As I mentioned below, the moment I saw the announcement for this book in Publisher’s Marketplace, I thought it would be something I’d like and, believe me, that is something that happens far less often than I would expect. Now I have finished it, and thought I would share some thoughts.
I have read a number of novels about the French Revolution that I have liked — Hilary Mantel’s A Place of Greater Safety remains a favourite. While many of these use real and invented characters to tell the story of the revolution, Delors’ book is quite different. It’s not the story of the revolution, but rather the story of the minor noble Gabrielle de Montserrat, and it is her experiences and reactions that remain paramount. I think this is a huge strength. Delors’ Gabrielle experiences the cataclysmic events of her time the way most of do our own, as spectators and as victims, without the power to change the turbulence around her but with the strength to endure its effects. As Gabrielle experiences it, the unfolding of the revolution seems to have an inevitable quality about it, which is surely how it must have seemed to those buffeted by its currents.
Delors avoids one of what I think is one of the pitfalls of first person historical fiction: she gives Gabrielle a reason for telling her story. The book is written as Gabrielle’s memoir, written by her in England, in English, long after the events she relates are over. This allows Gabrielle to “tell” of many things that both her imagined historical audience and her audience of contemporary readers wouldn’t know, but better than that, the voice is perfect. The book truly reads like it was written by a Frenchwoman writing for an English audience. That is probably because, erm, it was.
My favourite part of the novel wasn’t, in the end, the broad movements of history, or even the tragic love story at the book’s heart, but rather the story of Gabrielle’s relationship with Villiers. Without being in the least anachronistic, their relationship has a very contemporary resonance. He’s the wrong guy, the one you date though you know you shouldn’t because he wants it so much, and then he utterly fails to be what he has promised. As she transacts this relationship of compromise and tries to make it work, Gabrielle’s character emerges, both innocent and wise. I loved how she checked the value of the diamonds he gave her before they began their liaison.
I wanted more. I know in an earlier incarnation this book was longer, and I think I wanted that version, publishing constraints and norms be damned. I guess I’ll just have to wait for her next one!
The funny thing, Lucy, is that I was just visiting your blog this morning, as I do on a regular basis, and I happened upon your beautiful review of my novel!
You must be the first reader who sees eye-to-eye with me with regard to Villers. Others have told me that Gabrielle was too hard to please: here comes this brilliant, rich, fashionable man, and he is so convincing when he says he loves her, and he wants to marry her, and it would be so much better for her daughter… The point is, Gabrielle has pretty good instincts, and she has become wise to the ways of the world.
As for other books, Book 2 (For The King?) should be out next year, and Book 3 will be a prequel to “Mistress of the Revolution.” Maybe not really a prequel, but you will meet the Montserrats again, just a few years before the birth of Gabrielle. Each of these books will be different from the other in style, and almost in genre, because I write for fun, and I don’t want to be stuck in a rut. They will all be historicals, though.
But maybe Book 4 will be the true sequel to “Mistress”: Gabrielle’s life in England, as she tries to navigate the world of the emigres et the trials of her personal situation. And it’s already half-written, thanks to the cuts I made in my manuscript!
Thanks for the review, Lucy 🙂 It’s on my list of books I need to acquire at some point. Will probably go on my Christmas list.
Teresa, you’ll love it. Gabrielle is the perfect antidote to the TSTL heroine.
Catherine, Villers just seemed to me like one of those guys who’s so good on paper but… I loved Gabrielle because she was human enough to fall for him a little and I loved her even more because she was wise enough not to fall all the way.
“human enough to fall for him a little and I loved her even more because she was wise enough not to fall all the way.” I love it and might reuse it…