A drama " 'inspired' by a true story and real people."
Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin
I must admit that when I began reading Mistress of the Ritz I was unsure about how my response would pan out. By the end I was absolutely fascinated by American Parisian Blanche Ross Auzello's story. Of how she came to be involved with Claude Auzello, who become Director of the famed Ritz Hotel. And most importantly, Blanche's presence and impact at the Ritz.
The tone throughout the novel is right up there with, "The Germans wore grey. You wore blue." (from Casablanca [movie])
The story flits between Claude and Blanche, between the early days of their relationship (1920's) and forward to the days of 'Occupation'. (March 1940 on) The central player around which all swirls is of course, the Ritz.
The story of Paris under Nazi rule comes to life. The response when the Germans marched into Paris, the survival of the couple the hotel's workers and previous inhabitants, as the rop eschelon of the German ranks took over the hotel is suspense filled. Eventually it would be that Blanche and Claude were the right people in the right place, working for the Resistance, although neither knew about each other's covert activities. Overtime the secrets Blanche particularly held onto would have cowered a lesser person.
And then there's Lily, the passionate, almost frenetic revolutionary whose loyalties took her from Fance to Spain and the Civil War, then back to France and who knows where in between. At times though the descriptions of Blanche are somewhat removed, like looking through a glass darkly. Lily though looked at Blanche and really saw her, saw her compassion, and challenged Blanche to become more.
This was a startingly different story to what I expected with lots of little treasured moments to pick to pick over.
The almost prissy Claude with his expectations that wives of course understand that Frenchmen have mistresses was a recurring theme Blanche couldn't get her head around. This practice was not for her, the girl from US of A!
Then of course the other stars of the Ritz are included. Heminway, Picasso, and the infamous Coco!
Amongst the current plethora of WWII tales, Mistress of the Ritz turned out to be a thoroughly fascinating read.
A Random House Ballantine ARC via NetGalley
*****
The tone throughout the novel is right up there with, "The Germans wore grey. You wore blue." (from Casablanca [movie])
The story flits between Claude and Blanche, between the early days of their relationship (1920's) and forward to the days of 'Occupation'. (March 1940 on) The central player around which all swirls is of course, the Ritz.
The story of Paris under Nazi rule comes to life. The response when the Germans marched into Paris, the survival of the couple the hotel's workers and previous inhabitants, as the rop eschelon of the German ranks took over the hotel is suspense filled. Eventually it would be that Blanche and Claude were the right people in the right place, working for the Resistance, although neither knew about each other's covert activities. Overtime the secrets Blanche particularly held onto would have cowered a lesser person.
And then there's Lily, the passionate, almost frenetic revolutionary whose loyalties took her from Fance to Spain and the Civil War, then back to France and who knows where in between. At times though the descriptions of Blanche are somewhat removed, like looking through a glass darkly. Lily though looked at Blanche and really saw her, saw her compassion, and challenged Blanche to become more.
This was a startingly different story to what I expected with lots of little treasured moments to pick to pick over.
The almost prissy Claude with his expectations that wives of course understand that Frenchmen have mistresses was a recurring theme Blanche couldn't get her head around. This practice was not for her, the girl from US of A!
Then of course the other stars of the Ritz are included. Heminway, Picasso, and the infamous Coco!
Amongst the current plethora of WWII tales, Mistress of the Ritz turned out to be a thoroughly fascinating read.
A Random House Ballantine ARC via NetGalley
*****
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