Mistress of the Revolution

For the last week or so I've been completely swept up in the drama of the French Revolution.  Catherine Delors's Mistress of the Revolution is a totally captivating novel even if it details the sometimes harrowing journey of one young woman from her aristocratic youth, to her arrival at the decadent court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette ending in a bloody French Revolution.  It is an excellently plotted story with interesting and well developed characters and Delors had me turning pages as fast as any edge-of-your-seat thriller with the added bonus of very good writing rich in historical details. 

Catherine Delors writes with the confidence of someone intimate with French culture.  This shouldn't be surprising as Delors was born in France to an aristocratic family, though she now divides her time between the US (she's a lawyer here) and Paris.  She writes with an entirely authentic voice, something not all authors are as adept at when writing historical fiction, and I felt completely immersed in 1780s and 1790s France.  It's not so much that she peppers the story with actual historical figures or French words, which she does do, but these details didn't feel as though they were simply dropped into the story.  When she writes about some aspect of 18th-century French culture it all felt quite natural as if a young Frenchwoman was indeed telling me this story.  I believe that Delors wrote this book in English.  In the notes at the end of the book she mentions that she wanted to write the novel in the language of someone speaking the British English that was used in 1815, and I felt she did so very convincingly.  No doubt her own experiences and background served her well in creating this 'voice'. Reading Mistress of the Revolution put me in mind of Georgette Heyer's novels, though both authors have distinctly different styles.  The similarities are compelling stories rich in the history of the period with a dash of romance.

The story itself is narrated by Gabrielle de Montserrat.  She's looking back over her life while writing her memoirs.  Except for the occasional reference to her later life, the reader experiences the events as she is living them.  For her first 11 years she lived first with the woman who nursed her and then in a convent school.  When she returns home it is to a hostile and unhappy mother and her guardian and brother, the Marquis de Castel, Géraud de Montserrat.  He literally has complete control over her life, and when he discovers several years later she has fallen in love with a young man who happens to be a commoner, he decides to quickly marry her off.  The man he chooses is of the nobility, but he is also a widower and many years her senior.  He treats her horribly, not even as kindly as he treats his hunting dogs.  She's unable to produce an heir (he dies shortly after birth), though a daughter survives infancy and flourishes.  Unsurprisingly, upon the death of her husband she discovers he has left her nearly penniless.  She has only her title, very little money and no property.  Her family is unwilling to take her back and insist she enter the convent. 

As Gabrielle feels no religious calling, the next stage of her life takes her to Paris.  She is welcomed into the home of a distant relation, an elderly Duchess, who becomes almost a mother figure to her.  Parisian life is a whirlwind.  She is introduced at court and catches the eye of several men.  There are not many options open to her, however.  She is widowed, has a small child and if not for the generosity of the Duchess, without a home or much money.  It's with a heavy heart that Gabrielle agrees to become the mistress of an older man of the nobility in order to provide stability for her daughter.  Although he is much kinder to her than her husband was, and takes pains to continue her education and lavishes her with gifts, he becomes an increasingly jealous lover.  She'll try and gain some form of independence by becoming a lady-in-waiting to one of the king's sisters, but as the political life at court becomes unstable her life begins to spin out of control.  When the Revolution breaks out she's in danger of losing more than just her home and money, but her aristocratic head.  In the end she will turn to the one man she thinks might help her, her first love who's now part of the new government.

Although I feel like I've gone into great detail about the story, I've really not told you much at all.  Delors has obviously done her homework.  I had the vaguest understanding of the French Revolution, but this novel actually filled in a lot of gaps.  It's enough of a jumping off place to make me want to read more about this time in history.  I don't think I'd choose another novel with this setting however, at least not right now.  I think any other book would pale in comparison.  I would like to perhaps finally read Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser.  I also have Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution by Caroline Weber.  I even want to find my copy of Choderlos de Laclos's scandalous Dangerous Liaisons, which is mentioned several times in the novel.      

There were a lot of cultural references in the story that intrigued me that I wasn't familiar with before reading the novel.  I almost wish I had taken notes.  I'm curious about some of the things I read.  For instance I wonder how Marie Antoinette is now viewed in France, or how her life/reign is taught in schools.  She seems like a historical figure much maligned (how much is fact and how much is fiction?).  After the Revolution it was deadly to admit to being an aristocrat.  Obviously at some point it became acceptable again.  I wonder how many noble families ceased to exist and what happened to their fortunes and property.  And I had no idea that to be presented at the French court a person had to have their lineage verified that their nobility dated back to the year 1400.  Perhaps I can find some answers on the blog, Writing with a foreign accent, that Catherine Delors writes.  I plan on reading through the archives now that I've finished the book.  And I'm quite happy to see a second book in the works!

Comments

[Jaimie]

What a wonderful book! I remember reading Germinal by Emile Zola in college and being swept away by scenes of the normal French people turning into an angry mob. Even though it comes from the point of view of the poor and destitute the way the revolution is captured is so romantic, albeit in a bloody, scary sort of way. It is a fascinating study.

[Marg]

I've just recently received this and I so want to just be swept away in it as well!

[Ex Libris]

Another book for the wishlist! This sounds fascinating. I've always been taken with Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution so I know this is something I would like.

[Kay]

I think this book sounds wonderful. I am in such a historical frame of mind right now that I may have to go ahead and get this. Thanks for a really great review!

[Catherine Delors]

Thank you so much, Dani, for this wonderful review!

Indeed I wrote this book in English, with Jane Austen as my inspiration for early 19th century British English. I speak about it on my blog. Hope to see you there!

http://blog.catherinedelors.com/2008/05/02/a-new-review-dani-torres-at-a-work-in-progress-and-the-challenges-of-debut-writers.aspx

[Dorothy W.]

This sounds like a great read -- I'll certainly be in the mood for some more historical fiction soon, and the era of the French Revolution is so fascinating! I loved Dangerous Liaisons when I read it quite a while back -- I may read it again one day.

[Danielle]

Jaimie--I've never read any Zola--I really should try one of his books (I think I have Nana). I'll look up Germinal now. The French Revolution is fascinating to read about despite being such a bloody time in history.
Marg--I hope you enjoy it! I wish there were more Delors books to read now!
Ex Libris--I'm also interested in this period as well. I'd like to read more about Marie Antoinette, and there was a PBS documentary that I've been meaning to watch as well. But this is a wonderful fictional story--with lots of history!
Kay--Enjoy! I think I will have to buy this one when it comes out in paper. Now I am anxious for her next book!
Catherine--Thanks for the link! I thought it was very effective to have written the story in that manner.
Dorothy--I've wanted to read Dangerous Liaisons for a while now, but every time it was mentioned in the book, it made me want to pull it out and start reading!

[J. Kaye]

I too had the opportunity to read and review this book. I fell so in love with this author. She's a marvelous writer!

[Danielle]

J. Kaye--I was very impressed, too. Did you know her second book is going to be published at the beginning of next year and she's already working on the third?