Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran
Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution by Michelle Moran
hardcover 464 pages
published by Crown Publishing Group in February 2011
ISBN-13: 9780307588654
Type: {Impress Your Friends Read: notable; prize-winner or all around intelligent crowd conversation piece.}
Rating: {An Unputdownable: Couldn’t eat or sleep until I finished this book.}
Why You’re Reading It:
- You love historical fiction that is more historical than fiction
- Well-written informative books are your thing
- You like a good page-turner that brings something more to the table than just entertainment
What I Thought:
While I love Phillipa Greggory, she writes historical fiction for fiction lovers. Madame Tussaud is a historical fiction book for history lovers. What I mean by this is that the amount of research that went into this book was so meticulous that the author even wrote an afterward admitting to the parts that she embellished, which were few (and mostly minimal in significance) for a book of this length. Michelle Moran has written a deft mix of historical accuracy and engaging fiction.
By concentrating on Marie Grisholtz (Madame Tussaud), Moran has given us a personal view of the French Revolution. A revolution that, as an American, I knew only the basic overview that we are taught in school. For the second half of the book, my mouth was hanging open as I swiftly turned pages soaking up the information about what happened in France in the late 18th century. Completely drawn into the story, I had to remind myself that I already knew what the ultimate outcome was. However, the outcome that I knew (King XVI and Marie Antoinette die… sorry if that was news to you — if it was I recommend you go back and have a series chat with the schools that educated you) was so very limited in its information that I almost embarrassed now. Perhaps as a child I wouldn’t have understood the significance of this revolution, but as an adult I am amazed that this movement is not taught in more depth in American schools (I am singling out America only because I am not privy to the education system in other countries as I am with my own).
This is a book that anyone who is interested in monarchies, politics (including modern politics), and democracy… as well as what can happen when a country has a weak leader. I assure you, it can be disastrous — and if the revolution were to happen today, it would have been even more so (look at the turmoil in Northern Africa over the past several months if you don’t believe me). And how the very people who are trying to make changes can turn into the very thing that they hate the most.
I’ve been meaning to get my hands on this book, Wallace. It’s now moved up several notches on my TBR List which seems to have run off in several different directions at once this year. Try as I might, I can’t seem to get a handle on it.
But I keep trying.
Great review, I’m even more intrigued now then I was when I first heard of it. To tell the truth it’s NOT amazing to me how little European history is taught in schools today. For that matter, they teach very little or our own American history.
But, it’s never too late.
I hope you find it worthy of moving up the list!
I taught middle school history for a few years. Here in California we teach European History in 7th grade and US History in 8th (and again in 11th). For some reason we never covered the French Revolution in the 7th grade year — we never made it that far. I guess part of the problem is not enough time to cover everything, but it just seems like such an important thing to talk about — perhaps even more so in highschool or college in a current events or political science type of course.
This one was already on my TBR list but now I’m putting it in the “Must Read Soonly” section! Thanks for the fantastic review!
I’m so glad, I hope you enjoy it!
I’ve heard some great things about this one before, but your review settled it for me – I have to get my hands on a copy of it soon. Loved your post and now I’m excited to read this book. Thanks!!
I hope you like it. It’s incredibly informative!
Love your review!!!–I’ve seen the book around, but all I can think of is the wax figures, lol.
This sounds really interesting–I had a really amazing French teacher in hs, and we studied a lot of history and art–I only wish I’d paid more attention!!!–I think I would connect and appreciate more of it as an adult than I did as a student (I really struggled picking up the language)–I still remember bits and pieces, which is really a credit to how awesome our teacher was!–Maybe I’ll see if I can find this for a little refresher!
You’ll be fascinated by why those wax figures were so important — for multiple reasons. To think that they didn’t have photos back then, so for common people to see what the ruling class and politicians looked like, they had to go to the wax museum instead of turning on the TV, newspaper, or magazines. I had never thought about that! (maybe you had.)
I think you will especially love this book if you have an interest in France. I hope my description doesn’t steer you wrong.
I really, really enjoyed this book. This was actually the first Michelle Moran book that I had ever read. I definitely plan to read her other books!
I love Phillipa Gregory, too but I love it even more when I read a really good fictional story but I’m also learning about actual history. Your description that it’s historical fiction for history lovers is a great way of putting it. This sounds like the perfect read for me.
Thanks!
Hi Wallace:
I got this book out of the library and it is really good. In this age of a constant barage of books being suggested to me, I have a short attention span and don’ t finish a lot of books I start, going on to the next thing. That says something about the books maybe, or me? But this one I will finish and I am intested in trying the authors other books.
Thanks for the suggestion–the cover intrigued by creeped me out, so it wasn’t one I was going to pick up.
Kim
Haha, yes, I know others who have a real problem with actual pictures of real people on the cover. I’m glad you’re liking it though! Her other books do look good, and if they are as researched and well put together as this one, I’m sure they will be a treat! Let me know if you end up trying them!