Product Description

A singular new voice in historical fiction. A time of decadence in a country embroiled in revolution. An unforgettably high-spirited heroine.

Set in opulent, decadent, turbulent revolutionary France, Mistress of the Revolution is the story of Gabrielle de Montserrat. An impoverished noblewoman blessed with fiery red hair and a mischievous demeanor, Gabrielle is only fifteen when she meets her true love, a commoner named Pierre-André Coffinhal. But her brother forbids their union, choosing for her instead an aging, wealthy baron.

Widowed and a mother while still a teen, Gabrielle arrives at the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette in time to be swept up in the emerging cataclysm. As a new order rises, Gabrielle finds her own lovely neck on the chopping block—and who should be selected to sit on the Revolutionary Tribunal but her first love, Pierre-André. . . .

Replete with historical detail, complex and realistic characters (several of whom actually existed), and a heroine who demands—and rewards—attention, Mistress of the Revolution is an unforgettable debut.

A stunning new talent in historical fiction makes her debut with a novel perfect for readers of In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #520568 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 464 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Against the backdrop of the leadup to the French Revolution, Delors's mostly successful debut follows the life of Gabrielle de Montserrat, a feisty young woman forced by her meddling brother to forsake her commoner true love and marry the Baron de Peyre, a wealthy, older man. The baron is abusive and cruel, but the short-lived marriage produces a daughter before the baron dies. A widowed Gabrielle travels to Paris and enters the heady world of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, where, with a sparse inheritance and the responsibility of a young daughter, Gabrielle becomes the mistress of Count de Villers. Delors shines in her portrayal of the late 18th-century French women's world (she has a rougher time with the men), though the amount of political-historical detail covered overshadows the tragic love story that develops once Gabrielle reunites with her first love, Pierre-André Coffinhal, who is now a lawyer. The appearance of historical figures sometimes comes off awkwardly (as when Gabrielle meets Thomas Jefferson or has a private audience with Robespierre), and the ending is marred by a too-convenient and seemingly tossed-off twist. Nevertheless, the author ably captures the vagaries of French politics during turbulent times and creates a world inhabited by nicely developed and sympathetic characters. (Mar.)
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About the Author
Catherine Delors, from a family of French aristocrats herself, was born and raised in France. A lawyer, she practiced in Los Angeles for over ten years and now divides her time between Paris and L.A.

Customer Reviews

A different perspective from other readers...
France, 1780. Gabrielle de Montserrat is a noblewoman -- one with no money and therefore no dowry. She would have to be the best at everything else to land a great marriage. But her family finds her lacking in every sense. She had once trusted her brother, until he does unspeakable things to her. When she falls in love with Pierre-Andre, she feels her life has meaning. And when her brother, who has absolute power as his sister's guardian, forces her to marry an aging but wealthy man, takes that away from her, Gabrielle's world is shattered all over again. Gabrielle has no idea what fate will deal her when she arrives at the court of Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette. In the midst of the French Revolution, Gabrielle will have to decide whether to do what is expected of her or follow her heart, even if it means facing the guillotine.

The other reviewers will probably disagree with my review, but I like to give an honest opinion on what I read and my perspective will be somewhat different from the other reviewers on this page. The story is well written and the historical aspect is dead on. I was impressed with that aspect of Mistress of the Revolution. However, I thought the story was somewhat boring and I had a hard time getting into it. The first-person narrative didn't help. It somehow didn't work for me. Gabrielle's brother is disgusting and despicable, and there are other characters that will make you hate them here as well. The star-crossed romance between Gabrielle and Pierre-Andre is also kind of nice, and the backdrop of Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution is done well, but none of these things makes up for the fact that, as a whole, this novel is simply not engaging enough. Perhaps it is due to the fact that the historical aspect is more fascinating than the fictional part. To me, there's got to be a balance between the two. I hope Catherine Delors will learn to have a balance between the two in the near future. For now, her work is more of a miss than a hit.

This is what historical fiction should be
This book kept me so engrossed I literally didn't put it down. It came everywhere with me: to work, to appointments, even to the gym to read while running. This is an example of what historical fiction should be, and one of the best historical fiction books I've read. If you are looking for a similar-type story (French Revolution, female 1st person narrative, etc) try the Josephine B. triology by Sandra Gulland.

Addictive !
I felt really blue when I finished this book. I didn't want to put it down
and get away from Gabrielle. It was like an adrenaline rush that wouldn't
quit.
Totally addictive.
I also learned so much in a very entertaining way, even being a French native.
I loved the descriptions of places, customs, emotions, the intensity of it all, the paste.
The author lets the reader hear all points of view from the actors of the French Revolution.
Also the civics, the details, the way of facing frankly a sometimes tragic reality.

It was so interesting to be reminded the faith of woman only few generations ago.
This would make a wonderful mini series, or a long romantic action historical thriller movie.
BRAVO!