The Velvet Hours
From the international bestselling author of The Lost Wife and The Garden of Letters, comes a story--inspired by true events--of two women pursuing freedom and independence in Paris during WWII. As Paris teeters on the edge of the German occupation, a young French woman closes the door to her late grandmother's treasure-filled apartment, unsure if she'll ever return. An elusive courtesan, Marthe de Florian cultivated a life of art and beauty, casting out all recollections of her impoverished childhood in the dark alleys of Montmartre. With Europe on the brink of war, she shares her story with her granddaughter Solange Beaugiron, using her prized possessions to reveal her innermost secrets. Most striking of all are a beautiful string of pearls and a magnificent portrait of Marthe painted by the Italian artist Giovanni Boldini. As Marthe's tale unfolds, like velvet itself, stitched with its own shadow and light, it helps to guide Solange on her own path. Inspired by the true account of an abandoned Parisian apartment, Alyson Richman brings to life Solange, the young woman forced to leave her fabled grandmother's legacy behind to save all that she loved.
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Community Reviews
I love historical fiction so I loved this book which was inspired by a true story. The story set in France goes back and forth between Solange, a young beautiful woman in 1938-1939 (beginning of WWII) a writer who is bored with her life and directionless after her mother's death and Marthe de Florian, Solange's grandmother who is a reclusive courtesan during 1888-1898. Marthe gave her son (Solage's father) to a friend to raise and did not know of her existence until a letter on his 18th birthday and still did not have much interaction with him through his adult life. Solage's father, Henri, introduces Solage to Marthe to ease her boredom and inspire her to write a book. Marthe's apartment is filled with treasures and a portrait of herself and throughout the story, she tells Solage of how she fell in love and collected these treasures and survived during WWI. Solage also starts investigating her mother's past since her mother's family disowned her after her marriage to Solage's father.
I loved the story not only for the historical aspect but for how it built the relationship between Solage and Marthe. The courtesan part of the story was tastefully and modestly done. It seemed like a mystery novel at times since Solage was finding out about her grandmother's past and her mother's past. It was also a love story-- between Marthe and her Charles and Solage's first love. It is about strength and survival and what really matters most in life. Definitely one of the best books I read this year.
I rated a book 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Penguin's First to Read Program with no requirement to review book.
I loved the story not only for the historical aspect but for how it built the relationship between Solage and Marthe. The courtesan part of the story was tastefully and modestly done. It seemed like a mystery novel at times since Solage was finding out about her grandmother's past and her mother's past. It was also a love story-- between Marthe and her Charles and Solage's first love. It is about strength and survival and what really matters most in life. Definitely one of the best books I read this year.
I rated a book 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Penguin's First to Read Program with no requirement to review book.
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