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 … 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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Historical regarding France and how WW 1 impacted different characters. The writer had characters whose enjoyment and importance of books can be to our history.
Another beautifully written historical novel from the talented Alyson Richman. Few authors are as adept at skillfully using subtle detail to so thoroughly evoke a past era. In this book, Richman brings to life both the late 1800s Belle Époque in Paris, as well as the mounting fear and suspense of that same city on the brink of World War II. And the whole thing is based on an obscure newspaper clipping about the discovery of an apartment that had been abandoned but maintained for 70 years and a few scattered facts.
Richman weaves the human tale of the budding relationship between a grandmother and granddaughter, who meet for the first time late in the elderly woman’s life. By sharing the stories of her earlier life as a courtesan and art muse, Marthe opens up a new world of art and beauty for her granddaughter, Solange, while both discover a new sense of family. Outside the hours these two spend together, Solange undertakes her first romantic relationship with the son of a Parisian bookstore owner, who also happens to be Jewish.
Both these women’s stories are beautiful in their own unique ways. But together they make for an exceptional reading experience. Well worth the time.
Alyson Richman imagines a world of beauty and sensuality in this wonderful novel that takes place in Paris and is sure to enchant you.
I knew about the apartment in Paris that had not been entered since 1940 and was like a museum filled with wonderful old treasures and a painting by Boldini. So, though no one knows the true story of Marthe de Florian, I found it fascinating to read about how it might have been.
Ms. Richman learns of a real-life wonder—the recent opening of a Paris apartment that had been sealed since the start of WW2—and imagines the world of its occupant. She crafts a slowly-unfolding tale of a complicated but ultimately noble courtesan named Marthe who accumulated the apartment’s many beautiful treasures, Marthe’s reacquaintance with her son and then mentoring his daughter, and a 14thcentury Haggadah that is the key to her granddaughter’s escape from the Nazis. Wow! The story is neither an apologist for nor an endorsement of Marthe’s choices, yet steadily deepens our understanding so that Marthe grows in stature. Things come together rather conveniently for granddaughter Solange and her beau in the end, but it was the courtesan’s story I found compelling, and will remember from this one. I also enjoyed vivid, detailed descriptions of art in the apartment including ceramics, Japanese prints, and an eye-catching painting of Marthe that lords over visitors to the apartment.
Was this review helpful? I am an avid world war based fiction reader and author. You can read more of my takes at https://brodiecurtis.com/curtis-takes/.
Intriguing story and beautifully written. Excellent, unforgettable book
Lush and evocative. The elegant writing is a tribute to the human spirit of survival and to the power of love. “The Velvet Hours” is a book to be savored.
One of the best books I’ve read this year!
touching
Thoroughly enjoyable. Lengthy book, held my interest through out, hated to put down.. sorry when it was done.
I like historical fiction :a human interest story set in a different time.
Really enjoyed this book. Highly recommend.
Best book I’ve read in a long time. No grizzly murders or f-bombs. How refreshing!!
I really enjoyed this book. I loved that it would go back and forth with the characters From the present day and then their past. Great historical info and story regarding Paris at the start of World War II and how it impacted a family and their circle of friends. Really enjoyed his book!
Paris well described at different times in history. Characters that were interesting and makes you want to read quickly to find out what happens to them.
Decent storyline.
Gives a vivid description of the life of a courtesan. Didn’t finish it, however, after the first few chapters.
i really enjoyed reading the story
Great writing. When I finished the last page I went right to her list of other books to order. She mastered intertwining the historical facts into the characters
Very disappointed in the lack of substance in the characters. Marthe, the courtesan, was completely self-serving and narcissistic, As the granddaughter is introduced into the story, she is fixated with the shallow life her grandmother has led. The descriptive passages regarding Marthe are repeated ad nauseum. Sorry for this review but I had read The Lost Wife by the same author which I really enjoyed [4 stars] and which propelled me to read her additional titles.