• Mademoiselle

  • Coco Chanel and the Pulse of History
  • By: Rhonda Garelick
  • Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
  • Length: 16 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (170 ratings)

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Mademoiselle  By  cover art

Mademoiselle

By: Rhonda Garelick
Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
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Publisher's summary

Little black dresses. Fake pearls. Jersey knit. Blazers. Ballet flats. Today - and for nearly the last hundred years - we all see some version of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel every time we pass a woman on the street. But few among us realize that Chanel’s role in the events of the 20th century was as pervasive as her influence on fashion, or how deeply she absorbed and then brilliantly reimagined the historical currents around her. Here, with unprecedented detail and ambition - and through fascinating, thoroughly researched portraits of Chanel’s lovers and friends - Rhonda Garelick shows us the Chanel who conquered the world: a woman who thirsted to create others in her image, who ruthlessly and innovatively borrowed from her famous (and infamous) intimates, who understood the idea of branding and image well ahead of her time, who created "wearable personality". This is Chanel at the nexus of history: a woman of daring, passion, and legendary vision, in a wonderful biography that gives her long-awaited due.

©2014 Original material by Rhonda Garelick (P)2014 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

What listeners say about Mademoiselle

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  • 11-15-16

A must read for all who wear chanel.

loved it. Historical account gave me a greater understanding of an appreciation for Chanel. Appreciate the breadth of information, very interesting.

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Jaw Dropping

I clasped my pearls quite a few times while listening to this book. There was a wealth of information, not just about Coco but about other historical figures as well. I’m happy I selected this book. I learned quite a lot!

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Great Read.

The book is very engaging. It is written in a way that allows you to envision the feel of fabric. It is not a sugar coated biography but a panoramic view of a real woman responding to epic changes in her society, country and the world stage.

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4 people found this helpful

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Absolutely delightful

Captivating and full of original insight, much like Chanel herself. I enjoyed every second and never wanted it to end.

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Very interesting overall

Really good story, lots of details on Chanel I didn’t know. I thought the narrator was fabulous and I’m pretty picky. The first few hours felt long but it is critical to the whole story and it definitely picks up.

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Gabrielle Coco Chanel

The book was fascinating! if you love fashion and want to know the history of Coco Chanel. what are you waiting for?

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Lively cultural history of the 20th century Europe

It is not so much about Chanel as designer, it is more about how her ideas fit into modern world. Once you read it, you will understand the huge degree to which the wadrobe of the modern western women has become uniformly "chanelized".

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good open minded exploration

would recommend.
She's a little too fixed on calling Chanel a courtesan, especially the last Wertheimer chapter. I think which artist wouldn't appreciate in their old age to have all expenses carte blanche and then the knowledge that the business will live on with your name afterwards.

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Wonderful

A great listen- very through, thought provoking, and amusing. A must listen for all Coco Chanel fans.

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A historic view of Mademoiselle the Icon

Brilliant way to intertwine history, references, the person and the Icon.
I must say Brilliant

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1 person found this helpful