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The Queen of Paris: A Novel of Coco Chanel
Legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel is revered for her sophisticated style--the iconic little black dress--and famed for her intoxicating perfume Chanel No. 5. Yet behind the public persona is a complicated woman of intrigue, shadowed by mysterious rumors. The Queen of Paris, the new novel from award-winning author Pamela Binnings Ewen, vividly imagines the hidden life of Chanel during the four years of Nazi occupation in Paris in the midst of WWII--as discovered in recently unearthed wartime files.
Coco Chanel could be cheerful, lighthearted, and generous; she also could be ruthless, manipulative, even cruel. Against the winds of war, with the Wehrmacht marching down the Champs-Élysées, Chanel finds herself residing alongside the Reich's High Command in the Hotel Ritz. Surrounded by the enemy, Chanel wages a private war of her own to wrestle full control of her perfume company from the hands of her Jewish business partner, Pierre Wertheimer. With anti-Semitism on the rise, he has escaped to the United States with the confidential formula for Chanel No. 5. Distrustful of his intentions to set up production on the outskirts of New York City, Chanel fights to seize ownership. The House of Chanel shall not fall.
While Chanel struggles to keep her livelihood intact, Paris sinks under the iron fist of German rule. Chanel--a woman made of sparkling granite--will do anything to survive. She will even agree to collaborate with the Nazis in order to protect her darkest secrets. When she is covertly recruited by Germany to spy for the Reich, she becomes Agent F-7124, code name: Westminster. But why? And to what lengths will she go to keep her stormy past from haunting her future?
Coco Chanel could be cheerful, lighthearted, and generous; she also could be ruthless, manipulative, even cruel. Against the winds of war, with the Wehrmacht marching down the Champs-Élysées, Chanel finds herself residing alongside the Reich's High Command in the Hotel Ritz. Surrounded by the enemy, Chanel wages a private war of her own to wrestle full control of her perfume company from the hands of her Jewish business partner, Pierre Wertheimer. With anti-Semitism on the rise, he has escaped to the United States with the confidential formula for Chanel No. 5. Distrustful of his intentions to set up production on the outskirts of New York City, Chanel fights to seize ownership. The House of Chanel shall not fall.
While Chanel struggles to keep her livelihood intact, Paris sinks under the iron fist of German rule. Chanel--a woman made of sparkling granite--will do anything to survive. She will even agree to collaborate with the Nazis in order to protect her darkest secrets. When she is covertly recruited by Germany to spy for the Reich, she becomes Agent F-7124, code name: Westminster. But why? And to what lengths will she go to keep her stormy past from haunting her future?
360 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2020
1372 people are currently reading
11533 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Binnings Ewen
12 books237 followersAfter practicing law for many in Houston, Texas, Pamela Binnings Ewen turned to writing. She lives in Mandeville, Louisiana near New Orleans. She is the author of The Moon in the Mango Tree, and five other books. Based on a true story, The Moon in the Mango tree was awarded the 2012 Eudora Welty Memorial Award by the National League of American Pen Women.
Pamela's newest novel, The Queen of Paris, will be released April 7, 2020 by Blackstone Publications. This electrifying story, based on the real life of Coco Chanel during WWII as the Nazi's occupied Paris, reveals the underside of the celebrated icon, as has never before been fully told. The Queen of Paris is available for Pre-order now.
Pamela's other novels are Dancing on Glass (a Single Titles Reviewer's Choice award), Chasing the Wind (a Top Pick for RT Reviewers), An Accidental Life, and Secret of the Shroud. She also wrote the non-fiction best-seller Faith on Trial, now in second edition.
Pamela has served on the board of directors of Inprint (Houston, Texas), The Tennessee Williams Festival (New Orleans, Louisiana) and on the advisory board of the Pirate's Alley Faulkner Society (New Orleans). She is President of the Northshore Literary Society located in St. Tammany Paris, Louisiana. In 2009 Pamela received the President’s Arts Award from the Cultural Commission of St. Tammany Parish as Literary Artist of the Year.
Pamela's newest novel, The Queen of Paris, will be released April 7, 2020 by Blackstone Publications. This electrifying story, based on the real life of Coco Chanel during WWII as the Nazi's occupied Paris, reveals the underside of the celebrated icon, as has never before been fully told. The Queen of Paris is available for Pre-order now.
Pamela's other novels are Dancing on Glass (a Single Titles Reviewer's Choice award), Chasing the Wind (a Top Pick for RT Reviewers), An Accidental Life, and Secret of the Shroud. She also wrote the non-fiction best-seller Faith on Trial, now in second edition.
Pamela has served on the board of directors of Inprint (Houston, Texas), The Tennessee Williams Festival (New Orleans, Louisiana) and on the advisory board of the Pirate's Alley Faulkner Society (New Orleans). She is President of the Northshore Literary Society located in St. Tammany Paris, Louisiana. In 2009 Pamela received the President’s Arts Award from the Cultural Commission of St. Tammany Parish as Literary Artist of the Year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 515 reviews
April 20, 2021
Gabrielle Bonheur ‘Coco’ Chanel (1883-1972) remains to be an icon of couture and perfume Chanel No. 5. But she was also a Nazi spy. Was it of her own choice or was she forced to collaborate with the Nazi’s?
French Riviera, 1944. Gabrielle Chanel – Coco to most – just learned that her business partner has stolen the No. 5 perfume formula.
Pierre Wertheimer, Jewish businessman, flees Europe for America taking with him the formula to produce it in the US.
“Since closing her line of couture last year after the worker’s strike, No. 5 has become her primary source of income.”
She takes the case to court.
The story alternates between 1940-1944 and her past.
1909. On a hot humid day, “on a whim I tied a black grosgrain ribbon around the rim of a straw boater, a lighter, cooler hat than fashionable ladies wore.” Then suddenly, some ladies crave her hat. Before she knows, she is in business of selling hats.
“Then came jackets and skirts and blouses… (…) classic, simple…”
1940. As France is under German control, now it’s also governed by German laws. She thinks she can outsmart SS officer. But she makes a fatal mistake. And now she can lose everything, even her freedom.
Vividly imagined story has a heart-warming ending, even tear-dropping. To have such a friend…
The focus of the story is Coco Chanel, not the gruesome events of WWII. At the same time, the author skillfully puts dimensions into the time period. It is interesting to read how war is progressing in France, some not feeling the effect of it at all, at least at the beginning of the war. And after liberation, the terror, or the Purge, that follows on the streets of Paris.
Coco Chanel is very real. She is a very complex woman. Among her many traits, she is ambitious, driven, arrogant, and more. Events in her life propel her to be certain way. She makes a name for herself, but she is not so lucky with the love of her life – Boy Capel. Despite her superiority, she still can be a likeable character and you do feel sympathy for her and feel for her lost love.
With smooth prose and evoking characters, this story of an iconic couturier is revealed in engrossing layers.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
French Riviera, 1944. Gabrielle Chanel – Coco to most – just learned that her business partner has stolen the No. 5 perfume formula.
Pierre Wertheimer, Jewish businessman, flees Europe for America taking with him the formula to produce it in the US.
“Since closing her line of couture last year after the worker’s strike, No. 5 has become her primary source of income.”
She takes the case to court.
The story alternates between 1940-1944 and her past.
1909. On a hot humid day, “on a whim I tied a black grosgrain ribbon around the rim of a straw boater, a lighter, cooler hat than fashionable ladies wore.” Then suddenly, some ladies crave her hat. Before she knows, she is in business of selling hats.
“Then came jackets and skirts and blouses… (…) classic, simple…”
1940. As France is under German control, now it’s also governed by German laws. She thinks she can outsmart SS officer. But she makes a fatal mistake. And now she can lose everything, even her freedom.
Vividly imagined story has a heart-warming ending, even tear-dropping. To have such a friend…
The focus of the story is Coco Chanel, not the gruesome events of WWII. At the same time, the author skillfully puts dimensions into the time period. It is interesting to read how war is progressing in France, some not feeling the effect of it at all, at least at the beginning of the war. And after liberation, the terror, or the Purge, that follows on the streets of Paris.
Coco Chanel is very real. She is a very complex woman. Among her many traits, she is ambitious, driven, arrogant, and more. Events in her life propel her to be certain way. She makes a name for herself, but she is not so lucky with the love of her life – Boy Capel. Despite her superiority, she still can be a likeable character and you do feel sympathy for her and feel for her lost love.
With smooth prose and evoking characters, this story of an iconic couturier is revealed in engrossing layers.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2020
The three stars are for the incredible writing talent of the author because it takes a masterful effort to have me read an entire story and hate the title character. The Queen of Paris is none other than Coco Chanel and this volume focuses on her collaboration with the Nazi regime that occupied Paris. This, of course, is now established in the historical record that Chanel was anti-Semitic. To what extent were the activities that she engages in collaboration is what the author deals with creating a storyline.
Most of the WWII books that not only grace my shelves but also other readers as well are tales of those who resisted, who joined the fight against the occupiers in one way or another and then there are also the dozens and dozens of Holocaust survivor stories which have been read. Then here comes this book which is about a self-centered, egotistical and entitled French woman who merely looks at the Jewish roundups and shrugs and says "This has nothing to do with me." Basically, here comes a story that focuses on the majority of why people "looked the other way." For Coco Chanel, she was concerned about her family and her business.
As I stated in my first paragraph, I read the entirety of this book and never liked Chanel. I just couldn't. I also really couldn't find the empathy that I think the author wanted me to have even with the back story that was presented in flashbacks. Does the fact that your father abandoned you as a child and your lovers rejected you, give you permission to do the things you did during a time of war? I don't know but this book sure has twisted me in knots just thinking about it. As I said, it's a whole shade of grey.
Goodreads review published 13/04/20
Publication Date 07/04/20
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Most of the WWII books that not only grace my shelves but also other readers as well are tales of those who resisted, who joined the fight against the occupiers in one way or another and then there are also the dozens and dozens of Holocaust survivor stories which have been read. Then here comes this book which is about a self-centered, egotistical and entitled French woman who merely looks at the Jewish roundups and shrugs and says "This has nothing to do with me." Basically, here comes a story that focuses on the majority of why people "looked the other way." For Coco Chanel, she was concerned about her family and her business.
As I stated in my first paragraph, I read the entirety of this book and never liked Chanel. I just couldn't. I also really couldn't find the empathy that I think the author wanted me to have even with the back story that was presented in flashbacks. Does the fact that your father abandoned you as a child and your lovers rejected you, give you permission to do the things you did during a time of war? I don't know but this book sure has twisted me in knots just thinking about it. As I said, it's a whole shade of grey.
Goodreads review published 13/04/20
Publication Date 07/04/20
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2019
I have just read “The Queen of Paris” A Novel of Coco Chanel by Pamela Binnings Ewen
What an intriguing book. Pamela Binnings Ewen writes eloquently. The author has done a great deal of research, and the book was very engaging and very interesting. Her description of Coco Chanel and the era was very visual.
It is a storyline takes place during the four years of Nazi occupation in Paris in the midst of WWII
I am giving this book a solid 4.5 stars
I found it a wonderful read, but at times a bit hard to follow all of the characters, and a bit long winded, however a book that I would highly recommend to those who love a good historical fiction
#TheQueenOfParis #NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing
What an intriguing book. Pamela Binnings Ewen writes eloquently. The author has done a great deal of research, and the book was very engaging and very interesting. Her description of Coco Chanel and the era was very visual.
It is a storyline takes place during the four years of Nazi occupation in Paris in the midst of WWII
I am giving this book a solid 4.5 stars
I found it a wonderful read, but at times a bit hard to follow all of the characters, and a bit long winded, however a book that I would highly recommend to those who love a good historical fiction
#TheQueenOfParis #NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing
April 16, 2022
4 Stars for The Queen of Paris: A Novel of Coco Chanel (audiobook) by Pamela Binnings Ewen read by Gabrielle De Cuir.
This is a beautifully written story about a powerful lady who didn’t have many redeeming qualities. The story takes place in Paris during the German occupation during WWII. This book claims to be a novel, so it’s fiction. But in the description it mentions that it’s partly based on new information that’s been recently uncovered. I was hoping to learn more about this interesting woman but I’m not sure what part of this story actually happened and what was made up. I wished the author made that more clear.
This is a beautifully written story about a powerful lady who didn’t have many redeeming qualities. The story takes place in Paris during the German occupation during WWII. This book claims to be a novel, so it’s fiction. But in the description it mentions that it’s partly based on new information that’s been recently uncovered. I was hoping to learn more about this interesting woman but I’m not sure what part of this story actually happened and what was made up. I wished the author made that more clear.
April 6, 2020
This is a fascinating look at the iconic Coco Chanel during the time of the Nazi occupation of France. It is 1940 and Chanel has built up a company and a legacy with her couture and her signature perfume, Chanel no. 5. Using flashbacks, Ewen paints a picture of a poverty stricken and abandoned Coco, who learns to trust no one in her quest for a better life. Now her business partner, Pierre Wertheimer, has left with the formula for Chanel no. 5 and resettled in New York in order to begin production there, all behind Coco Chanel’s back. She is desperate to seize control back and is even willing to use the new Nazi courts and their anti-Semitic laws against the Jewish Pierre. Drawing the attention of the Nazis and their realization that Coco’s son is in a concentration camp, leads to Coco’s recruitment into the Nazi spy network. She is sent to Spain to convince Franco to join forces with Hitler and Mussolini in their quest to conquer Europe. Coco remains a guest of the Ritz hotel, even though it was being used as the Nazi Headquarters.
Though it has never been proven that the child Coco claimed to be her nephew, was really her son, Ewen takes some liberties by creating this bond to explain some of Coco Chanel’s motivations for helping the Nazi’s. It is true that she was able to use her business acumen after the Allies freed Paris, to escape the fate of other suspected Nazi sympathizers, by handing out free bottles of Chanel no. 5 to GIs. Despite her denials of ever working with the enemy, files released years later, confirmed that she did indeed have at least a code name and handlers.
This portrayal of Coco is not without sympathy. Though characterized as arrogant; myopically ambitious and ruthless; and often uncaring to those suffering around her; Ewan softens her character by her portrayal of a sad and lonely childhood, and Coco’s unwavering love toward a son who does not reciprocate her feelings.
The prose and descriptions of both a conquered Paris, and an earlier world of upper-class luxury; paint a vivid picture of the France of Coco Chanel’s time. This is a well-researched, unapologetic work of historical fiction, and an interesting view of a strong, powerful woman and who she really was. This would be a great read for those interested in WWII historical fiction, biographical fiction, and fiction about the world of couture fashion and one of its most celebrated women.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
Though it has never been proven that the child Coco claimed to be her nephew, was really her son, Ewen takes some liberties by creating this bond to explain some of Coco Chanel’s motivations for helping the Nazi’s. It is true that she was able to use her business acumen after the Allies freed Paris, to escape the fate of other suspected Nazi sympathizers, by handing out free bottles of Chanel no. 5 to GIs. Despite her denials of ever working with the enemy, files released years later, confirmed that she did indeed have at least a code name and handlers.
This portrayal of Coco is not without sympathy. Though characterized as arrogant; myopically ambitious and ruthless; and often uncaring to those suffering around her; Ewan softens her character by her portrayal of a sad and lonely childhood, and Coco’s unwavering love toward a son who does not reciprocate her feelings.
The prose and descriptions of both a conquered Paris, and an earlier world of upper-class luxury; paint a vivid picture of the France of Coco Chanel’s time. This is a well-researched, unapologetic work of historical fiction, and an interesting view of a strong, powerful woman and who she really was. This would be a great read for those interested in WWII historical fiction, biographical fiction, and fiction about the world of couture fashion and one of its most celebrated women.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
October 23, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy and to Blackstone for approving my request to read.
Well, The Queen of Paris gets two stars from me. First, the good. Pamela Bunnings Ewen writes beautifully. She uses lush prose and brings the beautiful scenery and luxury of Coco Chanel’s lifestyle to the page with astounding clarity. She has certainly done a thorough job with her research. That’s THE only reason I’m giving the book any stars.
Now, the bad. I somehow did not know that Coco Chanel was a Nazi Collaborator. I could blame that on not really being familiar or a fan girl of the Chanel brand, but my own ignorance is appalling. I requested this book because I figured it would be cool to learn about a woman who built a legacy long after she had passed on.
Coco seems like the type of woman who ruthlessly went for what she wanted. To the point of selfishness and at times, humiliation. This story does not depict a kind or even likable person in my eyes. It might just be the subject matter, but I could not find admiration in Coco’s choice to collaborate with Nazis, and even take a Nazi lover, even if it was to help her friends and family. I can understand her thought process, as it would be unimaginable to know that your friends and family were in the hands of terrible people (that you are also willingly sleeping with). But, I think the admiration for people in that time lies with the ones who did everything to survive and fight AGAINST the Nazi wishes.
This book made me realize that Coco Chanel was talented and commanding, but a terribly lonely social climber… willing to tear the world apart to suit her whims and fancies. I could find no joy in this book because of what I learned, but sadly, I know there’s plenty of people out there who are Chanel fans who will use this book as a means to heighten her pedestal.
Well, The Queen of Paris gets two stars from me. First, the good. Pamela Bunnings Ewen writes beautifully. She uses lush prose and brings the beautiful scenery and luxury of Coco Chanel’s lifestyle to the page with astounding clarity. She has certainly done a thorough job with her research. That’s THE only reason I’m giving the book any stars.
Now, the bad. I somehow did not know that Coco Chanel was a Nazi Collaborator. I could blame that on not really being familiar or a fan girl of the Chanel brand, but my own ignorance is appalling. I requested this book because I figured it would be cool to learn about a woman who built a legacy long after she had passed on.
Coco seems like the type of woman who ruthlessly went for what she wanted. To the point of selfishness and at times, humiliation. This story does not depict a kind or even likable person in my eyes. It might just be the subject matter, but I could not find admiration in Coco’s choice to collaborate with Nazis, and even take a Nazi lover, even if it was to help her friends and family. I can understand her thought process, as it would be unimaginable to know that your friends and family were in the hands of terrible people (that you are also willingly sleeping with). But, I think the admiration for people in that time lies with the ones who did everything to survive and fight AGAINST the Nazi wishes.
This book made me realize that Coco Chanel was talented and commanding, but a terribly lonely social climber… willing to tear the world apart to suit her whims and fancies. I could find no joy in this book because of what I learned, but sadly, I know there’s plenty of people out there who are Chanel fans who will use this book as a means to heighten her pedestal.
March 12, 2022
This was like the perfect historical fiction novel. It had all the elements, it was well written, and it kept my attention. Coco Chanel, at least depicted by this novel, was quite self-serving. She was far from a humanitarian or social justice minded. She takes care of herself and her own. She wasn't as easy to root for given her character style, although you could see she was placed in a difficult impossible situation her whole life. Coco Chanel is the story of a young girl who faced early loss and abandonment, and then had that repeated over and over again. Seemingly, that develops a character who has her aches and pains, but rather than transform those into a sense of universal struggle or common good, her aloneness and survival instincts became stronger and more of a character style. In this depiction, she absolutely did love. She loved deeply and greatly. But only in her own circle, and could not afford any more. Even drugs kept her away from having to deal with the horrors of reality and her reality. Her refusal to "know and see" did the rest. For which, she would likely have no apology. She did the best she could for what she needed to do for herself and protect what little she could. The way it all worked out in the end was fascinating and a little charming to me. And it made sense. This is a woman you don't want to see lose, but you don't quite want to see her win either. Its actually an amazing tale of a woman I knew little about.
Coco Chanel is my Remarkable Person of the Year (2022). Recently, I am having some difficulty with this particular self-designed challenge. It sort of made sense. There are at least a few Remarkable People on my TBR that caught my eye, and I would like to know a little more about. But I found the last few years, that over the course of the year, I get very bored with a character. I already feel like I had her life mapped out in this particular historical fiction book, I'm not sure I want to read the same book or similar books twice, or over and over again. This may be the last year of the challenge, or I may have to re-vamp it. But the Chanel Sisters is on my TBR and that seems to add more about her earlier life. There is a Rhys Bowen mystery, and maybe some of these will have a different style and take on her. We shall see. Mademoiselle Chanel appears to be the other straight historical fiction novel, and perhaps that should be next, or perhaps I should do some other looks in between. I loved the Mata Hari year, and even Eve had a lot of different takes. There is so much Queen Elizabeth on my TBR that if I dived into it, I would really clean it out. Same with Marie Antoinette. And with Elizabeth II. I am sort of thinking, maybe next year I will start a multi year challenge and kind of rotate between the three, so I am less bored or oversaturated. Or maybe one of those years in between, and during, I throw in another person for the year. I have Marilyn Monroe, and oddly enough, two books on the Queen of Sheba. Anyway, my point is, that I am taking over-saturation into account as I am thinking about how to structure this particular interest in CoCo this year. One of the things I really love about Goodreads, is how exposed I am to a variety of genres and interests. I love that my reading is peppered with bestsellers and mysteries, non-fiction on occasion, more in the last few years. Historical fiction, contemporary fiction, WWII and holocaust, Tudor and Court style novels, and of course a good dose of Magic done well. And always, always love.
Coco Chanel is my Remarkable Person of the Year (2022). Recently, I am having some difficulty with this particular self-designed challenge. It sort of made sense. There are at least a few Remarkable People on my TBR that caught my eye, and I would like to know a little more about. But I found the last few years, that over the course of the year, I get very bored with a character. I already feel like I had her life mapped out in this particular historical fiction book, I'm not sure I want to read the same book or similar books twice, or over and over again. This may be the last year of the challenge, or I may have to re-vamp it. But the Chanel Sisters is on my TBR and that seems to add more about her earlier life. There is a Rhys Bowen mystery, and maybe some of these will have a different style and take on her. We shall see. Mademoiselle Chanel appears to be the other straight historical fiction novel, and perhaps that should be next, or perhaps I should do some other looks in between. I loved the Mata Hari year, and even Eve had a lot of different takes. There is so much Queen Elizabeth on my TBR that if I dived into it, I would really clean it out. Same with Marie Antoinette. And with Elizabeth II. I am sort of thinking, maybe next year I will start a multi year challenge and kind of rotate between the three, so I am less bored or oversaturated. Or maybe one of those years in between, and during, I throw in another person for the year. I have Marilyn Monroe, and oddly enough, two books on the Queen of Sheba. Anyway, my point is, that I am taking over-saturation into account as I am thinking about how to structure this particular interest in CoCo this year. One of the things I really love about Goodreads, is how exposed I am to a variety of genres and interests. I love that my reading is peppered with bestsellers and mysteries, non-fiction on occasion, more in the last few years. Historical fiction, contemporary fiction, WWII and holocaust, Tudor and Court style novels, and of course a good dose of Magic done well. And always, always love.
April 6, 2021
Can you truly enjoy a book and kind of dislike the main character?
The Queen of Paris challenges the reader to determine an answer to this question as they see the choices and lifestyle famous perfumer Coco Chanel benefited from during France's occupation in WWII. Personally I don’t like all her decisions and struggle to determine which truly saved her life and which were in her own best interest to keep her elegant, high lifestyle. One thing I do know is that this book is well worth the read and fairly different from your average WWII fiction.
Villain or Survivor
In the spectrum of WWII historical fiction there are clear survivor stories where I think people cannot be held accountable for some of their action based on circumstances. The Tattoist of Auschwitz is the first that comes to mind; but nowheres near the only example. In The Queen of Paris we see the luxury that Coco Chanel retained during the occupation of France by the Nazi's. Did she have to endure Germans in her living space (ie: hotel)? Yes. Did she have to perhaps 'make nice' with some of them? Sure. But did she have to eat so luxuriously, attend parties, have tobacco access, and pass on notes? Here I am not so sure. Given the conditions for the 'average' person in France at the time even the hardships that Coco Chanel experiences are actually luxuries to most. Arguably she would have been in better shape if the Nazi's had won the war...
So is she a villain or a survivor?
Hating the Main Character
I love villains. Always have. As a kid I thought they were the best as they were always so powerful and didn't rely on love or luck to get by. Yep I'm pretty black hearted a lot of the time when it comes to romance. Villains are interesting as they are often made into awful people because of circumstance and so I tend to have more empathy for them than heroes. A few mainstream examples of villains I adore include: Loki, Maleficent, Gollum, Harley Quinn, and many more. So I'm used to disliking a lot about the main character in a story.
So what makes CoCo different?
Coco Chanel was a real person, in real life situations. It's one thing to have fan-girl love for the characters above; but we all know in real life most people are not going to make those exact choices. But in the case of Coco she really did do these things. She really did spy and pass information to the Germans. She really did benefit from their time in Paris; and she really did flee in fear of persecution when France was freed from occupation as she was certainly a sympathizer if nothing else. While people around her were starving, murdered in camps, stripped of everything they owned and their humanity; she wined and dined with prestigious Germans. This is a lot harder for me to forgive.
Pamela Binnings Ewen does an excellent job of showing some of the tight spots Coco was in and how at times it certainly felt like she had few 'good' choices. But the reality is that she had the means to help a lot of people; and she didn't try until it was too late. Being more concerned about securing ingredients for her perfume than helping a friend in true peril is only one example of her choices not sitting right for me.
Overall
I could be a total hypocrite for criticizing Coco Chanel's choices and life. Having never been in the types of situations she was; it's hard to say if I might have chosen to fight a little harder. What I do know, in early 2021 as I write this, is that those who are anti-maskers or don't understand the necessity of the lockdowns for the COVID-19 pandemic are the types of people I might put into a bin with Coco. It's not hard to: wear a mask for the majority of people (I had to get over my own anxiety about it), avoid holding gatherings, and be conscious of those around you by sanitizing and keeping your distance. These are relatively simple requests in comparison to the strict curfews, persecution, rations, etc. that most of Europe experienced in WWII.
So, I would like to think that unlike Coco Chanel, I would have used celebrity power to benefit as many people as possible; while still staying relatively safe. She did not need to remain at the hotel like she did; and she did not need to participate in the spying. Those are decisions she made of her own will. But don't trust me on it, read this brilliantly written book and determine for yourself; is she a villain or a survivor?
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
The Queen of Paris challenges the reader to determine an answer to this question as they see the choices and lifestyle famous perfumer Coco Chanel benefited from during France's occupation in WWII. Personally I don’t like all her decisions and struggle to determine which truly saved her life and which were in her own best interest to keep her elegant, high lifestyle. One thing I do know is that this book is well worth the read and fairly different from your average WWII fiction.
Villain or Survivor
In the spectrum of WWII historical fiction there are clear survivor stories where I think people cannot be held accountable for some of their action based on circumstances. The Tattoist of Auschwitz is the first that comes to mind; but nowheres near the only example. In The Queen of Paris we see the luxury that Coco Chanel retained during the occupation of France by the Nazi's. Did she have to endure Germans in her living space (ie: hotel)? Yes. Did she have to perhaps 'make nice' with some of them? Sure. But did she have to eat so luxuriously, attend parties, have tobacco access, and pass on notes? Here I am not so sure. Given the conditions for the 'average' person in France at the time even the hardships that Coco Chanel experiences are actually luxuries to most. Arguably she would have been in better shape if the Nazi's had won the war...
So is she a villain or a survivor?
Hating the Main Character
I love villains. Always have. As a kid I thought they were the best as they were always so powerful and didn't rely on love or luck to get by. Yep I'm pretty black hearted a lot of the time when it comes to romance. Villains are interesting as they are often made into awful people because of circumstance and so I tend to have more empathy for them than heroes. A few mainstream examples of villains I adore include: Loki, Maleficent, Gollum, Harley Quinn, and many more. So I'm used to disliking a lot about the main character in a story.
So what makes CoCo different?
Coco Chanel was a real person, in real life situations. It's one thing to have fan-girl love for the characters above; but we all know in real life most people are not going to make those exact choices. But in the case of Coco she really did do these things. She really did spy and pass information to the Germans. She really did benefit from their time in Paris; and she really did flee in fear of persecution when France was freed from occupation as she was certainly a sympathizer if nothing else. While people around her were starving, murdered in camps, stripped of everything they owned and their humanity; she wined and dined with prestigious Germans. This is a lot harder for me to forgive.
Pamela Binnings Ewen does an excellent job of showing some of the tight spots Coco was in and how at times it certainly felt like she had few 'good' choices. But the reality is that she had the means to help a lot of people; and she didn't try until it was too late. Being more concerned about securing ingredients for her perfume than helping a friend in true peril is only one example of her choices not sitting right for me.
Overall
I could be a total hypocrite for criticizing Coco Chanel's choices and life. Having never been in the types of situations she was; it's hard to say if I might have chosen to fight a little harder. What I do know, in early 2021 as I write this, is that those who are anti-maskers or don't understand the necessity of the lockdowns for the COVID-19 pandemic are the types of people I might put into a bin with Coco. It's not hard to: wear a mask for the majority of people (I had to get over my own anxiety about it), avoid holding gatherings, and be conscious of those around you by sanitizing and keeping your distance. These are relatively simple requests in comparison to the strict curfews, persecution, rations, etc. that most of Europe experienced in WWII.
So, I would like to think that unlike Coco Chanel, I would have used celebrity power to benefit as many people as possible; while still staying relatively safe. She did not need to remain at the hotel like she did; and she did not need to participate in the spying. Those are decisions she made of her own will. But don't trust me on it, read this brilliantly written book and determine for yourself; is she a villain or a survivor?
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
April 20, 2024
Una novela fascinante sobre la vida de Coco Chanel y la ocupación nazi de Francia.
La vida de Coco Chanel se cuenta en esta novela alternando capítulos de un narrador omnisciente con otros narrados en primera persona por la propia Coco. Todo ello en un tono muy intimista. Y con descripciones y diálogos muy bien construidos.
La novela empieza con un breve prólogo. Es 1944, liberación de París del gobierno nazi. Chanel observa las purgas en las calles desde su apartamento privado en el Hotel Ritz. Sabe que vendrán a por ella y está preparada.
A continuación, retrocedemos a 1940, cuando los nazis entran en París. Al mismo tiempo, Coco rememora su pasado: de ser una niña de la caridad a ser una jovencita, amante de hombres de alcurnia, sus años a partir de 1904. La narración va alternando la vida de Coco durante los años de ocupación nazi con los años de jovencita, que ella rememora.
Coco se codea con altos mandos nazis en París. Su vida de lujo no ha cambiado. Pero su socio en el negocio del perfume Chanel n°5 le ha estafado y su sobrino está desaparecido (en realidad es el hijo que tuvo de joven con su amante). Ella intenta sacar el máximo provecho de los nazis y encontrar a su hijo. Pero con los nazis no se juega. Debe convertirse en espía para la Abwehr, viajando a España, para que ellos la ayuden.
Por otra parte, si no lucha por su negocio del perfume, se quedará en la ruina.
Cada vez se siente más sola en esa ciudad, París, que ya no es la Ciudad de la Luz.
Coco pasa toda la guerra allí.
Años después, París es liberada. En ese punto termina la novela y no me esperaba el final.
Me ha gustado mucho. Muy interesante. La recomiendo!! 👌
La vida de Coco Chanel se cuenta en esta novela alternando capítulos de un narrador omnisciente con otros narrados en primera persona por la propia Coco. Todo ello en un tono muy intimista. Y con descripciones y diálogos muy bien construidos.
La novela empieza con un breve prólogo. Es 1944, liberación de París del gobierno nazi. Chanel observa las purgas en las calles desde su apartamento privado en el Hotel Ritz. Sabe que vendrán a por ella y está preparada.
A continuación, retrocedemos a 1940, cuando los nazis entran en París. Al mismo tiempo, Coco rememora su pasado: de ser una niña de la caridad a ser una jovencita, amante de hombres de alcurnia, sus años a partir de 1904. La narración va alternando la vida de Coco durante los años de ocupación nazi con los años de jovencita, que ella rememora.
Coco se codea con altos mandos nazis en París. Su vida de lujo no ha cambiado. Pero su socio en el negocio del perfume Chanel n°5 le ha estafado y su sobrino está desaparecido (en realidad es el hijo que tuvo de joven con su amante). Ella intenta sacar el máximo provecho de los nazis y encontrar a su hijo. Pero con los nazis no se juega. Debe convertirse en espía para la Abwehr, viajando a España, para que ellos la ayuden.
Por otra parte, si no lucha por su negocio del perfume, se quedará en la ruina.
Cada vez se siente más sola en esa ciudad, París, que ya no es la Ciudad de la Luz.
Coco pasa toda la guerra allí.
Años después, París es liberada. En ese punto termina la novela y no me esperaba el final.
Me ha gustado mucho. Muy interesante. La recomiendo!! 👌
May 8, 2024
Es difícil imaginar como era la vida en Europa durante la guerra, y hay escrito mucho sobre judíos y el holocausto, pero esta novela es una visión totalmente diferente, de una parte de la sociedad distinta pero que también vivió este momento.
Mucha gente tuvo que tomar decisiones terribles, ahora es fácil decir; “Yo nunca haría eso”, pero ¿si la vida de tu hijo depende de ti y tu decisión que va en contra de todo?
Esta historia cuenta la vida de Coco Chanel, icono de moda altamente conocida en ese mundo… pero ¿Cuánto se sabe sobre ella durante la Guerra? ¿Fue realmente una colaboradora nazi, o simplemente la obligaron?
Ambientada en los años de la Segunda Guerra, y mediante flashbacks su vida pasada, una mujer difícil de agradar, egoísta y muy dependiente de los hombres que la rodearon. Una novela muy bien documentada, y con unos personajes muy bien estructurados.
Me ha faltado una nota final del autor para acabar de entender que cosas fueron ficción y cuales no, y que paso con ciertos personajes.
Pero como conclusión ha sido una novela que me ha sorprendido para bien, que me ha dejado conocer a una mujer en un ámbito menos conocido, y que me ha enganchado desde el principio. Una historia de guerra si, pero diferente.
Mucha gente tuvo que tomar decisiones terribles, ahora es fácil decir; “Yo nunca haría eso”, pero ¿si la vida de tu hijo depende de ti y tu decisión que va en contra de todo?
Esta historia cuenta la vida de Coco Chanel, icono de moda altamente conocida en ese mundo… pero ¿Cuánto se sabe sobre ella durante la Guerra? ¿Fue realmente una colaboradora nazi, o simplemente la obligaron?
Ambientada en los años de la Segunda Guerra, y mediante flashbacks su vida pasada, una mujer difícil de agradar, egoísta y muy dependiente de los hombres que la rodearon. Una novela muy bien documentada, y con unos personajes muy bien estructurados.
Me ha faltado una nota final del autor para acabar de entender que cosas fueron ficción y cuales no, y que paso con ciertos personajes.
Pero como conclusión ha sido una novela que me ha sorprendido para bien, que me ha dejado conocer a una mujer en un ámbito menos conocido, y que me ha enganchado desde el principio. Una historia de guerra si, pero diferente.
November 1, 2019
I’d like to start by thanking Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC. Prior to reading this book, I did not know much about the story of Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel. I have read a lot of WWII historical fiction, so I was very excited to read this. I've seen some claims that she was anti-Semitic so I was interested to see how that was approached in this novel and if I felt like I could come to the same conclusion. Of course, this is historical FICTION, so I understand that there may be some slant.
The author's style in this book is very engaging and has the right amount of description. The writing was easy to follow and I like that the chapters were relatively short. My one concern with the writing style in Queen of Paris is that the pacing seemed a little strange; the years 1940 and 1941 take up nearly 85% of the novel while the remaining years through the end of WWII seemed rushed.
This is one of the first novels I can remember classified as a WWII historical fiction that I've read that isn't focused on a "hero"... someone who resists the Nazis, is part of the French Resistance, or is Jewish and taken to a concentration camp. I liked that this was a different viewpoint and that Coco Chanel is clearly not a one-dimensional "perfect" person. While her character can be annoying at times and she frequently makes idiotic decisions, I think that is refreshing for this genre. While reading, I would find her actions to be frustrating and inappropriate, but then she'd surprise me by doing something I could understand. I am not saying I agree with every decision she made throughout this novel, I'm just saying it was refreshing to read about a "gray" character and attempt to understand the reasoning behind the decisions she made.
In summary, I did enjoy reading this novel. At the end, the thought that stuck with me was that we all make poor decisions in our life, largely driven by our own experiences. Should we be forgiven for these mistakes if they are made because we are naive and acting in our own self interest? I'm not sure of the answer to that question, but this book will definitely make you think about it.
Overall, a 3.5 star read for me.
The author's style in this book is very engaging and has the right amount of description. The writing was easy to follow and I like that the chapters were relatively short. My one concern with the writing style in Queen of Paris is that the pacing seemed a little strange; the years 1940 and 1941 take up nearly 85% of the novel while the remaining years through the end of WWII seemed rushed.
This is one of the first novels I can remember classified as a WWII historical fiction that I've read that isn't focused on a "hero"... someone who resists the Nazis, is part of the French Resistance, or is Jewish and taken to a concentration camp. I liked that this was a different viewpoint and that Coco Chanel is clearly not a one-dimensional "perfect" person. While her character can be annoying at times and she frequently makes idiotic decisions, I think that is refreshing for this genre. While reading, I would find her actions to be frustrating and inappropriate, but then she'd surprise me by doing something I could understand. I am not saying I agree with every decision she made throughout this novel, I'm just saying it was refreshing to read about a "gray" character and attempt to understand the reasoning behind the decisions she made.
In summary, I did enjoy reading this novel. At the end, the thought that stuck with me was that we all make poor decisions in our life, largely driven by our own experiences. Should we be forgiven for these mistakes if they are made because we are naive and acting in our own self interest? I'm not sure of the answer to that question, but this book will definitely make you think about it.
Overall, a 3.5 star read for me.
dnf-dnr-wnr
October 13, 2019Just stop with this nonsense of humanizing and redeeming Nazis. Coco Chanel was NOT a hero or heroic figure in any sense of the word. SHE WAS AN AVOWED ANTI-SEMITE AND NAZI COLLABORATOR. I cannot say how appalled I am by the entire premise of this book.
January 7, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to read the Advanced Readers Copy of The Queen of Paris, by Pamela Binnings Ewan., in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
The subject of the Queen of Paris, Coco Chanel, is not new to me. The character in which she was portrayed was certainly not one fit of the title. Queen. Chanel was described as being anything but true to her homeland of Paris France. She was a Nazi sympathizer and collaborator. With the German Occupancy of France in WWII, Coco did whatever slanderous actions needed to guarantee her personal prosperity. Coco lived a selfish life. Some called it survival, but to many she was simply a traitor to her country. It's as though war was beneath her, a mere nuisance.
This story was one of love, loss, solitude, greed, and success, but always at a price. Chanel was a force to be reckoned with. It was not simply by chance that she became the business tycoon in which she built an empire. I found her to be rather cold and calculating. I found it hard to like her or root for her success. Coco lived a lonely existence beneath all the glitz, and to that I think she was deserving.
I like the way this story flowed. The author was able to strip away this woman of wealth and power and show her deep and monstrous soul. She may have persevered, even prospered, however her lonely existence was brought upon by her own very thoughts and actions.
#Netgalley #TheQueenofParis #PamelaBinningsEwan
The subject of the Queen of Paris, Coco Chanel, is not new to me. The character in which she was portrayed was certainly not one fit of the title. Queen. Chanel was described as being anything but true to her homeland of Paris France. She was a Nazi sympathizer and collaborator. With the German Occupancy of France in WWII, Coco did whatever slanderous actions needed to guarantee her personal prosperity. Coco lived a selfish life. Some called it survival, but to many she was simply a traitor to her country. It's as though war was beneath her, a mere nuisance.
This story was one of love, loss, solitude, greed, and success, but always at a price. Chanel was a force to be reckoned with. It was not simply by chance that she became the business tycoon in which she built an empire. I found her to be rather cold and calculating. I found it hard to like her or root for her success. Coco lived a lonely existence beneath all the glitz, and to that I think she was deserving.
I like the way this story flowed. The author was able to strip away this woman of wealth and power and show her deep and monstrous soul. She may have persevered, even prospered, however her lonely existence was brought upon by her own very thoughts and actions.
#Netgalley #TheQueenofParis #PamelaBinningsEwan
September 2, 2020
I really enjoyed this well researched book. The character, lifestyle, loves, struggles and strength of character of Coco Chanel were fascinatingly depicted. The historical background of the German occupation of France was very interesting and her fight to retain control of her perfume empire was riveting. Her Nazi involvement was an eye opener. I loved that she gave all uniformed allied soldiers liberating Paris a bottle of Chanel Number 5. One of those was my Father and my Mother used the perfume her whole lifetime. The only thing that jarred with me was the Americanisms which seemed out of place in a story set in Europe! Such as Fall instead of Autumn, trunk instead of boot...But that’s just my prejudice. I strongly recommend this book. I also enjoyed Mademoiselle Chanel by CW Gortner
August 30, 2021
Coco Chanel,the immensely talented fashion icon and the magician behind Chanel no. 5, is the subject of The Queen Of Paris. How much is known about her during WW II? Was she really a nazi collaborator and if so was it because she believed in their cause or did circumstances force her to it. In a series of flashbacks to her childhood and young adult years this novel presents a very plausible motivation and a possible answer. A question remains what would I or anyone else do in her situation?
To avoid giving too much away, I will not go into a summary of the book. Other reviews have done this and better then I could. Suffice it to say the book covers Coco during the years of WW II with the above mentioned flashbacks covering her earlier years.
Coco is a difficult protagonist to like. She was a driven self made woman at a time when this was exceedingly rare. She was egotistical and often very selfish. She chose men in her life that were socially unavailable to her. She was mistress material not wife material in the upper class European circles she found herself in. Her reliance on these men often led to disastrous personal choices. I believe the results of these choices and the abandonment she perceived from a young age. Informed her choices during the war years.
This book was well written. The characters are fully fleshed out. The plot moves forward at a fast pace building tension throughout. I feel the book would have been better if it included both an epilogue and an authors note. I would have liked to know what happened to some of the main characters and how much of what happened during the war years was true.
To avoid giving too much away, I will not go into a summary of the book. Other reviews have done this and better then I could. Suffice it to say the book covers Coco during the years of WW II with the above mentioned flashbacks covering her earlier years.
Coco is a difficult protagonist to like. She was a driven self made woman at a time when this was exceedingly rare. She was egotistical and often very selfish. She chose men in her life that were socially unavailable to her. She was mistress material not wife material in the upper class European circles she found herself in. Her reliance on these men often led to disastrous personal choices. I believe the results of these choices and the abandonment she perceived from a young age. Informed her choices during the war years.
This book was well written. The characters are fully fleshed out. The plot moves forward at a fast pace building tension throughout. I feel the book would have been better if it included both an epilogue and an authors note. I would have liked to know what happened to some of the main characters and how much of what happened during the war years was true.
January 7, 2020
The Queen of Paris was another interesting look at the life of Coco Chanel, particularly her battle to regain control of Chanel No. 5 and her involvement with the German Reich during WWII.
This book depicted Chanel's struggle to keep/regain her power and influence. Given her life in her early years, she may have felt this was her right and in a way I could understand that. Whether or not you agree with Coco Chanel's actions or her alliances is a separate issue, in my opinion.
This book served to further fuel my interest in her life and her story. I really enjoyed reading this story, I couldn't put it down. It was very well-written. I felt as if I was living alongside Chanel in Paris.
A special thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC.
This book depicted Chanel's struggle to keep/regain her power and influence. Given her life in her early years, she may have felt this was her right and in a way I could understand that. Whether or not you agree with Coco Chanel's actions or her alliances is a separate issue, in my opinion.
This book served to further fuel my interest in her life and her story. I really enjoyed reading this story, I couldn't put it down. It was very well-written. I felt as if I was living alongside Chanel in Paris.
A special thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC.
October 14, 2019
Just finished reading this amazing book and I’m in awe.The author brought this icon to life in these pages.The different roles she played during World War II and the reasons why.This book goes beyond the facade to show us the real woman.The one who did what she had to for love of family and Chanel No 5.
Extremely interesting details of how the rich lived during this time.
You won’t be able to put it down once you start.
Thankyou Netgalley for this ARC.
Extremely interesting details of how the rich lived during this time.
You won’t be able to put it down once you start.
Thankyou Netgalley for this ARC.
October 14, 2019
Beautiful, heartbreaking and I adore it. It’s sometimes painful to hear her story but there’s beauty in pain. And Coco Chanel is just that, an icon of not only beauty but also pain. The Queen of Paris she is. The Queen she will stay. 5/5 stars
September 21, 2020
Queen of Paris was so much better than I expected. It moved so quickly and I enjoyed the fast pace. First, I wonder how much was actually "real" so now I need to read a biography of Coco to learn what what she was really like after she left the orphanage/convent. Something tells me I am going to prefer this story based on the truth!!!
I wore Chanel No. 5 and it was my favorite perfume 60 years ago. I thought that was the only kind to wear. After all, my mother had worn it for years!!!!! I was familiar with Chanel's dresses, etc and remembered her as the fashion designer who designed "the littlel black dress." and always had to have pearls! It just seems like that bit of Coco history never dies.
It was interesting how Ms. Ewen developed Coco over the years. I never once thought she was selfish or snobbish. I just think she enjoyed the upper class life, but she still remembered where she came from and how poor she was at one point. I was proud of her for her hard work and did feel sad that she only got 10% of her company even though the dresses had her name and her perfume carried her name also. Yes, it was all hers, but noone realized it. So glad she even fought for it.
I realy enjoyed the descriptions of France and learned about the high ranking Nazis taking over the Ritz and Paris. This is my latest genre and it amazes me what people went through during World War II.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me have an ARC and I really did enjoy it.
I wore Chanel No. 5 and it was my favorite perfume 60 years ago. I thought that was the only kind to wear. After all, my mother had worn it for years!!!!! I was familiar with Chanel's dresses, etc and remembered her as the fashion designer who designed "the littlel black dress." and always had to have pearls! It just seems like that bit of Coco history never dies.
It was interesting how Ms. Ewen developed Coco over the years. I never once thought she was selfish or snobbish. I just think she enjoyed the upper class life, but she still remembered where she came from and how poor she was at one point. I was proud of her for her hard work and did feel sad that she only got 10% of her company even though the dresses had her name and her perfume carried her name also. Yes, it was all hers, but noone realized it. So glad she even fought for it.
I realy enjoyed the descriptions of France and learned about the high ranking Nazis taking over the Ritz and Paris. This is my latest genre and it amazes me what people went through during World War II.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me have an ARC and I really did enjoy it.
December 23, 2019
For those of us who grew up in the US post WWII, it’s hard to imagine what life was like for those living in Europe during the war: the horror of occupation, the deprivation, the lack of morality, the deterioration of society. There’s been a lot written lately concerning Jews caught up in the holocaust, but this is a totally different take on a different segment of society also caught up in that horrific time.
For me, a mother and grandmother, I had to envision just how far I would stoop to protect a loved one. Many, many people had to make that awful choice during that time. It’s easy in our current safe and affluent lives to say, “I’d never do that.” But what if your child’s life depended on your doing something which was against everything you believed?
This was a very interesting novel based on the life of Coco Chanel, couturier and perfumer. As a child, she lost her mother to illness and was sent, along with her 2 sisters, to an orphanage by her father – whom she never saw again. She learned class consciousness when she was used by her two [wealthy] paramours solely as their mistress even though they both confessed love and one, Boy Capel, promised marriage. She had hard lessons to learn, but her strength and determination made her a very strong woman.
This novel was meticulously researched and very true to the non-fiction accounts I’ve read of Chanel’s life.
There have been books written about Germans who were ignorant of what was going on around them, but this is the first I’ve read about an aspect of the French society ignorant of the results of the German occupation.
This was not a fast read, but certainly a worthwhile one.
I appreciate this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a review. I will look forward to other books from this author.
For me, a mother and grandmother, I had to envision just how far I would stoop to protect a loved one. Many, many people had to make that awful choice during that time. It’s easy in our current safe and affluent lives to say, “I’d never do that.” But what if your child’s life depended on your doing something which was against everything you believed?
This was a very interesting novel based on the life of Coco Chanel, couturier and perfumer. As a child, she lost her mother to illness and was sent, along with her 2 sisters, to an orphanage by her father – whom she never saw again. She learned class consciousness when she was used by her two [wealthy] paramours solely as their mistress even though they both confessed love and one, Boy Capel, promised marriage. She had hard lessons to learn, but her strength and determination made her a very strong woman.
This novel was meticulously researched and very true to the non-fiction accounts I’ve read of Chanel’s life.
There have been books written about Germans who were ignorant of what was going on around them, but this is the first I’ve read about an aspect of the French society ignorant of the results of the German occupation.
This was not a fast read, but certainly a worthwhile one.
I appreciate this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a review. I will look forward to other books from this author.
April 12, 2020
Doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. This statement seems to sum up Coco and getting through WWII. Coco’s life history just seemed so depressing. She up is shunned so much in her life you can see why that once she has the status she will do anything to keep it. No much of her motivation is to save her son, but she also wants to retain her perfume. Humiliating as it is she still plodded on and kept her strangle hold. Then at the end it was all for not, her betrayal wasn’t a betrayal and her actions weren’t really necessary.
Interesting book but dragged with so much description. The first two years were in detail and the end was rushed.
Received a copy from the publisher for an honest review.
Interesting book but dragged with so much description. The first two years were in detail and the end was rushed.
Received a copy from the publisher for an honest review.
March 1, 2022
I can’t figure out why it won’t let me change the finish date to the 25th, when I finished it this - well, yesterday evening and forgot to mark it finished. I’ve corrected this problem before and it hasn’t remained fixed on the day after (even if I go to settings now for “activity on start/end book”, it shows the 25th but won’t allow that to be visible to the public). Anyone reading this that can help me? Lol... seriously though.
ONTO THE GOOD STUFF.
I was going to do the review later but I believe it ^shouldn’t be* too long, so I’ll just go for it now (watch it be as loquacious as ever). This was, for all intents and purposes, a fantastic historical fiction novel.
Made even better by my love for Coco Chanel, which first started when I was 14. I got my first Chanel bag in 2005 and have adored the House of Chanel and the legacy of Gabrielle, with her resolve, her elegance and the absolute timelessness of her pieces, for what feels like forever.
I always remembered finding it so odd that so many other girls my age (and even as we got older) blanched at Chanel, not understanding my love for not just the “status symbol”, but all of the fascinating back stories and history that came from the namesake’s life. What I saw as elegant, classy, timeless... they simply referred to as “it looks too much like something an old lady would carry.” OK? I’d always loved Chanel because I thought it transcended so many of those barriers - 16 or 76, who wouldn’t look good with a Chanel on their shoulder?
Of course, when Chanel became “the” brand of ultimate status (the only one that seems to be able to increasingly raise its prices every few years and not only NOT lose customers, but attract even more by doing so) all of a sudden every girl I knew that had denounced or been dismissive of Chanel suddenly did a 180. I don’t know, something about that rubs me the wrong way. It’s a status symbol of course, and to say the name doesn’t matter... well, I can’t imagine anyone saying this truthfully. But I feel like with so much history attached to it and such incredible stories, people should at least be familiar with these of the couture houses they proclaim to favor.
Would the rumors (and by some people’s beliefs, not rumors but facts) that Coco Chanel held many anti-Semitic views and - the established fact, that she lived in the finest accommodations along with the Nazi high command and even had a Nazi lover for 4 years (Spatz) deter people from the brand? Maybe, but they’ll likely never do their history on her fascinating life.
I must admit, even though I did know some of the facts already (her living at the Ritz and largely willfully ignorant of the tyranny occurring just out of her perfect world, as well as the fact that Boy Capel was the inspiration for the now classic 2011 Boy bag) some were excitingly new for me.
I can’t really understand that some reviewers had ZERO sympathy for her. Especially women! Think about how hard it is to prove yourself and earn your own money and be able to proudly state so, even in today’s world. Then imagine in the 20s and 30s, when her star was rising, she goes from being an impoverished orphan child to a young adult woman who is treated well and spoiled rotten by extremely wealthy and powerful men (but with no real freedom of her own) to becoming one of the world’s most well-known names in fashion and the most elite social circles? One of the earliest known rags-to-riches tales, a self-made millionaire, who never again has to rely on a man (when so many have betrayed her especially) for her self-worth, her freedom, security?
It must have been a wonderful feeling that everyone craves someday. She invented #5, and it was her name, elegance, and mystique that helped establish it as a classic, and she herself, as a force to be reckoned with. So imagine you’ve gone through all of this, only to be served a letter telling you that it’s all going to be taken away from you?
And it’s not as if Pierre did this because he was a desperate Jew in occupied France, trying to barter for his life! He was worth millions when they met and he invested in her perfume, a perfume conglomerate. If he sold the product and the majority shares to Chanel, he’d become a little less wealthier - but still wealthy beyond most people’s wildest dreams. But if Chanel lost it? She’d go back to a life of poverty, forced to appease and seduce men she didn’t love, just for a hopeful shot at long term security. After so long of being free and independent from that horrible feeling of putting one’s life in the hands of another.
So I can’t exactly blame her for the tactics she may or may not have tried. Also, even while she may not be the most likeable character on the planet, I loved her sheer grit, perseverance, her resilience: Her ability to place logic over emotion when it came to self-preservation. And if people freak out about her spying for the Reich... really? She wasn’t giving out names of her Jewish friends to then have them picked up and delivered to concentration camps. She was trying to seek info from influential Spanish military men like General Francisco Franco and what his opinion may be on an official war alliance with Germany. And at first she says no to the mission, that she will not betray her county in this way.
But then the Nazis confront her with the knowledge that they know Andre is her son, not her nephew as she’s pretended all these years - and worse, he was captured as a POW and is very sick with tuberculosis at a bad POW camp. Their implications were very clear: not only do perform your mission, but you must succeed, bring us results that are useful, or your son will not leave the camp. This meaning he will certainly die in agony, as he needs immediate hospitalization and good care from the best doctors for a chance to live. Women who are mothers are judging her for something she agreed to only on the condition of her son’s release and subsequent hospital care? Ok...isn’t it often said that you have no idea what you may be capable of until you’re a mother, and until you have to make choices that could result in life or death consequences for your child? Yeah.. really don’t want to hear it when it came to saving her son’s life.
I just thought it was bad ass when she stumbled upon an operation gone wrong, and she was bold enough to blackmail the men working directly under Heinrich Himmler!! I don’t fault her for living well under the German occupation. Should she have distributed her money equally among communities in France for them to have one meal that changed nothing in the long run? Should she have left the Ritz, which had been her home LONG before the Nazis took up residence there, and lived in a ramshackle apartment with minimal rations?
I mean, people do what they can to get by, survive, or live the best they can in whatever environment they’re in. And I believe that’s simply all she was doing. Could she come across as ignorant and judgmental at times? Of course. But I fail to believe she was inherently evil.
As interesting as the new info was that I discovered in this book, I guess maybe two things just made me give it a 3 star rating (rounded up to a 3.5, really). One - I already a lot of the history and two - it just was told rather flatly. Maybe there wasn’t a more exciting way to tell it. I don’t know. But Chanel lived such an exciting life, that it doesn’t seem possible that this life couldn’t have been told in a more thrilling, fast-paced style.
She’s a role model to women in so many ways: with her excellent business sense, creative style, and her unwillingness to accept defeat. For she is Coco Chanel, and while the French may have held a grudge for a bit too long, her name was revived and beloved in America before the French forgave her. And long after she passed, her name continues to dominate the high fashion world of couture. For Coco Chanel IS fashion, and she is eternal.
ONTO THE GOOD STUFF.
I was going to do the review later but I believe it ^shouldn’t be* too long, so I’ll just go for it now (watch it be as loquacious as ever). This was, for all intents and purposes, a fantastic historical fiction novel.
Made even better by my love for Coco Chanel, which first started when I was 14. I got my first Chanel bag in 2005 and have adored the House of Chanel and the legacy of Gabrielle, with her resolve, her elegance and the absolute timelessness of her pieces, for what feels like forever.
I always remembered finding it so odd that so many other girls my age (and even as we got older) blanched at Chanel, not understanding my love for not just the “status symbol”, but all of the fascinating back stories and history that came from the namesake’s life. What I saw as elegant, classy, timeless... they simply referred to as “it looks too much like something an old lady would carry.” OK? I’d always loved Chanel because I thought it transcended so many of those barriers - 16 or 76, who wouldn’t look good with a Chanel on their shoulder?
Of course, when Chanel became “the” brand of ultimate status (the only one that seems to be able to increasingly raise its prices every few years and not only NOT lose customers, but attract even more by doing so) all of a sudden every girl I knew that had denounced or been dismissive of Chanel suddenly did a 180. I don’t know, something about that rubs me the wrong way. It’s a status symbol of course, and to say the name doesn’t matter... well, I can’t imagine anyone saying this truthfully. But I feel like with so much history attached to it and such incredible stories, people should at least be familiar with these of the couture houses they proclaim to favor.
Would the rumors (and by some people’s beliefs, not rumors but facts) that Coco Chanel held many anti-Semitic views and - the established fact, that she lived in the finest accommodations along with the Nazi high command and even had a Nazi lover for 4 years (Spatz) deter people from the brand? Maybe, but they’ll likely never do their history on her fascinating life.
I must admit, even though I did know some of the facts already (her living at the Ritz and largely willfully ignorant of the tyranny occurring just out of her perfect world, as well as the fact that Boy Capel was the inspiration for the now classic 2011 Boy bag) some were excitingly new for me.
I can’t really understand that some reviewers had ZERO sympathy for her. Especially women! Think about how hard it is to prove yourself and earn your own money and be able to proudly state so, even in today’s world. Then imagine in the 20s and 30s, when her star was rising, she goes from being an impoverished orphan child to a young adult woman who is treated well and spoiled rotten by extremely wealthy and powerful men (but with no real freedom of her own) to becoming one of the world’s most well-known names in fashion and the most elite social circles? One of the earliest known rags-to-riches tales, a self-made millionaire, who never again has to rely on a man (when so many have betrayed her especially) for her self-worth, her freedom, security?
It must have been a wonderful feeling that everyone craves someday. She invented #5, and it was her name, elegance, and mystique that helped establish it as a classic, and she herself, as a force to be reckoned with. So imagine you’ve gone through all of this, only to be served a letter telling you that it’s all going to be taken away from you?
And it’s not as if Pierre did this because he was a desperate Jew in occupied France, trying to barter for his life! He was worth millions when they met and he invested in her perfume, a perfume conglomerate. If he sold the product and the majority shares to Chanel, he’d become a little less wealthier - but still wealthy beyond most people’s wildest dreams. But if Chanel lost it? She’d go back to a life of poverty, forced to appease and seduce men she didn’t love, just for a hopeful shot at long term security. After so long of being free and independent from that horrible feeling of putting one’s life in the hands of another.
So I can’t exactly blame her for the tactics she may or may not have tried. Also, even while she may not be the most likeable character on the planet, I loved her sheer grit, perseverance, her resilience: Her ability to place logic over emotion when it came to self-preservation. And if people freak out about her spying for the Reich... really? She wasn’t giving out names of her Jewish friends to then have them picked up and delivered to concentration camps. She was trying to seek info from influential Spanish military men like General Francisco Franco and what his opinion may be on an official war alliance with Germany. And at first she says no to the mission, that she will not betray her county in this way.
But then the Nazis confront her with the knowledge that they know Andre is her son, not her nephew as she’s pretended all these years - and worse, he was captured as a POW and is very sick with tuberculosis at a bad POW camp. Their implications were very clear: not only do perform your mission, but you must succeed, bring us results that are useful, or your son will not leave the camp. This meaning he will certainly die in agony, as he needs immediate hospitalization and good care from the best doctors for a chance to live. Women who are mothers are judging her for something she agreed to only on the condition of her son’s release and subsequent hospital care? Ok...isn’t it often said that you have no idea what you may be capable of until you’re a mother, and until you have to make choices that could result in life or death consequences for your child? Yeah.. really don’t want to hear it when it came to saving her son’s life.
I just thought it was bad ass when she stumbled upon an operation gone wrong, and she was bold enough to blackmail the men working directly under Heinrich Himmler!! I don’t fault her for living well under the German occupation. Should she have distributed her money equally among communities in France for them to have one meal that changed nothing in the long run? Should she have left the Ritz, which had been her home LONG before the Nazis took up residence there, and lived in a ramshackle apartment with minimal rations?
I mean, people do what they can to get by, survive, or live the best they can in whatever environment they’re in. And I believe that’s simply all she was doing. Could she come across as ignorant and judgmental at times? Of course. But I fail to believe she was inherently evil.
As interesting as the new info was that I discovered in this book, I guess maybe two things just made me give it a 3 star rating (rounded up to a 3.5, really). One - I already a lot of the history and two - it just was told rather flatly. Maybe there wasn’t a more exciting way to tell it. I don’t know. But Chanel lived such an exciting life, that it doesn’t seem possible that this life couldn’t have been told in a more thrilling, fast-paced style.
She’s a role model to women in so many ways: with her excellent business sense, creative style, and her unwillingness to accept defeat. For she is Coco Chanel, and while the French may have held a grudge for a bit too long, her name was revived and beloved in America before the French forgave her. And long after she passed, her name continues to dominate the high fashion world of couture. For Coco Chanel IS fashion, and she is eternal.
March 22, 2023
Ilukirjanduslik teos Coco Chaneli elu ühest perioodist paljude päriseluliste detailidega. Või hoopiski Coco Chaneli päriselujutustus, mis veidi ilustatud, et toredam oleks lugeda? Ei olnud päris biograafia, aga ei olnud ka nii muinasjutt nagu näiteks Diana raamat oli.
Olen lähiaastatel üht veidi sarnast raamatut Coco elust lugenud "Mademoiselle Coco ja armastuse parfüüm" ja minu arvates see oli ideaalne sissejuhatus sellele raamatule - andis tausta, miks ja kuidas ja kellele Coco selle tänapäeval lausa kultusparfüümi staatuses lõhna lõi. Kui see taust on teada, siis on hea jätkata selle "Pariisi kuninganna" raamatuga, mis iseenesest käsitleb endast küll väga väikest ajavahemikku Coco elus, kuid see-eest väga sündmusterohket ja ka kurnavat, kindlasti.
Coco oli ühtaegu nii armastatud kui ka äratõugatud (eemaletõugatud) liige kõrgseltskonnas. Ta oli nii hinnatud oma loomingu poolest, kui ka kritiseeritud. Teda kas toetati või siis põlati. Tundus, et sellist vahepealset suhtumist tema suhtes väga ei eksisteerinud. Eks tundub, et ta ei olnud ise ka alati kõige meeldivam oma suhtumise jms osas, aga samas - ta jõudis oma elus kaugele: hüljatud lapsest, kes kasvas üles nunnade karmi käe all ning jõudis kuhu? ... juba eluajal üheks tuntuimaks moeloojaks ja parfüümimeistriks.
Tema elu teatud nüansside osas on palju spekuleeritud - miks ta midagi tegi, kas André oli tema poeg või siiski õepoeg, kas ta oli natsi-spioon jne ... nii palju, mis ongi jäänud saladuseks ja ehk jääbki.
Suures osas on see taaskord selline II Maailmasõja ajastusse kuuluv raamat, mis kajastab ka põgusalt Coco kui spiooni elujärku - kas ta seda ka päriselt-päriselt oli, see on tõestamata. Ilmselgelt ta Ritzis elades Saksa ohvitseridega lävis jne, kuid see iseenesest ei pruugi lõppkokkuvõttes tähendada tema otsest osalust. Päris või mitte, peale II MS lõppu oli tal tänu sellele palju raskem taas kui tuntud moeloojana n-ö tagasi tulla ja end kehtestada. Kuid ta sai sellega siiski hakkama - tasa ja targu.
Üldiselt väga meeldis see lugemine ja kel Coco elust (suuremas pildis) on teadmisi, siis see juurde lugeda on super lisa! Esimeseks tema elust pajatavaks teosesks aga ei soovitaks - tausta oleks vaja teada, endal toredam ja lihtsam.
Olen lähiaastatel üht veidi sarnast raamatut Coco elust lugenud "Mademoiselle Coco ja armastuse parfüüm" ja minu arvates see oli ideaalne sissejuhatus sellele raamatule - andis tausta, miks ja kuidas ja kellele Coco selle tänapäeval lausa kultusparfüümi staatuses lõhna lõi. Kui see taust on teada, siis on hea jätkata selle "Pariisi kuninganna" raamatuga, mis iseenesest käsitleb endast küll väga väikest ajavahemikku Coco elus, kuid see-eest väga sündmusterohket ja ka kurnavat, kindlasti.
Coco oli ühtaegu nii armastatud kui ka äratõugatud (eemaletõugatud) liige kõrgseltskonnas. Ta oli nii hinnatud oma loomingu poolest, kui ka kritiseeritud. Teda kas toetati või siis põlati. Tundus, et sellist vahepealset suhtumist tema suhtes väga ei eksisteerinud. Eks tundub, et ta ei olnud ise ka alati kõige meeldivam oma suhtumise jms osas, aga samas - ta jõudis oma elus kaugele: hüljatud lapsest, kes kasvas üles nunnade karmi käe all ning jõudis kuhu? ... juba eluajal üheks tuntuimaks moeloojaks ja parfüümimeistriks.
Tema elu teatud nüansside osas on palju spekuleeritud - miks ta midagi tegi, kas André oli tema poeg või siiski õepoeg, kas ta oli natsi-spioon jne ... nii palju, mis ongi jäänud saladuseks ja ehk jääbki.
Suures osas on see taaskord selline II Maailmasõja ajastusse kuuluv raamat, mis kajastab ka põgusalt Coco kui spiooni elujärku - kas ta seda ka päriselt-päriselt oli, see on tõestamata. Ilmselgelt ta Ritzis elades Saksa ohvitseridega lävis jne, kuid see iseenesest ei pruugi lõppkokkuvõttes tähendada tema otsest osalust. Päris või mitte, peale II MS lõppu oli tal tänu sellele palju raskem taas kui tuntud moeloojana n-ö tagasi tulla ja end kehtestada. Kuid ta sai sellega siiski hakkama - tasa ja targu.
Üldiselt väga meeldis see lugemine ja kel Coco elust (suuremas pildis) on teadmisi, siis see juurde lugeda on super lisa! Esimeseks tema elust pajatavaks teosesks aga ei soovitaks - tausta oleks vaja teada, endal toredam ja lihtsam.
October 26, 2020
This was interesting, and I did read this quickly. I never knew anything about Coco Chanel and her background. She had a difficult childhood and was really raised(worked) by nuns, where she learned to be a seamstress and learned to embroider, which over time and thanks to her lovers’ financial support, started a milliner business, which grew into couture and parfumerie a.k.a. Chanel. Most of the storyline is around the early days in her life and her relationships in the 1920’s, her pregnancy and then finally her survival days of WWII. She was a “survivor “ and actually lived at The Ritz in Paris along with German Officers during the Nazi Occupation. She lived with a German Official while there and there are records of her even doing intelligence work on behalf of the Nazi’s. She seemed very narcissistic and was not wanting to recognize or believe what was happening to the Jews during this time. She was preoccupied with her business and with her business partners, who, she believed were trying to steal her No. 5 formula and produce it in the United States. In the end, she finds her partner has a “soft spot” for her and ends up supporting her and all of her expenses for the rest of her life. She easily could have been brought up on war crimes for her Nazi involvement, but due to her celebrity and help from her Jewish business partner, she was saved from that. It’s funny, but I’ve never even tried Chanel perfume and knowing now what I do about her personality and WWII involvement, I never will.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2020
The main conflict of the book, even though it's set in the middle of WWII, is that Coco's business partner is trying to "steal" her company from her. But because the story starts with this "betrayal" as coco sees it, and we don't get to understand how much the company means to Coco until much later, I found it hard to be invested in her legal battles because she doesn't seem to have much legal right to make her demands. By the time Coco decides to use the racist Nuremberg laws to take her business partner's share in the company because he is Jewish, I couldn't even want her to succeed.
I find Coco to be very unlikable. She is naive, entitled, selfish, and even as an adult doesn't seem to have a good sense of how the world works.
Personally I thought the pacing was slow, not much of anything actually happens until almost halfway through. The most interesting part was her trip to Madrid but that was over almost before it started. And while the flashback chapters are arguably more interesting than the events taking place in the 40s, they seem to throw off the pacing as well.
Overall I think the story is slow and too long and I found it hard to be invested in the plight of a character I found so unlikable.
I find Coco to be very unlikable. She is naive, entitled, selfish, and even as an adult doesn't seem to have a good sense of how the world works.
Personally I thought the pacing was slow, not much of anything actually happens until almost halfway through. The most interesting part was her trip to Madrid but that was over almost before it started. And while the flashback chapters are arguably more interesting than the events taking place in the 40s, they seem to throw off the pacing as well.
Overall I think the story is slow and too long and I found it hard to be invested in the plight of a character I found so unlikable.
April 7, 2020
This is a fiction general market book that covers briefly Coco Chanel's childhood when she was orphaned at a young age and turned over to be raised in a convent, but predominantly is focused on her life during World War 2 in Paris. By the time the war got to France, Coco had already developed Chanel #5 and had her clothing boutique in operation. Much of her financing came from a Jewish partner, Pierre Wertheimer. Young and naive, she doesn't make a very good deal with Pierre as he gets 90% control of the company and Coco gets only 10%. She also makes numerous bad choices in both her business and love life which come back to haunt her. But she is a survivor, and manages to come out well in the end except for the relationship with her only son.
Well written, this book is an interesting look at someone who came from nothing but rises through pure grit and determination to become a fashion and perfume icon.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
Well written, this book is an interesting look at someone who came from nothing but rises through pure grit and determination to become a fashion and perfume icon.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
May 4, 2020
The Queen of Paris
By: Pamela Binnings Ewen
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This exquisite story is about the early life of Coco Chanel. Coco is known worldwide for her perfume Chanel No. 5. This story tells of her early life in 1900’s through World War II.
🇫🇷
Coco was on top of the world after being abandon as a child. She lives in The Ritz in Paris and has her every whim catered too by men and staff. She used her femininity to get what she wanted out of life. She finally found love only to realize things would not turn out as she hoped.
🇫🇷
I had no idea that Coco Chanel was a spy. She was given a choice to help the Germans in exchange to save her nephew/son who was a prison. Her company was also in jeopardy and the Germans promised to help with this too.
🇫🇷
This beautifully written story is filled with vivid details. I was so immersed in this story that I could visualize everything that was happening in Coco’s world. #thequeenofparis, #pamelabinningsewen, #blackstonepublishing, #booksconnectus, #socialdistancing, #stamperlady50, #bookreview, #bookstagram, #historicalfiction
By: Pamela Binnings Ewen
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This exquisite story is about the early life of Coco Chanel. Coco is known worldwide for her perfume Chanel No. 5. This story tells of her early life in 1900’s through World War II.
🇫🇷
Coco was on top of the world after being abandon as a child. She lives in The Ritz in Paris and has her every whim catered too by men and staff. She used her femininity to get what she wanted out of life. She finally found love only to realize things would not turn out as she hoped.
🇫🇷
I had no idea that Coco Chanel was a spy. She was given a choice to help the Germans in exchange to save her nephew/son who was a prison. Her company was also in jeopardy and the Germans promised to help with this too.
🇫🇷
This beautifully written story is filled with vivid details. I was so immersed in this story that I could visualize everything that was happening in Coco’s world. #thequeenofparis, #pamelabinningsewen, #blackstonepublishing, #booksconnectus, #socialdistancing, #stamperlady50, #bookreview, #bookstagram, #historicalfiction
April 3, 2020
***I received an advanced e-copy from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
This book takes you through Coco Chanel's life, from the time she was a young girl, up until after the war when she moved to Switzerland. I have read a lot of historical fiction about WWII and particularly about Coco Chanel and her involvement with the Nazis. This book spent a lot of time on her ongoing battle with Pierre Wertheimer over rights to her Chanel No. 5 perfume, which he stole and took to America and started producing there during the war. It also spent a lot of time on her time as a spy for the Nazis. I have to admit I wasn't familiar with either of those facts so they were interesting, but I did wish there wasn't quite so much time focused on those, especially the court battle with Pierre. Otherwise, it was a fascinating book with a lot of interesting information about one of the most iconic people in the fashion industry.
This book takes you through Coco Chanel's life, from the time she was a young girl, up until after the war when she moved to Switzerland. I have read a lot of historical fiction about WWII and particularly about Coco Chanel and her involvement with the Nazis. This book spent a lot of time on her ongoing battle with Pierre Wertheimer over rights to her Chanel No. 5 perfume, which he stole and took to America and started producing there during the war. It also spent a lot of time on her time as a spy for the Nazis. I have to admit I wasn't familiar with either of those facts so they were interesting, but I did wish there wasn't quite so much time focused on those, especially the court battle with Pierre. Otherwise, it was a fascinating book with a lot of interesting information about one of the most iconic people in the fashion industry.
April 7, 2020
An absolute triumph! This is an Absolutely delicious story of Chanel during the war years of WWII. It's the Chanel you never knew about. The author, Pamela Binnings Ewen, brings the darker side of Chanel's sumptuous life alive in this Historical Fiction story of her lost loves, memories, and the struggle to hold on to her greatest creation; Chanel No.5 perfume while the France collapses during the Nazi Occupation.
This book is explosive in bringing the enigmatic Coco Chanel alive...she was a woman completely ahead of her time and apologized to no one. She didn't need to, she is COCO. She is Chanel. She is fashion. She is the infamous Chanel No.5, and she is a spy.
This is the Chanel you never knew, and after reading this extremely well researched book, you the reader, will be left with deciding for yourself who she really was.
This book is explosive in bringing the enigmatic Coco Chanel alive...she was a woman completely ahead of her time and apologized to no one. She didn't need to, she is COCO. She is Chanel. She is fashion. She is the infamous Chanel No.5, and she is a spy.
This is the Chanel you never knew, and after reading this extremely well researched book, you the reader, will be left with deciding for yourself who she really was.
December 2, 2021
What an astonishing novel, fictionalizing the life of a woman who was as mysterious as she was resilient.
I picked this novel because of my curiosity of the cameo appearance of a minor character (Felix Amiot) that is featured in my novel-in-progress. Since I had intended to only peruse through THE QUEEN OF PARIS for my research, I surprised myself when I became engrossed in the prose, in the emotions, and in the story of the main character, Coco Chanel. I had had a general idea about her life, but was impressed by the author's thorough research and her treatment of the material.
Given that this novel presents a good moral dilemmas, I've recommended it to my book club. There is a lot to discuss.
I picked this novel because of my curiosity of the cameo appearance of a minor character (Felix Amiot) that is featured in my novel-in-progress. Since I had intended to only peruse through THE QUEEN OF PARIS for my research, I surprised myself when I became engrossed in the prose, in the emotions, and in the story of the main character, Coco Chanel. I had had a general idea about her life, but was impressed by the author's thorough research and her treatment of the material.
Given that this novel presents a good moral dilemmas, I've recommended it to my book club. There is a lot to discuss.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 515 reviews