Mademoiselle Chanel

by C. W. Gortner Narrated by Rebecca Gibel

Overview

For readers of The Paris Wife and Z comes this vivid novel full of drama, passion, tragedy, and beauty that stunningly imagines the life of iconic fashion designer Coco Chanel-the ambitious, gifted laundrywoman's daughter who revolutionized fashion, built an international empire, and become one of the most influential and controversial figures of the twentieth century.

Born into rural poverty, Gabrielle Chanel and her siblings are sent to orphanage after their mother's death. The sisters nurture Gabrielle's exceptional sewing skills, a talent that will propel the willful young woman into a life far removed from the drudgery of her childhood.

Transforming herself into Coco-a seamstress and sometime torch singer-the petite brunette burns with ambition, an incandescence that draws a wealthy gentleman who will become the love of her life. She immerses herself in his world of money and luxury, discovering a freedom that sparks her creativity. But it is only when her lover takes her to Paris that Coco discovers her destiny.

Rejecting the frilly, corseted silhouette of the past, her sleek, minimalist styles reflect the youthful ease and confidence of the 1920s modern woman. As Coco's reputation spreads, her couturier business explodes, taking her into rarefied society circles and bohemian salons. But her fame and fortune cannot save her from heartbreak as the years pass. And when Paris falls to the Nazis, Coco is forced to make choices that will haunt her.

An enthralling novel of an extraordinary woman who created the life she desired, Mademoiselle Chanel explores the inner world of a woman of staggering ambition whose strength, passion and artistic vision would become her trademark.

This novel provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of Coco Chanel, a woman who overcame poverty and tragedy to become one of the most iconic fashion designers of the 20th century.

HarperCollins 2024

Editorial Reviews

Booklist

Gortner brings history to life in a fascinating study of one woman’s unstoppable ambition.

Historical Novels Review

Gortner brings to life a woman who was as alluring and captivating as her signature scent.

Christina Baker Kline

In this deliciously satisfying novel, C.W. Gortner tells the epic, rags-to-riches story of how this brilliant, mercurial, self-created woman became a legend.

Ania Szado

From her heart-wrenching early years through her decades of struggle and glory, Gabrielle Chanel was fascinating—as is C.W. Gortner’s Mademoiselle Chanel. Coco lives again in this rich tale of brilliance, determination, and fierce self-creation.

Cathy Marie Buchanan

A richly imagined, deftly researched novel, in which the ever fascinating Coco Chanel comes to life in all her woe and splendor, her story unfolding as elegantly as a Chanel gown.

Erika Robuck

In a novel as brilliant and complicated as Coco Chanel herself, C. W. Gortner’s prose is so electric and luminous it could be a film, and not just any film, but one of the grandest biopics of our time. Divine!

Shelf Awareness

Absorbing, heartbreaking and salacious—like Chanel’s life story . . . a vivid, heartbreaking portrait of Coco Chanel’s meteoric rise to fame and her complicated personal life.

New York Journal of Books

Enticing . . . well-researched and well-crafted historical novel that leaves the reader satisfied on many levels.

Glamour

Sucked me in by the pearls and never let go . . . equal parts grit and glamour . . . if you can’t afford to visit Paris in peak springtime season, reading this book with a glass of wine is a decent substitute.

MAY 2015 - AudioFile

Few fashion icons shine as brightly as Coco Chanel, and this audiobook explores the origins of that sparkle. Rebecca Gibel narrates with a reverent tone, making each detail a kind of celebration of Chanel’s legendary life and art. The audiobook begins modestly: Young Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel’s mother dies, leaving her children alone and desperate. Gibel makes all voices believable without being cloying, capturing the drama of every situation with her clear pronunciation and pretty snippets of French. Sometimes that drama may seem overwrought, but this is, after all, a story about a remarkable personal history, so those moments can be forgiven. This audiobook makes a great listen for that summertime beach read or long road trip. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170326068
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	03/17/2015
Edition description:	Unabridged

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