The Hotel on Place Vendome

Life, Death, and Betrayal at the Hotel Ritz in Paris

By: Tilar J. Mazzeo

Narrated by: Elizabeth Wiley

Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Set against the backdrop of the Nazi occupation of World War II, The Hôtel on Place Vendôme is the captivating history of Paris' world-famous Hôtel Ritz - a breathtaking tale of glamour, opulence, and celebrity and of dangerous liaisons, espionage, and resistance.

When France fell to the Germans in June 1940, the legendary Hôtel Ritz on the Place Vendôme - an icon of Paris frequented by film stars and celebrity writers, American heiresses and risqué flappers, playboys, and princes - was the only luxury hotel of its kind allowed in the occupied city by order of Adolf Hitler.

Tilar J. Mazzeo traces the history of this cultural landmark from its opening in fin de siècle Paris. At its center The Hotel on Place Vendôme is an extraordinary chronicle of life at the Ritz during wartime, when the hotel was simultaneously headquarters to the highest-ranking German officers, such as Reichsmarshal Hermann Göring, and home to exclusive patrons, including Coco Chanel. Mazzeo takes us into the grand palace's suites, bars, dining rooms, and wine cellars, revealing a hotbed of illicit affairs and deadly intrigue as well as stunning acts of defiance and treachery.

Rich in detail, The Hotel on Place Vendôme is a remarkable look at this extraordinary crucible where the future of postwar France - and all of postwar Europe - was transformed.

©2014 Tilar J. Mazzeo (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Readers will enjoy Mazzeo's fascinating collection of secretive, scheming historical characters, all under one elegant roof." ( Publishers Weekly)

What a cast of characters

This book was recommended to our book club by a long time member who sadly passed, before we read it. She was originally from Germany but moved to the U.S. as a teenager in 50’s. It was so interesting reading the book with Brigitte’s background in mind.

I found the vignettes fascinating about the amazingly number of famous people that lived there either full or part-time. Their relationship with Nazi leaders staying there was so difficult to comprehend as well as the fact that even in the midst of occupation there were wealthy people acting as if their privilege was all that mattered.

Well Researched. Engaging Narration.

As I am finding Ms Mazzeo’s writing, this book is well researched and presented in an intriguing manner.
Ms Wiley does an exceptional job of bringing its voices to life.

Dry, dry. Dry as a bone

The story became somewhat interesting about 3/4 of the way in. Just to gossipy and slow for my taste. I did learn a few tidbits of information towards the end, but not enough to justify the 8 hours I invested in this loser.

Name Dropping book- Don't waste your time!

The whole book is just a long list of names of artists, authors and famous people of that time who stayed at this hotel in Paris. Save your time and money and just read about Coco Chanel, Picasso, Gaugin, Man Ray, Hemingway, and others elsewhere it will be much more interesting and memorable than this Boring list. Monuments Men has a similar idea but presented much better.

Title doesn’t represent

The story was stuck far too long with WWII. It would progress forward and continually move backwards in time.