Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Win Michelle Moran's New Book - Madame Tussaud!

I'm so happy to team up once again with historical author Michelle Moran!  Her new book Madame Tussaud debuts in mid-February and I'm happy to host a giveaway for this book.  This is Michelle Moran's 4th offering and if it is anything like the first three it will be absolutely delightful to read!

I've found her writing to be both historically accurate and highly readable (a great combination).  She has a great sense of story.  Madame Tussaud is only familiar to me in terms of the wax museums.  I would not have thought to look for the story there, but of course there is one.  Here is the product description from Amazon:


The world knows Madame Tussaud as a wax artist extraordinaire . . . but who was this woman who became one of the most famous sculptresses of all time? In these pages, her tumultuous and amazing story comes to life as only Michelle Moran can tell it. The year is 1788, and a revolution is about to begin.

Smart and ambitious, Marie Tussaud has learned the secrets of wax sculpting by working alongside her uncle in their celebrated wax museum, the Salon de Cire. From her popular model of the American ambassador, Thomas Jefferson, to her tableau of the royal family at dinner, Marie’s museum provides Parisians with the very latest news on fashion, gossip, and even politics. Her customers hail from every walk of life, yet her greatest dream is to attract the attention of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI; their stamp of approval on her work could catapult her and her museum to the fame and riches she desires. After months of anticipation, Marie learns that the royal family is willing to come and see their likenesses. When they finally arrive, the king’s sister is so impressed that she requests Marie’s presence at Versailles as a royal tutor in wax sculpting. It is a request Marie knows she cannot refuse—even if it means time away
from her beloved Salon and her increasingly dear friend, Henri Charles.

As Marie gets to know her pupil, Princesse Élisabeth, she also becomes acquainted with the king and queen, who introduce her to the glamorous life at court. From lavish parties with more delicacies than she’s ever seen to rooms filled with candles lit only once before being discarded, Marie steps into a world entirely different from her home on the Boulevard du Temple, where people are selling their teeth in order to put food on the table.

Meanwhile, many resent the vast separation between rich and poor. In salons and cafés across Paris, people like Camille Desmoulins, Jean-Paul Marat, and Maximilien Robespierre are lashing out against the monarchy. Soon, there’s whispered talk of revolution. . . . Will Marie be able to hold on to both the love of her life and her
friendship with the royal family as France approaches civil war? And more important, will she be able to fulfill the demands of powerful revolutionaries who ask that she make the death masks of beheaded aristocrats, some of whom she knows?

Spanning five years, from the budding revolution to the Reign of Terror,
Madame Tussaud brings us into the world of an incredible heroine whose talent for wax modeling saved her life and preserved the faces of a vanished kingdom.


















I'm intrigued!  How about you?  To win a signed hardcover copy of this book plus a bonus prize of pair of Marie Antoinette cupcake earrings all you need to do is leave a comment below.  Couldn't be easier!  I will be drawing a name at random on February, 22nd.
*Please leave an email address as a way to get in touch with you, should your name be drawn

24 comments:

AngelaMae said...

Win or not I am BEYOND THRILLED that Michelle Moran has another book coming out. Can't wait to get it and devour it like I did her other three. You are right to say she is a keen story-teller and an artist. *here's me crossing my fingers to win* ;)

Adam O said...

I have never read anything by Michelle Moran, but this book sounds so intriguing.
I was in the same boat as you Kristen, no idea who Madame Tussaud was aside from the name on the wax museums.

Anna M said...

Not sure I am allowed to keep entering your contest, but this book looks really fabulous, I may have to get a copy before the 22nd.

Kristen said...

@Anna - of course you are welcome to enter!

Maria said...

Sounds like a fantastic book. I have never read Michelle Moran's work but I love the little testimonial that you gave about both her writing style and historical accuracy, as someone who got a degree in history there is nothing more annoying than a writer who doesn't get the facts correct. I love historical fiction when it's done right. Thanks for the contest.


maria63303(at)gmail(dot)com

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I would love to win a copy of the book! I've never read anything by this author and the book sounds intriquing!

dancalert at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

This sounds like an entertaining read!
Robindpdx@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I too would love to win a copy of your book . I will admit that being a man it is not that easy for me to say this . But I love this type of book so shhh don't tell any one lol .
rholst26@aol.com

lgm52 said...

Would love to read this book!

Di said...

fascinating topic!

Anonymous said...

This fictionalization of the historical period that Madam Tussaud lived in would be a fascinating read. I have always loved reading about French History.
hobbitjean@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

This was such a terrible time in France. It is hard to imagine what it was like for the people trying no to attract attention and be brought up on charges. It was a time where some used the revolution to settle old scores with false charges. How difficult it must have been for Madame Tussaud to deal with the beheading of those she knew and liked. To have to handle the severed heads to make the molds for her work is just too awful to contemplate.

librarypat AT comcast DOT net

Cathie said...

Please please enter me. I can't wait to read it!

lovemybabysquid@yahoo.com

ChrisB said...

I'll be reading this one. Plse enter me to win.
red_handed99@yahoo.ca

Carol M said...

I'd love to win Madame Tussaud! Michelle's books are always good! Thank you for the giveaway!
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Shauna Roberts said...

Please enter me in your contest. Thank you.

ShaunaRoberts [at] NASW [dot] org

lindalou said...

Please enter me!
I'm looking forward to your new book... would love to win a copy!
Thank you!

Anonymous said...

I have never read a book by Michelle Moran but the reviews on her books are fabulous. This book sounds very fascianting, the French Revoution is a great read.

Anonymous said...

The book sounds great. I would love to delve more into the French Revoution.

Aleksandra Nearing said...

Thanks so much for the chance! I'd really enjoy reading this book. And thanks for linking up!! I'm at:
aleksa91 hotmail com

windycindy said...

I adore the writings of Michelle
Moran! The earrings are fabulous...
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Linda said...

I would love to read this book--sounds so good. Thanks for the opportunity! l.calderone@comcast.net

Amanda said...

I loved all of Michelle Moran's previous books and this one looks just as amazing! Thanks for hosting the giveaway.

amandatheaker@gmail.com

Laura said...

I haven't read a good book for a long time! This book looks so interesting and it would be great to discover a new-to-me author.