts her in danger when Paris revolts. Desperate, she pleads for help from her childhood sweetheart, who has become a powerful judge.
¶ First-time author Catherine Delors comes from a family of French aristocrats who lived in the same area where her heroine grew up. Gabrielle's love and savior, Pierre-Andre Coffinhal, was a real person with a street named after him in the town where Delors spent part of her childhood.
¶ "My father told me that he had been Vice President of the Revolutionary Tribunal," Delors wrote in a note her publisher made available to The Associated Press. "I was intrigued and looked up the man. And I found someone everybody hated! It was too tempting."
¶ The novel contains two other historical characters from her home region, the Chevalier des Huttes, a loyal servant of Queen Marie-Antoinette, and Jean-Baptiste Carrier, who massacred thousands of counterrevolutionaries and others in Nantes.
¶ Delors, who lived in Los Angeles for nearly two decades and wrote the novel in English, said she hoped to make the French Revolution _ "often perceived as an utterly confusing mess of events and characters" _ understandable and appealing to readers without a background in French history.
¶ She does this with short summaries of historical events scattered throughout the novel. It provides an education for Americans, whose history classes probably jumped quickly from the storming of the Bastille in 1789 to the Reign of Terror, which ended in 1794.
¶ Delors' fine use of historical events to drive the plot and her skillful weaving of truth and fiction have produced a historical romance that's a cut above much of the genre.
¶ Using Gabrielle as narrator, Delors explains at each turn how the tumble of events might affect one individual trapped between factions of aristocrats and the rising bourgeois.
¶ At one point, Gabrielle reflects that she, like the nation, is adrift and uncertain about her course. Should she leave her wealthy count or attempt to mend the rifts between them? The relationship, like France, descends into violence.
¶ In terms of entertainment value, "Mistress of the Revolution" holds up well against best-selling historical novels such as Tracy Chevalier's "Girl With a Pearl Earring" and Philippa Gregory's "The Other Boleyn Girl." Delors keeps the plot moving and her leading male characters have all the sex appeal required for a hot romance. This is definitely a contender for one of the best reads of the year.
December 5, 2014
If the first two hundred pages of this book had not existed, this book would easily have been a four or five star book. As it stands, the first two hundred pages of this book do exist which means I cannot give this book any more than two stars. I am quickly learning to not put much stock in reviews and what other people think. This book was fairly well reviewed but I found myself quickly wondering why. The main character Gabrielle was awful. By page five, she was driving me insane. I understand this book was written about a different time period in which women were treated much differently than they are treated now. I take that into consideration when I reflect on the early life of Gabrielle but Gabrielle was written in such away I had a hard time feeling sorry for any of the tragedies she experienced in her early life. I was not drawn to her at all. The portion of her book describing her early married life and seemed to drag on. I was under the impression this book was suppose to deal with a person's experience during the French revolution. If you are looking for a book about a person's experience during the French revolution, keep looking. I say that with a little bit of hesitation. Once the author moved into the portion of the book where Gabrielle's life began to be effected by the events of the French revolution, the book gained a new life. I still could not bear Gabrielle but it did not bother me as much at this point because the events surrounding Gabrielle and some of the minor characters were superbly written. The way in which Ms. Delors describes the politics and the events (particularly the trials) of Paris during the revolution is fantastic. Admittedly my knowledge of the French revolution is limited to a few college level history classes, however, I found the manner in which Ms. Delors described the condition of Paris and its various jails to be excellent. I might consider coming back to this book at some point in the future after doing a little more research on the events and the people involved in the French revolution. I am always willing to give authors a second chance and so I am in sure in the future I will seek out another book by Ms. Delors but I don't see myself doing so any time in the near future.
October 11, 2016
DNF around 100 pages.
I was really looking forward to this novel. It's been a while since I've read anything about the French Revolution, and its always been something that's interested me historically.
Unfortunately, Mistress of the Revolution just didn't work for me, and it was mainly because of the characters. The naivete of the insta-love between Gabrielle and Pierre-Andre was immature and didn't feel real at all, especially with his initial rudeness. As well as this, the excessive cruelty shown to Gabrielle by both her mother, brother and the Baron, her first husband, seemed to have no purpose other than to make the reader feel sympathy for the young heroine. It felt needless and unnecessary, and unmediated.
However Delors' writing was also jarring for me. She kept breaking up her narrative with paragraphs or sentences of explanation for things like marriage contracts or certain elements of women's clothing with phrases such as 'In those days....'. From the outset of the novel its clear that Gabrielle is telling her story in retrospect, however I felt that these explanations were clumsy, unnecessary and in a completely different tone from the narrative. It was like Delors kept breaking up her narrative in order to give us a history lesson, and it just wasn't needed. I'm sure she thought it would offer clarification and be interesting to readers, but it only detracted from her novel.
Overall, there were just too many things that didn't work for me, and I just couldn't get into the story.
I was really looking forward to this novel. It's been a while since I've read anything about the French Revolution, and its always been something that's interested me historically.
Unfortunately, Mistress of the Revolution just didn't work for me, and it was mainly because of the characters. The naivete of the insta-love between Gabrielle and Pierre-Andre was immature and didn't feel real at all, especially with his initial rudeness. As well as this, the excessive cruelty shown to Gabrielle by both her mother, brother and the Baron, her first husband, seemed to have no purpose other than to make the reader feel sympathy for the young heroine. It felt needless and unnecessary, and unmediated.
However Delors' writing was also jarring for me. She kept breaking up her narrative with paragraphs or sentences of explanation for things like marriage contracts or certain elements of women's clothing with phrases such as 'In those days....'. From the outset of the novel its clear that Gabrielle is telling her story in retrospect, however I felt that these explanations were clumsy, unnecessary and in a completely different tone from the narrative. It was like Delors kept breaking up her narrative in order to give us a history lesson, and it just wasn't needed. I'm sure she thought it would offer clarification and be interesting to readers, but it only detracted from her novel.
Overall, there were just too many things that didn't work for me, and I just couldn't get into the story.
March 24, 2008
Every other review of this book goes into great detail about the plot, characters and history before actually telling you if it is good at all. I'll skip all that. This novel is GOOD, very good! Like "Other Boleyn Girl" the subtext of using young women as currency to advance the family fortunes is central. Here, Gabrielle is denied her true choice and must submit to the choices forced on her by her family. Later, she must trade herself into Paris Society, not for a husband, but for survival. Through all this, she learns to use that very currency of her beauty and charm to survive with some measure of dignity and self-respect. I could argue the parallels to our present world, here and globally.
The historical detail is vivid, and clarifies the turbulent times in ways no history lesson can. Unforgettable characters earn my affection or derision, with equal passion; events are cinematic and, at times, graphic. Delors' scenes are, nevertheless, always true to the times.
To be so drawn into times that are not my own, and to live among characters of a different, yet familiar, culture and time...this is where I find the real pleasure, and where the juxtaposition of my life now and the life of different circumstances opens to deep understanding. MISTRESS OF THE REVOLUTION is entertaining, intelligent, and very satisfying.
The historical detail is vivid, and clarifies the turbulent times in ways no history lesson can. Unforgettable characters earn my affection or derision, with equal passion; events are cinematic and, at times, graphic. Delors' scenes are, nevertheless, always true to the times.
To be so drawn into times that are not my own, and to live among characters of a different, yet familiar, culture and time...this is where I find the real pleasure, and where the juxtaposition of my life now and the life of different circumstances opens to deep understanding. MISTRESS OF THE REVOLUTION is entertaining, intelligent, and very satisfying.
January 22, 2013
I'm a picky reader when it comes to novels, and although I had heard great things about this point, I was a bit skeptical. Novels about the French Revolution tend to romanticize either the aristocracy or the "sans-culottes" as a way of dramatizing a story which, in my opinion, doesn't need a lot of embellishment.
I'm happy to say that the author of this book doesn't do much of either. In fact, I could have done with a little bit more romanticizing. This isn't a complaint, but the prose was at times a bit depressing. (Although you could say it's just an indicator of how much the author gets you to care for her characters.) Although I do love to read, it's been a while since the ending of a book left me so simultaneously sad and satisfied -- I'm not ashamed to admit that I read the last couple chapters on the verge of tears.
But don't let melancholy subject matter discourage you from giving this book a try. It's beautifully written, with an attention to historical detail that will make nerds like me very happy. It also boasts a likable heroine, and a host of other characters that engage you emotionally. I'm definitely saving it for a future re-read.
I'm happy to say that the author of this book doesn't do much of either. In fact, I could have done with a little bit more romanticizing. This isn't a complaint, but the prose was at times a bit depressing. (Although you could say it's just an indicator of how much the author gets you to care for her characters.) Although I do love to read, it's been a while since the ending of a book left me so simultaneously sad and satisfied -- I'm not ashamed to admit that I read the last couple chapters on the verge of tears.
But don't let melancholy subject matter discourage you from giving this book a try. It's beautifully written, with an attention to historical detail that will make nerds like me very happy. It also boasts a likable heroine, and a host of other characters that engage you emotionally. I'm definitely saving it for a future re-read.
March 24, 2008
A real page turner!
This is the story of Gabrielle de Montserrat, a young noblewoman who runs into trouble by falling in love with a commoner a few years before the Revolution. Gabrielle is forced by her family to marry a brutal cousin three
times her age.
Soon widowed with a young daughter, she manages to
escape to Paris where she receives the help of a friendly Duchess. Her prospects are dimmed by her lack of fortune and she has to become the mistress of a wealthy nobleman. Before long she, like everyone else around her, is caught up in the Revolution and has to reconsider her choices in a dramatic way.
The author's depiction of both country life and the gilded world of aristocracy before the Revolution made me feel as if I were part of it all.
The plot is fast-paced, and the historical details, though amazing, never overwhelm the individual story of Gabrielle. I simply couldn't put it down until I was done following her adventures through one of the most troubled times of French history. The end is incredibly moving too.
This is the story of Gabrielle de Montserrat, a young noblewoman who runs into trouble by falling in love with a commoner a few years before the Revolution. Gabrielle is forced by her family to marry a brutal cousin three
times her age.
Soon widowed with a young daughter, she manages to
escape to Paris where she receives the help of a friendly Duchess. Her prospects are dimmed by her lack of fortune and she has to become the mistress of a wealthy nobleman. Before long she, like everyone else around her, is caught up in the Revolution and has to reconsider her choices in a dramatic way.
The author's depiction of both country life and the gilded world of aristocracy before the Revolution made me feel as if I were part of it all.
The plot is fast-paced, and the historical details, though amazing, never overwhelm the individual story of Gabrielle. I simply couldn't put it down until I was done following her adventures through one of the most troubled times of French history. The end is incredibly moving too.
June 24, 2011
One of the reasons I love (well-written) historical fiction is that you get a great story and a history lesson! I enjoyed this one very much, but I do think that there was too much politics and a lot to keep track of – which is ok if I’m reading nonfiction and my intention is to immerse myself with the details to make sense of the complicated historical occurrences. In this novel, long-winded political explanations were awkwardly incorporated into dialogues – no one talks like that! And still a lot was left out (Marat’s assassination is one major event that was not mentioned, but I do understand the author’s decision to not include everything, since the book would have been double its length!).
The story itself was very exciting and a major page-turner, so I do recommend it. Sure, it might be annoying to the 21st century reader that Gabrielle was completely dependent on the men in her life, but as this novel displays, XVIII century French women didn’t have much autonomy to begin with and Gabrielle still displayed much courage and independence.
The story itself was very exciting and a major page-turner, so I do recommend it. Sure, it might be annoying to the 21st century reader that Gabrielle was completely dependent on the men in her life, but as this novel displays, XVIII century French women didn’t have much autonomy to begin with and Gabrielle still displayed much courage and independence.
August 26, 2016
Superba...am avut ocazia sa ma bucur de doua momente istorice ,Franta in timpul lui Ludovic al 16lea,sfarsitul monarhiei si Franta in timpul Revolutiei ,cu haosul si teroarea acelor timpuri...pe acest fundal ne este prezentata viata Gabriellei ,o nobila fara avere care trebuie sa supravietuiasca acelor vremuri ,eu de fapt am vazut mai mult conditia femeii acelor timpuri ...mi-a placut personajul Gabrielle foarte tare..chiar daca a trebuit sa ia o serie de decizii "revoltatoare" si-a pastrat integritatea ,dupa parerea mea, si a razbatut prin viata cu capul sus...trece printr-o serie de intamplari care te tin cu sufletul la gura...singurul minus pe care l-am gasit cartii a fost partea istorica din prima jumatate a cartii,aveam uneori impresia ca ma pierde pe drum..dupa ce am citit aceasta carte mi-am propus sa citesc mai multe carti cu aceasta perioada istorica deoarece mi-a placut la nebunie ...
March 24, 2008
This is first and foremost an exquisite exercise in the intertwining of details, all true to the period, most arising from in the historic record, for which the author's website reveals that she relied heavily on original sources such as 18th century memoirs and actual trial transcripts, and the rest coming to life in the intersticies.
The character development is so subtle, a line here or there, but soon each is alive and at once haunting. The author quotes Alain Jouffroy at the beginning:
"It is beautiful to meet someone. It can happen anywhere in the world. Anytime, But the strangest thing is that one does not only meet the living, and that meeting a dead person can change your life."
And as has been noted above, this is not a novel for the feint of heart. With that caution, go forth and experience life.
The character development is so subtle, a line here or there, but soon each is alive and at once haunting. The author quotes Alain Jouffroy at the beginning:
"It is beautiful to meet someone. It can happen anywhere in the world. Anytime, But the strangest thing is that one does not only meet the living, and that meeting a dead person can change your life."
And as has been noted above, this is not a novel for the feint of heart. With that caution, go forth and experience life.
August 25, 2015
While the story of Gabrielle was interesting enough, and rich with historic references, I wasn't very satisfied in the end. There were some very intriguing parts, of course, but there was far too much down time. Also, whenever the historical facts came into play, it really bogged everything down. It was more like, let's pause here for a history lesson. It didn't flow with the story. I also did not like how the author would abruptly end a scene. The characters were interesting, the history was okay, and the plot had potential. It was obviously just good enough to keep me reading, though I did nearly put the book aside a couple of times. I would only recommend it, if you are intrigued by the French Revolution.
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