Writing historical novels can be tricky. Michelle Moran expertly balances fact and fiction in her latest novel, ‘Madame Tussaud,’ about a woman whose wax modelling told the tale of the French Revolution. Moran tells the true story of Marie Grosholtz, later known as Madame Tussaud (namesake of the wax museum), who was Paris’ premier wax modeller when the revolution began in 1789. She worked tirelessly at her family’s home business, where she displayed models of the royal family in different aspects of their lives. In the months leading up to the revolution, Marie entertained King Louis XVI and the queen (Marie Antoinette). The Grosholtz family’s "Salon de Cire" displayed life-size re-enactments of the royal family that were so famous, the king and queen had to see for themselves.
Slowly, Marie began to notice the working class questioning the monarchy, and it became clear it was no longer safe to depict the royal family in a favourable light. Her family’s salon was in a unique position because she was essentially delivering the news with her exhibitions. Each day, she made sure to be in the middle of what was going on so she could go home and recreate it for her patrons. She showed famous scenes like Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette contemplating the revolution in Jefferson’s study and the Marquis de Sade in his jail cell in the Bastille Saint-Antoine.
When she is asked to model the heads of those who have died for the cause, her internal struggle begins. How much success is worth this? When does being arrested become the more appealing option?
Moran eloquently recreates the thin line that Marie walked as she entertained the leaders of the revolution while also tutoring the king’s sister in the art of wax modelling.
Moran has done the research, and she includes all the famous players of the French Revolution. Written from Marie’s point of view, the book gives readers an intimate and entertaining take on events during that time.
No one knows if Madame Tussaud was a patriot or a royalist, and Moran doesn’t stray too far either way. By the end, Marie’s opinion is clear, and it is Moran’s clever writing that sways the reader as well.
Tuesday, March 8
Blog Archive
-
▼
2011
(468)
-
▼
March
(91)
- India Wins ICC World Cup 2011 Semi-Final Match
- Poonam Pandey to go Un-clothed if India Wins World...
- Freida Pinto defends her GQ photo shoot
- Serena Williams to launch nail polish
- Renee Zellweger finds buyer for her Apartments
- Jennifer Lopez enjoying her weekly cheques
- Vanessa Hudgens enjoys being single again
- Renee Zellweger leaves Bradley Cooper’s home
- Padmini Kolhapure to play Asha Bhonsle’s daughter
- Reese Witherspoon to launch three fragrances
- Megan Fox shoots for Emporio Armani lingerie adv
- Katie Holmes creating luxury bags
- USA online casinos information
- Kylie Minogue spends £10m on designer costumes
- Liz Taylor’s White Diamonds best selling fragrance
- Amber Heard becomes new face of Guess
- Oprah Winfrey's Oz visit boosts tourism
- Preity Zinta back with permed locks
- Kate Middleton wants Victoria’s dresses for honeymoon
- Nicole Scherzinger to host X-Factor
- Rihanna to launch her make-up line
- Kate Middleton gets Jaguar fleet for wedding ceremony
- India’s media, entertainment sector a $14.5 bn ind...
- Sammi Giancola to create her jewellery line
- Liz Hurley to join Desperate Housewives
- Mariah Carey to join X Factor
- Eva Mendes new face of Mugler's perfume
- Katie Holmes designing for working moms
- Aishwarya Rai to honour Hugh Jackman
- Siddharth Kapur preferring Aishwarya over Vidya
- Drew Barrymore to direct 'How To Be Single'
- Sienna Miller designing for all
- Katrina Kaif misses wardrobe malfunction
- Emma Watson becomes new face of Lancome
- Payal Rohatagi victim of Casting Couch
- Bar Rafaeli sizzles in a hot photo shoot
- Liz Hurley steps out in sexy leopard print dress
- Katrina Kaif willing to marry Ranbir Kapoor
- Eva Longoria lip locks Eduardo Cruz in public
- Paris Hilton brushes off $35mn hair lawsuit
- Julianne Moore to play Sarah Palin
- Christina Aguilera to launch another perfume
- Sienna Miller on split with Jude Law
- Kate Winslet in a Madonna look
- Aishwarya Rai plays lead role in Heroine
- Kate Moss’ London mansion on sale for $11million
- Katy Perry promotes hair styling brand
- Michelle Rodriguez ready to show all
- Vogue editor urges Kate to pick McQueen dress
- 5 Indians among top 100 Inspirational Women
- Sonakshi Sinha to play Kamal Haasan’s wife
- Meiyang Chang lifts Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa trophy
- Vidya Balan’s bikini photo hits Internet
- Scarlett Johansson heading back to Broadway
- Michelle Moran writes about Madame Tussaud
- On the spot custom paper writing service
- Aishwarya and Katrina fighting for Bhandarkar’s He...
- Emma Watson postpones studies for acting
- Lara Dutta launches her fitness DVD Power Play
- Claudia Schiffer not to return to the ramp
- Sridevi Amitabh Bachchan together again
- Madhuri Dixit to endorse basmati rice
- Royal Wedding day may result to Mobile meltdown
- Emma Watson to launch green fashion line
- Lindsay Lohan’s necklace stealing video sold for $...
- Varun Gandhi Yamini Roy Marriage Photos
- Varun Gandhi Marries Yamini Roy
- Kacey Barnfield, Stuart Broad’s girl, flaunts her ...
- Jennifer Lopez loses her famous curves
- Elizabeth Taylor wants her story to be published
- Zsa Zsa Gabor refuses second leg amputation
- Heidi Klum reveals her beauty secrets
- Vidya Balan to romance Rajinikanth
- Megan Fox poses for new Armani Code ad campaign
- Kim Kardashian releases her debut music single
- Kate Middleton has a body double
- Salma Hayek to launch her beauty line
- Salman Khan gets a new girl: Hazel Keech aka Rose ...
- Suzanne Khan opens new interior store
- Scarlett Johansson and Sean Penn on a lunch date
- Amanda Seyfried and Ryan Phillippe make out at Mad...
- Country specific info about casinos
- Bristol Palin to pen down intimate memoir
- Nida Mahmood designing for TV show
- Eva Mendes named Reebok EasyTone ambassador
- Prem Chopra to get Mother Teresa Award
- Kevin Pietersen exposes Deepika-Siddharth relation...
- Anushka Sharma lip-locks Ranveer Singh
- Lara Bingle signs deal with Big Pictures
- Jennifer Lopez finds herself like any ordinary mother
- Katie Holmes named Face of the Future by MaxMara
-
▼
March
(91)
0 comments: