The Mistress of Paris: The 19th-Century Courtesan Who Built an Empire on a Secret - Hardcover

Catherine Hewitt

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1848319266 ISBN 13: 9781848319264

Publisher: Icon Books, 2015

Synopsis

Valtesse de la Bigne was a celebrated nineteenth-century Parisian courtesan. She was painted by Manet and inspired Emile Zola, who immortalised her in his scandalous novel Nana. Her rumoured affairs with Napoleon III and the future Edward VII kept gossip columns full.

But her glamourous existence hid a dark secret: she was no Comtesse. She was born into abject poverty, raised on a squalid Paris backstreet; the lowest of the low. Yet she transformed herself into an enchantress who possessed a small fortune, three mansions, fabulous carriages, and art the envy of connoisseurs across Europe. A consummate show-woman, she ensured that her life – and even her death – remained shrouded in just enough mystery to keep her audience hungry for more.

Catherine Hewitt’s biography tells, for the first time ever in English, the forgotten story of a remarkable woman who, though her roots were lowly, never stopped aiming high.

About this title

About the Author

Catherine Hewitt studied French literature and art history at Royal Holloway, University of London, and the Courtauld Institute of Art. Her proposal for The Mistress of Paris was awarded the runner-up prize in the 2012 Biographers’ Club Tony Lothian Competition for the best proposal by an uncommissioned, first-time biographer. She lives in a village in Surrey, England.

Review

“Hewitt’s fascinating biography reads like a novel and paints a vivid portrait of a woman who reinvented herself and carved out a successful and lucrative career in one of the only realms available to women in her time, place, and circumstances.” ―Booklist

"[A]stonishing.... A thoroughly researched and clearly written account of a determined and talented woman and of an era." ―Kirkus Reviews

“Reading like a novel with enticing cliff-hangers, Hewitt’s work marries the life of Valtesse with the fascinating history of Paris,imbuing both with vivacity.” ―Library Journal

“An enthralling story, told with both conviction and sympathy.” ―The Observer (UK)

“Hewitt is a diligent researcher and her handsomely illustrated debut biography is crammed with period detail. . . . she offers an intriguing insight into the precarious glamour of life as a nineteenth-century courtesan.” ―The Daily Telegraph (UK)

“Riveting.” ―The Bookseller (UK)

“A fascinating biography . . . Full of detail and astute observation, the book is a remarkable tale of a woman who never stopped aiming high, but whose personal life was shrouded in mystery.” ―France magazine

“Her lovers included painters and politicians, and she caused plenty of scandal that will have you curled up with this book for hours.” ―Living France

“Well researched . . . she has written a truly handsome boudoir book.” ―Irish Examiner

“It is incredibly readable. The story itself is innately fascinating . . . Hewitt has a great deal of knowledge on the time period of nineteenth-century Paris . . . much to enjoy in this engaging account of Parisian culture.” ―All About History (UK)

“This proves to be both a full and intriguing biography, and a fascinating portrait of the time period. . . .The Mistress of Paris is not just a biography of a fascinating woman, but an in-depth look at the France of the nineteenth century . . . A skillfully woven tapestry of a fascinating life, this is a hugely interesting and surprisingly involving read.” ―The Bookbag

Edition details

• Publisher: Icon Books
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1848319266
• ISBN 13: 9781848319264
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320