A Paris Apartment
A Paris Apartment by Michelle Gable, published by Macmillan on April 22, 2014, is a captivating narrative that intertwines the lives of two women across different eras. This first edition, comprising 384 pages, invites readers into a treasure-filled Parisian apartment that has remained untouched for seventy years. When April Vogt, a Sotheby’s furniture specialist, discovers the apartment, she sees more than just a collection of antiques; she sees an opportunity for escape and a chance to uncover the intriguing history behind its former occupant, the renowned courtesan Marthe de Florian.
As April delves into Marthe’s life through her letters and diaries, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, paralleling her own struggles with a troubled marriage and a stagnant career. The narrative explores themes of romance, city life, and the complexities of women’s experiences, both in the past and present. With the assistance of a charming Parisian solicitor, April seeks to unravel the secrets hidden within the apartment’s walls while also confronting her own challenges. A Paris Apartment offers a rich tapestry of historical and contemporary elements, making it a unique exploration of identity and resilience.
Official synopsis Publisher
The New York Times Bestseller!
Based on the fascinating true story of a treasure-stocked Parisian apartment opened for the first time in seventy years.
Bienvenue à Paris!
When April Vogt’s boss tells her about an apartment in the ninth arrondissement that has been discovered after being shuttered for the past seventy years, the Sotheby’s continental furniture specialist does not hear the words “dust” or “rats” or “decrepit.” She hears Paris. She hears escape.
Once in France, April quickly learns the apartment is not merely some rich hoarder’s repository. Beneath the cobwebs and stale perfumed air is a goldmine, and not because of the actual gold (or painted ostrich eggs or mounted rhinoceros horns or bronze bathtub). First, there’s a portrait by one of the masters of the Belle Epoque, Giovanni Boldini. And then there are letters and journals written by the very woman in the painting, Marthe de Florian. These documents reveal that she was more than a renowned courtesan with enviable decolletage. Suddenly April’s quest is no longer about the bureaux plats and Louis-style armchairs that will fetch millions at auction. It’s about discovering the story behind this charismatic woman.
It’s about discovering two women, actually.
With the help of a salty (and annoyingly sexy) Parisian solicitor and the courtesan’s private diaries, April tries to uncover the many secrets buried in the apartment. As she digs into Marthe’s life, April can’t help but take a deeper look into her own. Having left behind in the States a cheating husband, a family crisis about to erupt, and a career she’s been using as the crutch to simply get by, she feels compelled to sort out her own life too. When the things she left bubbling back home begin to boil over, and Parisian delicacies beyond flaky pâtisseries tempt her better judgment, April knows that both she and Marthe deserve happy finales.
Whether accompanied by croissants or champagne, this delectable debut novel depicts the Paris of the Belle Epoque and the present day with vibrant and stunning allure. Based on historical events, Michelle Gable’s A Paris Apartment will entertain and inspire, as readers embrace the struggles and successes of two very unforgettable women.
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