MADELEINE

by Catherine Gavin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 7, 1957

Romancing that has its origin at the opening of the Buez Canal and ends with the downfall of the Second Empire occupies itself with the high born Madeleine d'Arbonne, a maid of honor to Empress Eugenie, and engineer, Scots-solid James Bruce. Kept apart by their social stations, by her loyalty to her sovereign, by her caprices and wilfulness and, eventually, by the siege of Paris, theirs is an obstacled love affair and the events that surround them offer further intrusions. Here is the ""Murat set""; the foolish Empress, determined on war to prove the Napoleon destiny, to insure the continuation of a dynasty; the ramifications of the boursiers of whom Madeleine's uncle is one and representative of the profiteering opportunist; the ailing, slow and procrastinating Napoleon III; the social rebellion within the international friction; the war with Prussia which did not quite come within Bismarck's time schedule; Sedan and the Empress' flight; and the ever impressive stand of the people of Paris against the grinding force of the enemy -- these are the events through which the lovers move, part and meet only to be forever separated by Madeleine's death. For James penetrates the enemy defense to effect her escape from the doomed city where she has become an ambulance driver after her disillusionment over her Empress' flight -- and wins through with his love only to have to watch her die. Buttressed in history, this makes its times and its events solid and its characters plausible. Audience- worthy.

Pub Date: Nov. 7, 1957

ISBN: 0548439729

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1957

Categories: FICTION