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Ribbons of Scarlet: A Novel of the French Revolution

Kate Quinn (Goodreads Author),

Sophie Perinot (Goodreads Author),

Laura Kamoie (Goodreads Author),

Stephanie Dray (Goodreads Author),

E. Knight (Goodreads Author),

Heather Webb (Goodreads Author),

Allison Pataki (Goodreads Author) (Foreword)

3.97 · Rating details · 2,278 ratings · 410 reviews

Six bestselling and award-winning authors bring to life a breathtaking epic novel illuminating the hopes, desires, and destinies of princesses and peasants, harlots and wives, fanatics and philosophers—six unforgettable women whose paths cross during one of the most tumultuous and transformative events in history: the French Revolution.

Ribbons of Scarlet is a timely story ...more

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ebook, 547 pages

Published October 1st 2019 by William Morrow & Company

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Oct 04, 2019 Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader rated it it was amazing

Wow, look at the authors contributing to this novel of the French Revolution!

In France, in the 1700s, women do not have power or a voice in how their country is run. As the revolution mounts, this is their opportunity to finally be heard.

Sophie de Grouchy is a staunch believer in equal rights for women, and unusual for the time, her husband is, too. Sophie assets that an educated country does not need a formal government.

Louise Audu is student of Sophie’s, and she wants vengeance and to eat… Lou ...more

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Apr 09, 2019 Erin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historic-fiction-1700s

Find this and other reviews at: https://historicalfictionreader.blogs...

Ribbons of Scarlet is the fifth collaborative from the History 360 Co-Op but in many ways, it is entirely unlike its predecessors. For one, Ribbons of Scarlet is the first release to be traditionally published (thank you HarperCollins). For another, it is the first to which long-time member Vicky Alvear Shecter did not contribute (a voice I both adore and missed). Most notably, however, it is the first written with an overar ...more

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Jul 10, 2019 Gill Paul rated it it was amazing

The French Revolutionary years were among the most complex historical periods of all time. The Revolution’s proponents fought for differing ideologies and ever-changing goals. Alliances were forged then broken as new factions appeared overnight. Yesterday’s leaders were themselves led to the guillotine, the new-fangled machine invented as a quick and efficient method of execution. Some held true to their ideals and behaved with nobility and selflessness, while others scrabbled to save their own The French Revolutionary years were among the most complex historical periods of all time. The Revolution’s proponents fought for differing ideologies and ever-changing goals. Alliances were forged then broken as new factions appeared overnight. Yesterday’s leaders were themselves led to the guillotine, the new-fangled machine invented as a quick and efficient method of execution. Some held true to their ideals and behaved with nobility and selflessness, while others scrabbled to save their own skins with a complete lack of humanity to others. Before reading Ribbons of Scarlet, I couldn’t begin to imagine how this group of six authors could possibly make a coherent narrative out of such a jumble of ideas and events, but they do so with subtlety and supreme writerliness.

The story is told from the points of view of seven women, each with a unique perspective and voice. They come from different backgrounds, from a starving street seller to the king’s sister; some are married, some are virgins. But each one steps off the page, a complete authentic character with her own set of hopes and dreams. I admit I didn’t want to leave Sophie de Grouchy and the wonderful Condorcet at the end of the first section; nor did I want to leave the mouthy wildfire Louise Audu. But I soon realised they would return. We weren’t done with them, as their narratives are woven into later sections where they appear like old friends. The one thing all the women have in common is immense courage. Each is inspirational in her own way. Each one is standing up for her rights, and those of her sisters, over a century before the suffragettes.

I learned a lot from this book and came away awed by the skill of the individual writers. The sheer technical difficulty of weaving all these threads into a coherent pattern should not be underestimated. But it’s the stories of these women that make it such a compelling read, and one I recommend whole-heartedly. It’s a masterclass in historical fiction!

With thanks to Sophie Perinot for the ARC. ...more

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Oct 17, 2019 Jenna Bookish rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

My thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sending me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the publisher.

"Beautiful, terrible humanity. Capable of the most inspiring and creative genius and the greatest and most unimaginable abominations."

I've had a bit of an ongoing effort to read more historical fiction that isn't set during World War II, and this novel was an easy choice because, hello, Kate Quinn. If you've never My thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sending me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the publisher.

"Beautiful, terrible humanity. Capable of the most inspiring and creative genius and the greatest and most unimaginable abominations."

I've had a bit of an ongoing effort to read more historical fiction that isn't set during World War II, and this novel was an easy choice because, hello, Kate Quinn. If you've never read any of her work, I (obviously) recommend this book, but also The Alice Network and The Huntress. Ribbons of Scarlet is set during the French Revolution and focuses on women's role in these events.

The format of this novel worked very well. I've seen a lot of misunderstanding about this book online. Because of the number of authors listed, a lot of people have assumed it is a collection of short stories set during the same time period, and this is not the case. The novel follows a single linear narrative following the course of the revolution, but each section introduces a new point of view character. This is different from most novels with multiple POV characters in that, for the most part, we do not return to a character once we move on from her singular section. We get one peek into each woman's perspective and then she is lost to us. I worried that this would feel disjointed overall, but this was absolutely not the case, and it provided an excellent opportunity to look at some of the same events through different eyes.

Despite what must have been a very difficult process, the six authors meshed very well together. Even while jumping from one one woman's perspective to another relatively unrelated woman's section, there is a strong sense of a central narrative following the course of the revolution. Each woman has a wildly different perspective on the historical moment they are inhabiting, and each perspective seems fully fleshed out and genuine.

It was refreshing to see a war novel which focuses exclusively on women's experiences, as these are often overlooked. French women played a significant role in the revolution and women of different social classes were impacted in very different ways. It was particularly interesting to me to spend time in the mind of a female members of the aristocracy, who, while they did enjoy the benefits of wealth leading up to the revolution, often had little to no power of their own. In the end, they bore the consequences of the actions of their husbands and fathers alongside them.

Ribbons of Scarlet is an illuminating novel about a fascinating piece of French history. Seamlessly told and heartbreaking, this book is a jewel.

You can read all of my reviews on my blog, Jenna Bookish!
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Feb 26, 2020 Erin rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle, books-i-own

I love these historical compilations that weave different characters presented by various authors into one fantastic story. The focus here is the French Revolution through the eyes of seven women that experienced it first hand. The authors who refer to themselves as #ScarletSisters are determined to show the link between the events of the Revolution and the early days of women's rights. As I have done in the past, I will rate and discuss each storyline separately.

The Philosopher by Stephanie ...more

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Jul 11, 2019 Annette rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction-1700s, french-heritage, top-10-of-2019

Collaboration of six talented female writers brings an epic story about historical female figures, who came from different backgrounds, but had one common goal to give women a voice. They were passionate about politics, which wasn’t a place for women to be meddling in. But they did.

Paris, 1786. Sophie de Grouchy, 22 years old, comes from minor aristocratic family. Her uncle Charles is a magistrate, taking charitable cases of defending poor during the time of the French Revolution. Since she can ...more

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Nov 03, 2019 Michelle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: edelweiss, library, nov-2019-reads

After sitting on this for a bit, I'm going to give this 4 true stars, up from my initial 3.5. This book was a heck of an undertaking since there were SIX authors and it was set during one of the most momentous historical events in the history of Western Civilization (aka The French Revolution).

I'm a huge history nerd, but I'm more of a WWI/WWII kind of girl so this is before my time and I can tell you I learned a TON. What initially drew me to this book was that it was all about real women from After sitting on this for a bit, I'm going to give this 4 true stars, up from my initial 3.5. This book was a heck of an undertaking since there were SIX authors and it was set during one of the most momentous historical events in the history of Western Civilization (aka The French Revolution).

I'm a huge history nerd, but I'm more of a WWI/WWII kind of girl so this is before my time and I can tell you I learned a TON. What initially drew me to this book was that it was all about real women from this time period who served in various roles throughout the French Revolution. The forward was written by Allison Pataki and she made an observation that never really occurred to me before. She talked about how the women of the book I was about to read might sound really progressive...Almost as if they belong in today's time and not in the 1790s. She mentioned that women have always been involved in causes to advance rights of ourselves and others, but it was never written about in our textbooks. Why? Simply, women weren't writing the history they were a big part of. Men were. And there you have it.

I was concerned that with so many authors it might be choppy or feel like it wasn't all one story. Let that fear fall by the wayside because I didn't notice at all. I thought each story had something to offer and was extremely descriptive (almost as if you were there), but not boring at all. I like how after you finished reading a particularly character's section, they made an effort to let you know how that character fared from the perspective of the next character.

This was extremely well done, but for some reason I'm holding back on giving the 5th star. I can't really say why. I would blame me, not the book. One word of advice: this is definitely not a book to rush through. I admit I kind of had to so that may have been the problem.

Thank you to Edelweiss, William Morrow & Company, Kate Quinn, Sophie Perinot, Laura Kamoie, Stephanie Dray, E. Knight, Heather Webb and Allison Pataki (who wrote the forward), for giving me the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

Review Date: 11/4/19
Publication Date: 10/01/19 ...more

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Jul 12, 2019 Vicki Kondelik rated it it was amazing

Ribbons of Scarlet is a powerful, inspiring novel about the women of the French Revolution, by six different authors. Each author writes a chapter from the point of view of a different character. Together, they tell the whole story of the French Revolution from its idealistic beginnings through the height of the Terror in 1794. I had been looking forward to reading this book for a long time, because the French Revolution is one of my favorite historical periods, and Ribbons of Scarlet more than Ribbons of Scarlet is a powerful, inspiring novel about the women of the French Revolution, by six different authors. Each author writes a chapter from the point of view of a different character. Together, they tell the whole story of the French Revolution from its idealistic beginnings through the height of the Terror in 1794. I had been looking forward to reading this book for a long time, because the French Revolution is one of my favorite historical periods, and Ribbons of Scarlet more than lived up to expectations. Every one of the narrators really lived. I was familiar with some of them already, and not so much with others. But each represents a unique voice, and all the stories were equally compelling.

The first chapter, by Stephanie Dray, tells the story of Sophie, a young noblewoman who believes in equality for women and who helps her uncle, a magistrate, in his efforts to help people who are wrongfully imprisoned and to put an end to the barbaric execution methods of the time. She is in love with Lafayette, but marries the Marquis de Condorcet, who shares her beliefs. Sophie comes to love her husband as they work for democracy during the early days of the French Revolution. I have to say that Sophie was my favorite character in the whole book, and I missed her when the chapter was over. But she reappears throughout the book. That is another thing I loved about this book: characters who narrate one chapter will appear in others.

In the next chapter, Heather Webb writes about Louise Audu, a fruit seller from a poor family, who runs errands for the nobility (and so interacts with some of the upper-class characters in the novel). Louise learns to read at a school for adults founded by Sophie and her husband. In spite of the efforts of well-meaning members of the nobility, such as Sophie, to improve the conditions of the poor, Louise and her friends are no better off than they were before. Her rage at the treatment of the poor leads her to take action, and she and other market women lead a march to Versailles to bring the king back to Paris. The story of the women's march to Versailles is excellently told, and I definitely see parallels with the Women's March of 2017.

The third chapter, by Sophie Perinot, tells the story of Princess Élisabeth, sister of Louis XVI, the only royalist narrator in the novel, which gives the chapter a very different perspective. (I also noticed that it's the only chapter written in the present tense, besides the epilogue, which is narrated by Sophie.) The devout Élisabeth is devoted to her brother and believes in the divine right of kings. She sympathizes with the poor and wishes to improve their conditions, but she believes the old order should be preserved. Her chapter tells of the royal family's attempt to flee from Paris, and their capture at Varennes. The revolutionaries, and many historians, have seen this as an attempt to flee the country, but, according to Élisabeth's narrative, the real aim was to escape to another part of France where they thought they'd be safe. In an especially heartbreaking scene, Élisabeth witnesses the first execution by guillotine, after she and the royal family are brought back to Paris.

The next chapter, by Kate Quinn, is narrated by Manon Roland, wife of the minister of the interior under the Girondins (moderate revolutionaries). I have read quite a bit about Manon Roland, including her memoir which she wrote in prison and smuggled out to her friends, and I think Kate Quinn captures her voice very well. Manon had a passion for politics, wrote many of her husband's speeches, and even addressed the National Assembly herself. She was a woman ahead of her time in many ways, and I believe that if she'd lived today, she'd be in the Assembly, or in Congress if she were an American. But she also had some old-fashioned beliefs: for example, that women should be subordinate to their husbands. (I don't think she would think so if she lived today.) Unlike Sophie de Condorcet, she did not believe women should have the vote. And so, for much of her political life, Manon hid behind her husband. It was when she was in prison, writing her memoirs, that she found her own voice. Quinn portrays Manon's conflict between her passion for politics and her traditional beliefs very well. She also brings to the forefront the sexual assault Manon experienced as a child, at the hands of one of her father's apprentices, an episode that was censored from earlier editions of her memoir. This early trauma cast a shadow over Manon's later sexual experiences and relations with men. Although she is faithful to her husband, she feels powerfully attracted to a rising politician who is very much in love with her. Her confession to her husband casts a damper on their marriage, until the tragic end comes.

In the fifth chapter, E. Knight tells the story of Charlotte Corday, a young woman from Caen who came to Paris to assassinate Jean-Paul Marat, one of the bloodthirstiest leaders of the revolution. Charlotte spent most of her life in a convent, and was cast out on her own after the National Assembly closed the convents. Her father was too poor to take her in, so she lived in the household of a distant cousin, where she read political newspapers by Marat's opponents, the Girondins. Convinced that Marat was ruining the country, she decided that the only way to save France was to assassinate him. Famously, at her trial, she said, "I have killed one man to save a hundred thousand." There is a second narrator in this story: Pauline Léon, a working-class woman who helps to run a chocolate shop in Paris. She and her friends, including Louise Audu and the actress Claire Lacombe, found a society of revolutionary women. Wielding a pike, Pauline takes to the streets to fight for the revolution and for equal rights for women. She and Charlotte represent two different sides of the revolution. (Charlotte was not a royalist. She supported the more moderate revolutionaries, while Pauline supported the radical Jacobins.) Both use violence as a means to accomplish what they think is right. I was familiar with Charlotte Corday's story before I read this book, but not so much with Pauline's. I think E. Knight does an excellent job of explaining why women like Pauline supported Marat and were devastated by his murder, and this is not easy, since I've always thought of Marat as a monster who deserved exactly what he got. (I admit, though, that my thinking is influenced by one of my favorite novels, Katherine Neville's The Eight, where Marat is the villain of the section that takes place during the French Revolution.)

The last chapter, by Laura Kamoie, is narrated by Émilie de Sainte-Amaranthe, a young girl considered the most beautiful woman in Paris. Émilie is the daughter of a courtesan, and she and her mother make appearances in the earlier chapters. Robespierre desires her, but she resists his advances. Émilie is married to Charles de Sartine, but she is in love with a singer, who comes to her house in secret to visit her at night. Meanwhile, her husband is having an affair with an actress. Émilie and Charles know about each other's affairs, and accept the arrangement. But Émilie's lover's visits are mistaken for those of a foreign spy, and she and her family are implicated in a conspiracy against Robespierre and sent to prison. They had nothing to do with this plot at all, if it really existed. Tragically, it is only when they are all about to be sent to the guillotine that Émilie and her husband come to love each other. Her lover had done absolutely nothing to help her when he had the chance. I had not been familiar with Émilie's story before. This chapter is powerful, and devastating.

Ribbons of Scarlet is an outstanding novel. Much of it is tragic, but it is also inspiring, because it shows how women can take charge of their own lives and work to change the world. I see many parallels with our own times. These strong women must not be forgotten! Their stories deserve to be told. I congratulate all the authors who worked on this novel. Even though there are six different stories, by six different authors and with six (actually, seven) different narrators, the novel fits together very well.

Note: I received a copy of the book at the American Library Association conference in Washington, DC, and had it signed by the three authors who were there. ...more

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Sep 30, 2019 Lisa rated it really liked it

Shelves: print, 2019, 4-star-reviews, author-req

An delightful and enlightening book about seven strong-willed women intent on fighting for necessary changes during the French Revolution.

SUMMARY
RIBBONS OF SCARLET is The French Revolution as seen through the eyes and voice of seven women who actively participate in the revolution. In the late eighteenth century women don’t have a place in politics, but as the revolution begins, these courageous women take up the fight, each with a different purpose.

The women are all from different backgrounds An delightful and enlightening book about seven strong-willed women intent on fighting for necessary changes during the French Revolution.

SUMMARY
RIBBONS OF SCARLET is The French Revolution as seen through the eyes and voice of seven women who actively participate in the revolution. In the late eighteenth century women don’t have a place in politics, but as the revolution begins, these courageous women take up the fight, each with a different purpose.

The women are all from different backgrounds but each has a vested interest in this revolution. Salon hostess and philosopher, Sophie de Grouchy, is fighting for equality and education for women. Fruit-seller and revolutionary, Louise Audu is hungry and wants food for all. The king’s sister, Princess Elizabeth fights to defend her brother’s rule. Writer and Politician, Manon Roland puts her faith in the pen, writing speeches. Chocolate-maker Pauline Leon and the steely Charlotte Corday embrace violence as the only way to save the nation. But the fate of these women rests with the ability of the beautiful Emilie de Sante-Amaranthe to sway the one man who controls France’s fate.

REVIEW
I loved the concept of this book and being introduced to these seven strong-minded women who actually stood up for change during the French Revolution. The subject was intriguing, even causing me to research the internet for more about each of these amazing women. The book is an inspiring tribute to this sisterhood who willingly put their lives on the line for change in their country. Each of women showed courage, dedication, and perseverance.

Ribbons of Scarlet is divided into six parts, each written by a different author. Authors Kate Quinn, Stephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie, Sophie Perinot, Heather Webb, and E. Knight also formed a sisterhood to pull off this delightful book. The writing is enlightening and the stories were creatively woven together by ribbons of scarlet.

Thanks to the authors for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher WilliamMorrow Books
Published October 1, 2019
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
...more

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Jul 20, 2019 Kristina McMorris rated it it was amazing

Honored to have provided a quote for this wonderful collaborative novel:

“Seamlessly interwoven by a dream team of historical authors, Ribbons of Scarlet vividly transported me to the tumultuous days of the French Revolution; I could feel the cobblestones of the alleys, taste the fine wines of the salons, hear the whisk of a guillotine’s blade. In a single sitting, I devoured the tales of seven strong and enthralling women—then, for days after, relayed their startling true accounts to any friend ...more

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Feb 29, 2020 Maureen rated it really liked it

Shelves: bingo-2020

This book is about the French Revolution and seven strong women told by six brilliant authors and a forward by Allison Pataki.
Each story is told with a different perspective. These women came from different backgrounds from a woman selling fruit on the street to the King’s sister. They all had one thing in common. The courage to fight for what they believed in.
Although the stories are written by six different authors they are intertwined with one another and develop as the story enfolds.
It is a ...more

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Jul 20, 2019 Emily rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I was so excited to win this in a Goodreads giveaway! This book has 6 authors who each wrote a different part of this story which is told from the viewpoints of 7 different women (Part 5 has 2 main characters) during the French Revolution. When I started reading it I didn't realize that they were all real people! I was expecting it to be fictional characters experiencing real events but all of these women actually existed. I found myself looking them up between chapters to try and figure out whi ...more

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Nov 16, 2018 Kris Waldherr rated it it was amazing

A deeply moving pageturner by six immensely talented authors at the top of their historical fiction game. RIBBONS OF SCARLET elegantly unfolds the complex history of the French Revolution through the eyes of seven real-life women, each representing a different stratum of society. Though the novel weighs in at over 500 pages, I tore through it in less than 24 hours and read the final sections with my eyes awash in tears. In our current age of #metoo and cultural and political clashes, RIBBONS OF ...more

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Sep 02, 2019 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc

"The Philosopher" by Stephanie Dray
Set in the time before the revolution, a young female philosopher fights for justice and independence in her world. Without being heavy-handed, this short story sets the tone in France at the time, raising several points of conflict all through an upper crust lens. The heroine runs in a more liberal circle and is hoping for change. It's interesting because, though she chafes at the fact that women are owned, she almost can't fathom equality for women, as much a ...more

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May 30, 2020 Erika rated it did not like it · review of another edition

This book could serve as a useful model for writing historical fiction in so much as it provides a simple and yet fairly all-encompassing guide to what *not* to do. It is, to put it plainly, a very bad novel on multiple levels.

I am an academic historian of French history whose fascination with the French Revolution spans over three decades. I am not, however, the kind of scholar who gets upset by occasional historical inaccuracies in fictional works or who will object if your approach to charact ...more

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Sep 21, 2019 Susan Peterson rated it it was amazing

From the moment I heard about this book, it became one of my most highly-anticipated novels of 2019. Six of the best historical fiction authors, writing about the women who shaped the French Revolution—I couldn’t help but be excited! These extraordinarily talented women have captured the chaos, the passion and conviction of that era with with empathy for all sides caught up in the events of late 18th century France. Each author has written about this time of political and social upheaval from a ...more

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Aug 25, 2019 Lana rated it it was amazing

I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this book through Goodreads. This is a wonderful, compelling novel concentrating on six main female characters during the French Revolution and written by six authors. I wasn’t sure how the continuity of the story would be with different writing styles. Not to worry. The flow of the stories and styles was seamless and provided a masterful tale of what it must have been like to be a woman during that era.

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Sep 15, 2019 Crystal King rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

Wow, what a daredevil of a read! This is a wonderful novel, written by six talented authors, telling the tale of the French Revolution through the eyes of six women from the past. I am in awe of the structure of this novel and how they managed to weave six different narratives together into one cohesive story that sweeps the reader through the chaos and politics of this tumultuous time in French (and in some ways, American) history. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and all of the varying points o ...more

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May 14, 2019 Csimplot Simplot rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Excellent book!!!

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Sep 25, 2019 Tammy(PeaceLoveBooks) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley-read, read-in-2019, read-in-september-19

I read a lot of historical fiction but this was honestly the first book I've read about the French Revolution. I knew that I had to read Ribbons of Scarlet as soon as it was announced and it didn't disappoint! These six historical fiction heavy hitters have seamlessly written a book with relatable characters, each telling their side of the cause. I honestly was surprised at the credits to find that each author had written a chapter on a separate character. Their voices blended so well! Job well ...more

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Oct 17, 2019 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2019, historical-fiction, fiction

"Ribbons of Scarlet" is a fantastic story of the French Revolution told in six parts by some of the powerhouse women authors of the historical fiction world. The French Revolution is definitely well-trodden territory for historical fiction but this book feels fresh as it gives a lot of new perspectives to such an important event through the eyes of the women who experienced it firsthand. These women are strong, principled, cunning in very different ways! This book was truly a treat!

One of the th "Ribbons of Scarlet" is a fantastic story of the French Revolution told in six parts by some of the powerhouse women authors of the historical fiction world. The French Revolution is definitely well-trodden territory for historical fiction but this book feels fresh as it gives a lot of new perspectives to such an important event through the eyes of the women who experienced it firsthand. These women are strong, principled, cunning in very different ways! This book was truly a treat!

One of the things that I love best about reading both non-fiction history and historical fiction is the lessons that they hold for the present day and those nuggets are most definitely strewn throughout this book. Women did not often have a platform during this time but all of these women find small and big ways to make waves and stand for what they believe in! Always an important lesson and one that is definitely well done throughout this book!

Each of the six sections of the book is written by a different author but the whole story flows while giving us different perspectives and showing different aspects of the French Revolution. I love this concept and I think it works really well to essentially breakdown super complex events into something that is easier to follow. If you're a historical fiction fan, you may have caught some of the authors in this book in other History 360 books such as "A Day of Fire" and "A Sea of Sorrow" among others. They have found a really great way to tackle some of the big events of history. "Ribbons of Scarlet" is the first History 360 book to be traditionally published, which will hopefully bring these stories to more people. The concept is much the same as the other books although this book really felt more cohesive and a whole story rather than only showing various perspectives.

The characters that we're introduced to are really fantastic and they are so different. We meet some of the great thinkers of the revolutions, the students, the traditionalists, and the muscles of France. They come from different experiences and classes. All of them are women. All of them seem to be stymied in some way because of their sex. All of them find ways to make their voices heard. Present day, when it feels like there is not much you can do about the things going on in the world, this book is seriously inspiring! ...more

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Jul 21, 2019 Margaret Rodenberg rated it it was amazing

I received a free Advanced Reader Edition of RIBBONS OF SCARLET at the Historical Novel Society conference so this a legitimate prerelease review. The book is unique in that six authors collaborated on it. Each wrote a section told from the point of view of a different female historical figure during the French Revolution. So six authors, six main characters. Does it work as a novel? Amazing well. I didn’t want to put it down.

The main characters—women drawn from various levels of society—show up ...more

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Nov 04, 2019 Peggyzbooksnmusic rated it really liked it

Shelves: library, kindle, read-2019, historical-fiction-18th-century, historical-fiction-france

Very interesting read about a horrific time in history: The French Revolution. I really liked that this was a collection of 6 novellas by 6 different authors that told the stories of 6 women who's lives were intertwined. ...more

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Sep 30, 2019 Clarissa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: enjoyed, interesting, tearjerker, i-am-going-to-reread-this, the-cover-is-so-pretty, my-favourites

It seems like forever since I've written one of my long-winded, lengthy reviews, but here we are. Ribbons of Scarlet is a title I've spoken a great deal about in the last few months and even though I am publishing this today, you will see my post about it at least two more times, so my apologies in advance. However, I feel given the current state of things, women (and men!) could benefit from reading and learning about life in Revolutionary France. I find that looking at the past can always help It seems like forever since I've written one of my long-winded, lengthy reviews, but here we are. Ribbons of Scarlet is a title I've spoken a great deal about in the last few months and even though I am publishing this today, you will see my post about it at least two more times, so my apologies in advance. However, I feel given the current state of things, women (and men!) could benefit from reading and learning about life in Revolutionary France. I find that looking at the past can always help us learn in the present. Now, women didn't have the rights that we do today. So whether they were protesting at Versailles and begging for bread or they grumbled and tried to survive in what was an oppressive regime, they were progressive because they refused to sit idly by. Even though the new motto sort of laid it plain: Liberté, égalité, fraternité. Fraternity. Brotherhood.

They were not only fighting for survival, but they also were doing some truly remarkable things, fighting for the rights of women, for the freedom of slaves, for the betterment of things. It was rather progressive for the time period. Far ahead of many countries. Also, bear in mind...they risked their heads too. Everything could b put on the line if you were 'rebellious'. It didn't matter your background either, as we well know. If a King could lose his head...then who was a mere peasant? No one was safe.

In my opinion, it takes a special brand of author to each write a portion of a story and to have all of it be part of a cohesive story. But it's a stunningly beautiful collaboration. I've read each author before and I was not at all disappointed with their work. Their efforts at truly beautiful and stunningly written. They don't shy away from the harshness of the period--in Stephanie's section, for example, we meet Sophie whilst she is witnessing a public execution, which doubles as a torture session. The more interested the crowd, the slower the executioner goes, but the moment the crowd loses interest, they make the ending swift. It was not a particularly easy thing to read, but knowing that this actually occurred and that people watched? It makes it more difficult to fathom. Furthermore, the fact that people would dip their handkerchiefs and such in the blood as a memento is even more horrifying. Still, Sophie was a wonderful opener to the book, her section is engrossing and it was wonderful to get lost in her life. I especially felt for her, given her frustration at the binds put on women because of their sex. When women married, their identity was often sacrificed in order to be a mother and a wife. Sophie's intelligence, frankness, and wit lead her to her husband and invariably her survival. Stephanie Dray is quite possibly at her best here.

What I really loved was how each of the authors took their subject(s) and made them come off the page in such a striking way. For me, I had heard of some of them, but others were lost in history to me until now. Sophie de Grouchy, Louise Reine Audu, Princess Élisabeth, Manon Roland, Charlotte Corday, Pauline Leon, and Émilie de Sainte-Amaranthe. Seven women...seven exceptional women. All so different, yet so unforgettable.

I knew of Princess Elisabeth, of course. I was delighted to see Sophie Perinot writing her section; knowing full well how excellent she writes. Elisabeth was in quite safe hands; for these were the hands that wrote of Marguerite, the daughter of Catherine de Medici. Reading her narrative from the perspective of a royal is fascinating and for me, added to my sympathy for them. Do I believe them to be monsters? No. Do I believe the King and Queen to be good rulers? No. What I believe is that they should have been given the choice to flee with their children to live out quiet lives. As we know, that doesn't happen. Reading of the first death by guillotine was like a punch to the gut; Ms. Perinot has the innate ability to pull your heart out, stomp on it and leave you wanting more.

Something I particularly enjoyed was reading of other characters in other sections. For example, in part one, Sophie is our main character, but in part two, Louise, our narrator, has attended a school that Sophie has founded and learned to read there. It's a fascinating way to tie everything together. A ribbon, if you will, that winds itself skillfully throughout the entire novel. Reading about the best efforts of the upper classes to improve the life of the poor was both touching and sad. Sophie was a woman who truly wanted to help women less fortunate than herself, but sadly, it doesn't work. Louise joins with others and marches upon Versailles. Perhaps it was just me, but I saw parallels between that and the Women's March that takes place yearly now.

Each character had such heart and such power. I don't think I'll ever forget a single one of them, which I am certain was a goal of the authors. To shed light on those who were relegated, as many women were, to background characters. I've been anxiously awaiting this book since I first heard about it and I was not disappointed at all. It's truly a wonder. A true tour de force that shall have your emotions begging you to get off the roller coaster; but you're an enthusiast for the thrill of it. I couldn't put it down...and even after I finished, I still kept it close. (Nerdy, but true.)

I am so excited for this coming Saturday and getting to meet all six authors. my first book signing ever and there's going to be six (!!) of my favorites there. Totally over the moon.
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Sep 26, 2019 Davida Chazan rated it really liked it

Shelves: biography, feminism, short-stories, edelweiss-arc, 2019, fiction, historical, literary, women, multiple-authors

This unique book brings six, talented historical fiction authors together to tell the story of seven (well, almost eight) women who played important roles in the French Revolution. Find out what I thought of this special collaboration through my review on my blog here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2019/09/2... ...more

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Nov 10, 2019 Carol (Reading Ladies) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star-reads, favorite-reads, historical-fiction

4.5 Stars

Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!

Six masterful storytellers collaborate to share the experiences of seven unforgettable women of The French Revolution. During the Revolution, these courageous and determined women felt compelled to speak up and exert their influence wherever they could. Even though these are six separate stories, some passionate convictions and ideas connect them.

The authors of Ribbons of Scarlet pull off an ambitious collaboration and put the history back into historical f 4.5 Stars

Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!

Six masterful storytellers collaborate to share the experiences of seven unforgettable women of The French Revolution. During the Revolution, these courageous and determined women felt compelled to speak up and exert their influence wherever they could. Even though these are six separate stories, some passionate convictions and ideas connect them.

The authors of Ribbons of Scarlet pull off an ambitious collaboration and put the history back into historical fiction! This compelling and powerful story is well researched, well written, and packed with vivid historical details. The transitions are smooth between the stories and Ribbons of Scarlet reads like one complete story….if I didn’t know there were six authors, I would not have been able to guess. I appreciate the multiple viewpoints which give us well-rounded perspectives from members of royalty, a fruitseller, a teacher, a political writer, two revengeful women, and a beautiful woman married to an influential man.

I wish the authors had included a bit more scaffolding for readers to understand the scope and sequence of the French Revolution. I feel like I was immersed in the individual stories but I was uncertain of the political groups and broad ideas of the Revolution. I Googled frequently, but most of the information I found was complex to understand in a quick Google search. What I really needed was a “Dummies Guide to the French Revolution.” It might have been helpful for each author to provide a brief and simple overview of the politics and factions at the beginning of each chapter.

Don’t miss the authors’ notes!

The characterizations of these strong-willed women are excellent even though each of their sections is like a short story. I was immediately drawn into their situations and felt connected with them and grew to appreciate their causes and viewpoints. The women seem modern in their thinking: lending their voices to the cause and passionate about equal rights. I heard Kate Quinn speak to this first hand, and she assures readers that the women’s modern attitudes reflect thorough research and that these women were, indeed, early feminists.

In addition to themes of politics and patriotism, there are thoughtful themes of loyalty, family, risk, courageous determination, bravery, hope, finding your voice, sacrifice, and equal rights.

Content warning: capital punishment, beheadings (PG-13)

I highly recommend Ribbons of Scarlet for readers who appreciate compelling stories of strong and independent women, for fans of historically rich and powerful histfic, for those who are interested in French history, and for book clubs looking for ambitious reads.

For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com ...more

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Jan 07, 2020 M.K. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical

This novel both surprises and delights. It's a feat of writing in that 6 authors created the story and a miracle that it comes together so well and so seamlessly. All the angst, horror, conflicting ideologies, and terrible losses are set out for the reader with uniquely compelling characters whose stories are interwoven to tell the tale. Remarkable and highly recommended. ...more

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Jul 23, 2019 April rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction

I got this book as an ARC at a library conference. I love stories that center women and I’m fascinated by stories of the French Revolution, so I really wanted to love this book. In the end, though, it was just okay to me. I think it tries to do too much. Each chapter doesn’t really provide enough character development for us to really get to know each of these women what with trying to cover the women and the historical occurrences in short chapter-size vignettes. So you’re often left feeling no ...more

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Oct 05, 2019 The Lit Bitch rated it it was amazing

Epic was the first thing that I thought of when I saw this book. There are six different writers in this book and that fact alone suggests that this book was going to have a huge scope. But to be honest, the amount of authors that contributed to this book, made me a little nervous.

There are a number of powerhouse writers here and all of them independently successful and excellent authors, but how would their varying styles work together and mesh into one novel?

That was my biggest hold out on thi Epic was the first thing that I thought of when I saw this book. There are six different writers in this book and that fact alone suggests that this book was going to have a huge scope. But to be honest, the amount of authors that contributed to this book, made me a little nervous.

There are a number of powerhouse writers here and all of them independently successful and excellent authors, but how would their varying styles work together and mesh into one novel?

That was my biggest hold out on this one. I know that many of these same authors have collaborated together to write multiple other works—but I haven’t read any of those other works so I was slightly nervous taking this one on, but I was so curious about the time period they would be exploring and I curiosity got the better of me.

I don’t think I have ever read a novel like this before—if you are looking for a truly unique reading experience, then this is the book for you. Was there a lot going on—-YES. But was it a mess—absolutely NOT. With six people writing seven different narratives/POVs to form one larger story, I was so fearful that it would be confusing and that I would be lost and overwhelmed but I really wasn’t. I was so impressed each author’s contribution and perspective and marveled at the way this one came together.

While this book is a historical read, it was so well written that I forgot I was reading a history book rather than a fictionalized account of a character or historical figure. Each woman was so intriguing that I often found myself Googling them and wanting to know so much about each one and the best thing about each character was their experience was so different from the next woman and it kept things interesting.

The only thing I felt a little torn about was the fact that each woman’s story was condensed which left me wanting to find out so much more about each woman, but also gave me enough to enjoy the larger story. I think each of these women could have had their own full length book but my guess is that it was done this way to help conserve space.

I found that I had to slow down with this one to savor it. I didn’t want to rush it, but rather savor each story along the way. The subject matter wasn’t fluffy—in fact it was a little heavier than I was anticipating but I thought the writing each author provided was critical to the enjoyment of the subject.

This was an excellent read and I relished picking it up each night. I love the time period and the background and history provided in this book but the history was told with such elegance and ease from each author that I found myself devouring it as often as I could even though I promised myself I would savor it! Well done ladies—-well done this was an impressive undertaking!

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Sep 29, 2019 Cori rated it it was amazing

"They killed us for being too political, too intelligent, too opinionated, too daring, too pretty."

"The crowd around my guillotine hushes and cried, but around others the people cheered and celebrated. Beautiful, terrible humanity. Capable of the most inspiring and creative genius and the greatest and most unimaginable abominations."

Ribbons of Scarlet is a poignant, masterful telling of the French Revolution. It had everything I look for in a well written historical fiction novel. The French Rev "They killed us for being too political, too intelligent, too opinionated, too daring, too pretty."

"The crowd around my guillotine hushes and cried, but around others the people cheered and celebrated. Beautiful, terrible humanity. Capable of the most inspiring and creative genius and the greatest and most unimaginable abominations."

Ribbons of Scarlet is a poignant, masterful telling of the French Revolution. It had everything I look for in a well written historical fiction novel. The French Revolution was an extremely brutal time in history. Many different extremist groups formed, all with their own opinions of how France should be ruled (or lack thereof). Historians and authors have a lot of information to cover if they want to do this multifaceted historical event justice. I think that these six authors did a fantastic job of including the various viewpoints found in this era. Unlike the vast majority of most history text books though, in Ribbons of Scarlet women are more than just a mere footnote -- they are the protagonists in the story. The authors found a way to give these women a voice even though they were born at a time that women empowerment was a foreign notion. Each narrator in this book has captivating story to tell; we get to see their roles in the French Revolution, their unending courage, their undying love for their country, and their hopes for a better tomorrow.

I can't recommend this book enough. I've read countless books on WWII, and as much as I love those, it's important to learn about other times in history too. When I was in school, I brushed off teachings of the French Revolution - it didn't involve America, therefore I didn't care. After reading this book, my eyes have been opened and I am looking forward to reading more about the French Revolution in the future (something I never thought I'd say). Heck, I would read about any topic if it was written by these amazing authors. Well done ladies... well done.

Thanks so much to @tlcbooktours and @williammorrowbooks for my free copy! ...more

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About Kate Quinn

Kate Quinn

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--I use Goodreads to track and rate my current reading. Most of my reads are 4 stars, meaning I enjoyed it hugely and would absolutely recommend. 5 stars is blew-my-socks-off; reserved for rare reads. 3 stars is "enjoyed it, but something fell a bit short." I very rarely rate lower because I DNF books I'm not enjoying, and don't rate books I don't finish.--

Kate Quinn is the New York Times and USA ...more