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30 reviews for:
Chanel's Riviera: Glamour, Decadence, and Survival in Peace and War, 1930-1944
Anne de Courcy
3.43 AVERAGE
30 reviews for:
Chanel's Riviera: Glamour, Decadence, and Survival in Peace and War, 1930-1944
Anne de Courcy
3.43 AVERAGE
funny
informative
slow-paced
I am so glad I read this book!! I love history and I love books based in and around WW2, but this one added another dimension... Coco Chanel and fashion. At first I kind of thought to myself that this might not work for me, but the way the author wrote this book changed my mind!
I didn't realize how connected she was. Churchill, the abdicated King, Edward and so many more!
The first chapter was a little hard to get through, but that was because of the number of people that were introduced. That was a theme throughout, but once the author included the war and what was transpiring at the same time, it made this book so interesting. I learned new things about the war, especially about the Italians! And I most certainly learned new things about Coco Chanel, some good and some not so good.
But what impressed me the most was the amount of research that was done to write this book. Anne DeCourcy's ability to take all this information and put it into a book that is not just informative and but a good read. Amazing!!
If you like history, WW2, society, fashion and a amazing research, You will love this book!
I didn't realize how connected she was. Churchill, the abdicated King, Edward and so many more!
The first chapter was a little hard to get through, but that was because of the number of people that were introduced. That was a theme throughout, but once the author included the war and what was transpiring at the same time, it made this book so interesting. I learned new things about the war, especially about the Italians! And I most certainly learned new things about Coco Chanel, some good and some not so good.
But what impressed me the most was the amount of research that was done to write this book. Anne DeCourcy's ability to take all this information and put it into a book that is not just informative and but a good read. Amazing!!
If you like history, WW2, society, fashion and a amazing research, You will love this book!
Chanel's Riviera by Anne de Courcy is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in early December.
The goings-on, trysts, and outfittings around and at Chanel’s home, La Pausa, during this 14-year timeframe. It's mostly dainty and frivolous during the pre-war years in the writing style of a glossy tabloid, while covering how the Riviera responded to events, like the Great Depression, then the rise of the Nazi party, air raid attacks and the capture of Paris, influx of war refugees, and intense rationing. In response, Chanel donated to charity causes, usually orphanages, anonymously, before being labeled as an enemy to Germany, due to interactions with Winston and Mrs Churchill, assisting friends and friends of friends all over Europe, and having a German lover in the military.
The goings-on, trysts, and outfittings around and at Chanel’s home, La Pausa, during this 14-year timeframe. It's mostly dainty and frivolous during the pre-war years in the writing style of a glossy tabloid, while covering how the Riviera responded to events, like the Great Depression, then the rise of the Nazi party, air raid attacks and the capture of Paris, influx of war refugees, and intense rationing. In response, Chanel donated to charity causes, usually orphanages, anonymously, before being labeled as an enemy to Germany, due to interactions with Winston and Mrs Churchill, assisting friends and friends of friends all over Europe, and having a German lover in the military.
adventurous
challenging
informative
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, War
Coco Chanel is one of those people whose work I've felt conflicted about admiring (and, in the case of my favorite Chanel 19 perfume, buying). Amazing, visionary designer and businesswoman... and Nazi collaborator. Problematic. After reading this book, I still feel more or less the same. The author does not try to gloss over or justify Chanel's actions, but does offer a glimpse into the difficult circumstances of her background that might have made her cutthroat enough to succeed and callous enough to collaborate with the Nazis. Yet she could also be a generous and magnanimous person to her friends, particularly the Riviera set the book also features. After the many tales of decadence among famous names from Wallis and David to Winston, the book shifts focus to the atrocities of the war, and the treatment of Jews in particular. It's a difficult story to read, but an important one to remember.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review.
2.5
This could have been a great book given the subject. The research into the people in the book is very good, including the decision on what to include about Chanel and what not to include. What isn't good is the organization of the book and how it comes together. I found myself thinking throughout reading this book that it felt like a research paper that needed serious editing to organize the thoughts better, to flow more seamlessly from person to person and topic to topic and just overall need for serious revision.
I rounded up to three vs down to two because I did learn some things I didn't know and I found parts of the book very good, more towards the end when the book began to flow more together as a story with intent. The writing is not bad, it just feels like a second draft that needed a couple more passes to bring it together.
This could have been a great book given the subject. The research into the people in the book is very good, including the decision on what to include about Chanel and what not to include. What isn't good is the organization of the book and how it comes together. I found myself thinking throughout reading this book that it felt like a research paper that needed serious editing to organize the thoughts better, to flow more seamlessly from person to person and topic to topic and just overall need for serious revision.
I rounded up to three vs down to two because I did learn some things I didn't know and I found parts of the book very good, more towards the end when the book began to flow more together as a story with intent. The writing is not bad, it just feels like a second draft that needed a couple more passes to bring it together.
This was a Goodreads giveaway winner...
When I first saw this book was going to be published early next year, I couldn't wait to read it. My delight in being a Goodreads giveaway reader was unrivaled.
It started out reminding me of a book I read last year, "The Riviera Set: Glitz, Glamour, and the Hidden World of High Society" by Mary S. Lovell, in that it focused on the frivolous, wealthy, and elegant society (lots of name dropping throughout) hanging out and showing off on the Riviera, just before the outbreak of the war.
But then the author tricked me and made what I thought would be a tantalizing romp amongst the rich and famous into so much more. With the start of World War II the reader is drawn into the horrifying reality that touched the lives of those on the Riviera, and beyond; discovering the tragedies, deceptions, and heroics that would change their lives forever. I definitely recommend this to those interested in this subject.
Side note:
As this was such an advanced copy none of the illustrations were included. I'll have to get a copy when it's published so I can see them.
When I first saw this book was going to be published early next year, I couldn't wait to read it. My delight in being a Goodreads giveaway reader was unrivaled.
It started out reminding me of a book I read last year, "The Riviera Set: Glitz, Glamour, and the Hidden World of High Society" by Mary S. Lovell, in that it focused on the frivolous, wealthy, and elegant society (lots of name dropping throughout) hanging out and showing off on the Riviera, just before the outbreak of the war.
But then the author tricked me and made what I thought would be a tantalizing romp amongst the rich and famous into so much more. With the start of World War II the reader is drawn into the horrifying reality that touched the lives of those on the Riviera, and beyond; discovering the tragedies, deceptions, and heroics that would change their lives forever. I definitely recommend this to those interested in this subject.
Side note:
As this was such an advanced copy none of the illustrations were included. I'll have to get a copy when it's published so I can see them.
I really enjoyed this book. The writing style was engaging and kept me reading. It also was a disturbing book in that parts of the rise of Nazism are mirroring what is going on in the US..including how people reacted. It made me really feel a bit distressed while reading. Still, a very good read and I recommend it.
This book was all over the place, from Coco Chanel's business, to her lovers, to life amid opulence on the Cote d'Azur, to WW2 and occupied France. When I say all over the place, I mean it was so much more than just Chanel and the Riviera.
And I loved it!
And I loved it!
dark
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced