Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution

Marie Grosholtz, as ambitious as she is clever, creates wax sculptures for the Salon de Cire, her uncle's wax museum. The Salon de Cire is celebrated for the lifelike accuracy of the figures and the speed at which Grosholtz brings the latest news, celebrities and politics to the masses via her tableaus. When Marie learns that the royal family plans to visit her museum, she welcomes the publicity and the future business it will bring. Marie Antoinette and her family are so impressed that an unexpected offer is made: Princess Elisabeth, sister to King Louis XVI, requests that Marie give her lessons in wax sculpting. Always thinking of her business, Marie agrees; she'll lose valuable time to work on her Salon's displays, but gain an inside scoop on life within the palace of Versailles and its glamorous court.Even as Marie begins her lessons with the princess, surrounded by luxury and wealth, the cafes of Paris are filled with talk of revolution. Many of her uncle's friends- men like Camille Desmoulins, Jean-Paul Marat, and Maximilien Robespierre - meet at Marie's home and discuss the anger and frustration of the French people, who suffer under the tyranny of the nobility. When rebellion breaks out and the monarchy is overthrown, Marie is caught in the middle. Her known connection with the Princess Elisabeth makes her a target for the government, but as long as she creates anti-royalist propaganda with her wax sculptures she is safe. During the tumultuous chaos of the French Revolution, can Marie's talent keep her family safe from the wrath of the mob?All of the beauty of Versailles and the bloody horror of the French Revolution can be found in "Madame Tussaud". In a way, the book is like a bottle of perfume. A few drops of scent is light and pretty, pleasant to smell. Marie starts out with a thriving business that attracts the attention of royalty, while her friendship with neighbor Henri Charles is growing into something deeper. But spray too much perfume and the scent changes, becoming cloying and no longer a pleasure to the nose. As discontent insidiously spreads among the Parisians, the story darkens. Marie's enjoyment of her work disappears as she loses control over the content of her museum; instead of making the tableaus she thinks people want to see, she has to tell the stories the new government wants the people to hear. And, just like the stink of an entire perfume bottle emptied all at once, the bloody executions that fill the second half of the book will leave you feeling slightly nauseated.Michelle Moran has an amazing talent with creating vivid imagery, and she uses her gift to maximum effect here. Even though I knew that Marie had to survive - otherwise, how would we have gotten Tussaud museums around the world? - the atmosphere during the Reign of Terror is so threatening that I was on the edge of my seat. I was so drawn into the story that I could hardly put the book down to eat, and I stayed up late into the night to finish it. As I was working on this review, I would occasionally pick up the book to re-read a page or two in order to jog my memory. More than once, I would get sucked back into the story and read several chapters before remembering my original intention.Fans of Michelle Moran have probably already picked up a copy of this book, but if you haven't, do so soon. She may have moved her stories out of the ancient world, but "Madame Tussaud" is just as good - if not better - than her previous novels. If you haven't yet picked up one of her books, I highly recommend starting with this one.

Before I read this book, all I knew about Madame Tussaud was it was the name of a world famous wax museum. I didn't really have much knowledge of the French Revolution as well. But I have enjoyed all of Michelle Moran's previously novels depicting other historical time periods. Michelle Moran does a really good job depicting the French Revolution as well. This book shows the ignorance of the common people of that time, and the naivete of the Royals. Although some conversations and interactions may be imagined by the author, most of the events did take place. According to the Author, most of the facts are correct. She did change a couple of the facts to pertain to the novel, but most of it was true to the best of her knowledge.Michelle Moran does a wonderful job bringing you back to that era. Making you understand exactly how the mood was during that time. I found myself wanting to know more about that era, and researching parts that were briefly depicted in the novel so I could understand it more thoroughly. The author sparks that fascination and brings the characters back to life in the horrific tale of the French Revolution.Each chapter states the time frame and starts off with a Quote that was documented from that time period. The novel follows Madame Tussaud who was known at that time as Marie Grosholtz. She lived with her uncle Curtius and her mother at the Salon de Cire learning the art of wax. The salon was a great attraction for people of that time, to come and get the latest news of the time depicted through wax figurines made by Marie and Curtius.To read about Marie Grosholtz and learning about all she had to endure during the French Revolution, was pretty emotional. Changing the wax figures and Tableau to correspond with the latest news whether she agreed with it or not, making death masks of recently decapitated prisoners, tolerating the rapid change of the government and not knowing if she would be the next they would take prisoner or not. Michelle Moran pulled out the emotion of the characters and really making you feel like you, yourself are there as well. It was hard not to feel for the characters as they suffered the worst.At the end of the novel, the author, ties up all the loose end and briefly recaps the lives of the characters who futures were not told in the book. She also goes on to explain the history of the time and what was completely true in the book. There is a glossary at the end of the book as well to help with some of the French words along the way. Although, with a kindle it is kind of hard to go back and forth between the story and the glossary.The novel was very easy to read and flowed really nicely. I can't wait to read Michelle Moran's next historical fiction!

An interesting record of Madame Tussaud's life and political upheaval at the end of Louis VII and Marie Antoinette's reign.

Meine Vorrezensentin trifft den Nagel auf den Kopf, der Einstieg ist wirklich harzig, und nach 3 sehr gelungene Bücher habe ich mich gefragt, ob die Autorin hier nicht einen Fehlgriff gemacht hat. Dann wird es aber deutlich besser und die letzten gut 300 Seiten habe ich dann doch in 2 Tagen verschlungen. Viel Geschichte, die man schon gehört hat, aber nicht in diesem Detailreichtum. Im Grossen und Ganzen gelungen. Mehr als meine Vorrezensentin brauche ich nicht zu sagen.

A not always accurate telling of the French Revolution through the experiences of the young sculptor who would become Madame Tussaud. I found the book mundane and the writing included very little nuance that would keep a readers’ interest. I was inclined to give it up halfway through but persevered grudgingly to the end.

The book was delivered within the quoted time frame.The novel, itself, is well researched and believable. Moran's storyline, character development, and prose don't disappoint.I found I preferred her Egyptian novels, however, as this book seemed a bit more real and rather disturbing in places. Maybe the fact it is disturbing is further praise to Moran's superb writing abilities...

I couldn't put it down. Although I was somewhat familiar with the history of the French Revolution, reading this book has given me more insight into the terrible truth of what actually happened.