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Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution Audiobook
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(3.00) - 7,568 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The year is 1788, and a revolution is about to begin… Marie Tussaud has learned the secrets of wax sculpting by working alongside her uncle in their celebrated wax museum, the Salon de Cire. From her popular model of the American ambassador Thomas Jefferson to her tableau of the royal family at dinner, Marie's museum provides Parisians with the very latest news on fashion, gossip, even politics. Her customers hail from every walk of life, and when word arrives that the royals themselves are coming to see their likenesses, Marie never dreams that the king's sister will request her presence at Versailles as a royal tutor in wax sculpting. Yet when a letter with a gold seal is delivered to her home, Marie knows she cannot refuse—even if it means time away from her beloved Salon and her increasingly dear friend Henri Charles. As Marie becomes acquainted with her pupil, Princess Élisabeth, she is taken to meet both Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI, who introduce her to the glamorous life at court. From lavish parties with more delicacies than she's ever seen to rooms filled with candles lit only once before being discarded, Marie steps into to a world entirely different from her home on the Boulevard du Temple, where people are selling their teeth in order to put food on the table. Meanwhile, many resent the vast separation between rich and poor. In salons and cafés across Paris, people like Camille Desmoulins, Jean-Paul Marat, and Maximilien Robespierre are lashing out against the monarchy. Soon, there's whispered talk of revolution. Will Marie be able to hold on to both the love of her life and her friendship with the royal family as France approaches civil war? More important, will she be able to fulfill the demands of powerful revolutionaries who ask that she make the death masks of beheaded aristocrats, some of whom she knows? Spanning five years from the budding revolution to the Reign of Terror, Madame Tussaud brings us into the world of an incredible heroine whose talent for wax modeling saved her life and preserved the faces of a vanished kingdom.
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"I went back & forth between 3 and 4 stars on this one. I felt like the book was less historical fiction and more of a creative and exciting way of just telling the true historical story. The author did a lot of "telling, not showing" and it read a little too slowly compared to other historical fiction books. But the fact of the matter is that the story of Madame Tussaud is just incredible, so it was still an important story to tell and I really enjoyed the book."
— Roxanne (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“As historical novels go, this is of the first rank—a page-turner that is both vividly and elegantly written. I feel privileged to be able to endorse it.”
— Alison Weir, bestselling author of Eleanor of Aquitane -
“This is an unusually moving portrayal of families in distress…for Francophiles and adventurers alike.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Moran is a sprightly and gimlet-eyed writer, so this should be fun—and a possible breakout.”
— Library Journal -
“Readers will be intrigued by Madame Tussaud, and by witnessing a tumultuous era through her eyes.”
— Booklist -
“Mannered and elegant; reminiscent in many ways of novels of days long past.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“Moran has moved from the lush backdrop of ancient civilizations to the rich tapestry that was Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette’s France with ease, basing her latest work on the early life of the famous waxmaker…Moran sheds light on this remarkable woman whose drive for survival and ambition strike chords in today’s women.”
— RT Book Reviews (4½ stars) -
Moran is a sprightly and gimlet-eyed writer, so this should be fun---and a possible breakout.
— Library Journal
Madame Tussaud Listener Reviews
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" Absolutely love this book! This is historical fiction at it's finest. "
— Ashlee, 2/19/2014 -
" I loved this book! I couldn't put it down. I plan to read more of Michelle Moran's books as soon as possible - great author. This is considered historical fiction - but I find that many of her facts are accurate. I have also realized that the French Revolution is one of my favorite times in history! "
— Tammy, 2/16/2014 -
" Absoultely loved this book! I hope that a movie is made. If there has been or is in the processes I want to know! "
— Jennifer, 2/9/2014 -
" Absolutely loved the book - History - Could not put the book down - All about Versailles, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and the end of the French Royalty and the start of the revolution - I loved it - Lots of french words that I was so familiar with. Very good description of the Parisian life at the time - landed to a friend but somehow she did not care much for it - Perhaps, I loved it so much because I am French?:) - "
— Anne, 2/4/2014 -
" Very well done historical novel about the woman who preserved famous people in wax. She became friends trough her work with the royal family. As the French revolution began she was caught in the middle since the men in her family supported the peoples rule and at the same time she admired the royals but could clearly see the problems. Told with feeling and depth. "
— Jane, 1/27/2014 -
" I was a bit confused at first but I really liked this book..... "
— Theresa, 1/25/2014 -
" Atrocious! Madame Tussaud is a gripping tale from the French Revolution and during the Reign of Terror. A clear warning of the evil that can occur when a godless nation is run by godless people. Not for the weak at heart or stomach. "
— Janet, 1/25/2014 -
" Don't let the cheesy cover keep you away from this book. It's very well written, exciting account of the French Revolution and Marie Tussaud. Moran must have done huge amounts of research. I want to read more of her historical fiction. "
— caitlin, 1/15/2014 -
" I had to keep reading it although the French Revolution is a period of history I did for GCE at school and it makes for a very uncomfortable read. I was very interested in the story of Madame Tussaud which I had had no idea about before this book. "
— sonia, 1/12/2014 -
" Much of this book was based on Tussaud's memoirs which were written many years later and in which she aggrandized her role in the French Revolution. Despite this, it's an interesting book. "
— Lenny, 12/25/2013 -
" A great read for next month's book club! Don't be intimidated by the length! "
— Alexis, 12/20/2013 -
" i wanted to love this book...but i just could not get into it. "
— Emelro, 12/3/2013 -
" Liked it a lot. Good history, interestingly presented story with some great characters. "
— Camille, 2/6/2013 -
" I love when a book makes me do historical research to know more about the people and places discussed in its pages. To feel the horror and shock, agony, and triumph of the people in that era speaks highly of the strength of Michelle Moran's writing. "
— Ashley, 9/19/2012 -
" This was a quick read with nice short chapters. I enjoyed it, and I really like this author. The story was really interesting to me, but I longed for a tad more emotion from Madame Tussaud's viewpoint. I can't wait to read other books by Michelle Moran. "
— Snow, 5/27/2012 -
" I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. I don't read a ton of historical fiction but found myself quite drawn into this story of the French Revolution. "
— Erin, 3/11/2012 -
" I really enjoyed this book. "
— Kara, 2/26/2012 -
" Witty tale of the French Revolution, and the drama one can expect from M. Moran, as she vividly depicts the characters' flaws and mysteries as in Neferitti and Cleopatra's Daughter. A good read and solid account of the controversies during this historical moment. "
— Shurronne, 12/15/2011 -
" Enjoyed the fresh perspective on the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. "
— Angela, 10/15/2011 -
" I really enjoyed this book. I had heard it wasn't her best but I picked it up anyway. I don't know much about the French revolution but was fascinated by this book. I thought the author kept everything moving along and made the characters interesting. I look forward to reading more of her books. "
— Annmarie, 5/27/2011 -
" Witty tale of the French Revolution, and the drama one can expect from M. Moran, as she vividly depicts the characters' flaws and mysteries as in Neferitti and Cleopatra's Daughter. A good read and solid account of the controversies during this historical moment. "
— Shurronne, 5/20/2011 -
" I think I learned more about the French Revolution in this than I did in high school. (Thinking back, I don't seem to recall much about France at all) <br/> <br/>Yet another fantastic book by Michelle Moran. :) "
— Kristen, 5/16/2011 -
" uhmm... i liked it? not as chatty as philippa gregory but equally engaging. "
— Monica, 5/15/2011 -
" A beautifully written historical novel! I found the characters very interesting and was surprised that I was not at all bored with the history part of the story. Now I really want to go to the wax museum in LA :) <br/> "
— Jliongrrrl, 5/5/2011 -
" I loved this book! Just a perfect mix of reality and fiction. May be a bit partial to France since I grew up there! "
— Chantal, 5/4/2011 -
" This novel deserved more time than I was able to give to it; multiple reserves and the resulting, time pressure did not help increase my enjoyment of the novel. A fascinating character during the best of times and the worst of times. "
— Scott, 5/2/2011
About Michelle Moran
Michelle Moran was born in southern California. After attending Pomona College, she earned a master’s degree from the Claremont Graduate University. She is the international bestselling author of Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen, Cleopatra’s Daughter, Madame Tussaud, and The Second Empress. Her novels have been translated into more than twenty languages.
About Rosalyn Landor
Rosalyn Landor is an English-born television, theater, and multiple-award-winning audiobook narrator. Her television credits include Love in a Cold Climate, Rumpole of the Bailey, Sherlock Holmes, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. She has won numerous Audie awards and AudioFile magazine Earphones awards.