Madame Tussaud

A Novel of the French Revolution

By: Michelle Moran

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

Length: 15 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

The year is 1788, and a revolution is about to begin….

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, even politics. Her customers hail from every walk of life, and when word arrives that the royals themselves are coming to see their likenesses, Marie never dreams that the king's sister will request her presence at Versailles as a royal tutor in wax sculpting. Yet when a letter with a gold seal is delivered to her home, Marie knows she cannot refuse---even if it means time away from her beloved Salon and her increasingly dear friend Henri Charles.

As Marie becomes acquainted with her pupil, Princess Elisabeth, she is taken to meet both Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI, 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 to 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 cafes 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? 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?

©2011 Michelle Moran (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Moran is a sprightly and gimlet-eyed writer, so this should be fun - and a possible breakout." ( Library Journal)

Well, it IS about the French Revolution

Would you try another book from Michelle Moran and/or Rosalyn Landor?

I don't know much about the Fr. Revolution, and Moran claims she has deeply researched it for this book. However, it is historical fiction, so who knows what is real and what isn't?. (She does address that somewhat in the afterward.) The first half was lovely, but the last half was extremely morbid and morbid in great detail. I had to skip quite a few chapters and just listened to the last one to see how things turned out. Madame Tussaud had an amazing life! So, I'm conflicted about this book. The writing is excellent, the narration is beyond excellent, maybe the best I have heard. Will I read it again? No.

Would you recommend Madame Tussaud to your friends? Why or why not?

No, it's just too creepy.

What does Rosalyn Landor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her accent makes it a thoroughly French story, not just a story about the French.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No way!!!

Three Cheers for this Narrator!

I came to this book by way of Ron Chernow's biography of George Washington, which piqued my interest about Lafayette. Audible had only one short offering about Lafayette, so I opted for this book, which is set against the French Revolution. I found it informative and entertaining. The author has done her research, and she inserted many details that brought the era to life. Her plot positioned her characters very well to be in the midst of the turmoil. The last few chapters lagged a bit, but everything leading up to Marie's imprisonment was wonderful.

But let's talk about this astonishing narrator. She was able to sound like a man, a woman, and a child. She nailed French, German, and English accents. She pronounced everything correctly and had an even pace. She never faltered. I wish all narrators were as amazing as Rosalyn Landor. I'll be looking for her other books.

A great way to get immersed in history

If you could sum up Madame Tussaud in three words, what would they be?

Horrifyingly entrancing look at the French revolution.

What other book might you compare Madame Tussaud to and why?

1776 by David McCullough

What does Rosalyn Landor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Great read. Beautiful accent with 99% correct pronunciation of French words.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me anxious as there are too many parallels to what is happening now days in many countries, including ours. Joblessness, calls to riot being easily spread by "alternate" media, poverty, calls for "redistribution of wealth", massive government give-away programs, etc. People need to read more history and be aware of things we must avoid. This book manages to give a glimpse into some of the influences of the French Revolution while telling the fictionalized story of Madame Tussauld. Now I would love to go see the wax museum that I skipped when I was in London. Next time I will stop by for sure.

It is romance, history, suspense all in one and very well narrated.

Any additional comments?

Whenever I finish a good book like this, I feel bereft, as if leaving an old friend behind and now I have to go find a new one. Though I will also be relieved to be leaving such a depressing (in parts) story and will be looking for a lighter read for my next listen.

Inspired Imagining of Tussaud's Life

Not much is objectively known about the personal life of Madame Tussaud. She was a show-woman and guarded the truth of her feelings and family. When she wrote about herself, she gave conflicting stories. Perhaps she had no idea how interested in her the world one day might be. She lived through traumatic times, and the book offers a great lesson in some of the major personalities of the French Revolution as it might have been seen through her eyes. Moran delivers a powerful "what-if" depiction of the great wax artist. In the process, we also learn what important intellectual, educational, and social functions were served by a wax museum in the 18th century. Anyone who has ever visited one of the successor Tussaud museums today will likely look upon the experience much differently after reading this book.

I hate accents on audio books!

I love Michelle Moran and got this book without listening to a sample. If I had I would not have purchased. I may try to read this on my kindle b/c I love the author's other books so much. I could not get past a few chapters of this book b/c of the heavy french accent. I don't need the accent to make it feel authentic. This drives me crazy and ruins good books! If you really wanted it to be authentic then wouldn't it be spoken in french, and not english with a french accent? Oh wait, it was written in english by an American author...

OUTSTANDING listen- highly recommend to all

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, it is a truly unique insight into the french revolution,

What was one of the most memorable moments of Madame Tussaud?

Her stance on refusing to make the death mask of Princess Lisbett

What does Rosalyn Landor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her strong pronunciation on french terms and compassion toward the lead character

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Madame Tussauds feelings and thoughts when making death masks of the royal family

Any additional comments?

My 1st review in 5 years of listening to audio books - this read truly moved me

Brilliant historical fiction!

It brings the French revolution to life (and death and even wax). Great narrator too!

Excellent!!!

The French Revolution WAS brutal and bloody. This retelling was actually tame compared to what happened. I don't like gratuitous violence, either, but this gave an authentic feel for the horror of the times.
I loved the story and the characters, and I agree with the author that learning about someone who was more or less on the sidelines can be very illuminating.
For those who complain that historical fiction may contain inaccuracies...my advice would this:
TAKE the TIME to READ/listen to the AFTERWARD, where MOST authors will explain where they embellished/amalgamated/simplified their story and why.
If you love historical fiction, you will love this. Her life was fascinating.

Intriguing look at wax and the french revolution

What made the experience of listening to Madame Tussaud the most enjoyable?

The narrator is easy to listen to. The story is wonderful. It beautifully merges the french revolution with an interesting look into the art and science of wax sculpting. I walked away with a marvelous impression of what it might have been like to live in the times and how the media of the day impacted the entertainment of the people of the time.

What did you like best about this story?

Enjoyed this story very much. It's not overtly feminine, Marie is not a flowery lady. The story features complicated relationships, political conflict, uprising factions, intrigue, and science. I found it to be an exciting romp as I followed Marie from just running her business to spending time among the courts of Versailles, to her inner turmoil about her loyalties, and her continuous strength and determination to see it all through.

What does Rosalyn Landor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator is easy to listen to. Her voice depicted each character in an original way that kept me engaged in the story. Will look for other narrations she's done.

Who was the most memorable character of Madame Tussaud and why?

Antionette. The story gave me a new perception of the character. And, of course Marie who is wonderfully complicated.

a great listen....for history fans

Would you listen to Madame Tussaud again? Why?

I have already listen twice..... intresting take on the french revolution and the beginings on how the wax museums came to be..

Which scene was your favorite?

I found the making of the death masks by madame tussaud of the beheaded was something I had never given any thought too was very intresting...

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no it was a long book... but would be great for a road trip