“Mistress of the Revolution” is a beautifully packaged historical fiction novel by first-time author Catherine Delors. Set in the midst of the French Revolution, it features the romance, drama, and intrigue we have come to expect from books of that era. What sets this book apart from the rest is the personal knowledge the author has of this time and place – herself a Frenchwoman, she grew up with these stories as her own heritage.
Our story is about Gabrielle de Montserrat, a young lady who was sent off to live with a wet nurse as soon as she was born, then trundled off to convent school without returning home. When her guardian, her brother the Marquis, comes to collect her at the age of eleven, it’s to bring her back to a home she’s never known, to meet a mother she hasn’t seen since birth and can’t remember. Her mother doesn’t seem inclined to have anything to do with her even now, and practically ignores her.
As Gabrielle grows into a young woman, she receives some unwanted attention from her brother, and he decides it would be best for both of them if she were to marry. He sets about finding her a suitor, but in the meantime, she has found someone on her own. He’s a commoner, a doctor, and he challenges her mentally as well as stirring something inside her. He’s willing to scrape together a dowry, but the Marquis has an idea of his own as to whom Gabrielle should marry.
This book is beautifully written. The language speaks to the reader’s mind and makes the story come to life. I do caution, however, that the book does contain a higher sexual content than those I generally review, so if content is a concern, you may choose to skip certain passages. I also submit that the French Revolution was a time of horror and bloodshed, and this is depicted in the book as well. Content concerns aside, you’ll find this a well-written, informative and sweeping story, engrossing and complex.
(This book will be released on March 13th by Dutton.)
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