An American soldier and an enterprising photographer brave occupied France during World War II to help a young orphan find a family. By the best-selling author of The Paris Seamstress. Original. 200,000 first printing. - (Baker & Taylor)
Paris, 1942: When American model Jessica May arrives in Europe to cover the war as a photojournalist for Vogue, most of the soldiers are determined to make her life as difficult as possible. But journalist Martha Gellhorn encourages Jess to bend the rules; Captain Dan Hallworth keeps her safe in dangerous places so she can capture the stories that truly matter. And the love of a little orphan named Victorine gives Jess strength to do the impossible. But her success will come at a price. France, 2005: D'Arcy Hallworth is hired to curate a collection of wartime photos by a reclusive artist-- and discovers secrets that will alter her life forever. -- adapted from front flap - (Baker & Taylor)
"New York City/Paris, 1942: When American model Jessica May arrives in Europe to cover the war as a photojournalist for Vogue, most of the soldiers are determined to make her life as difficult as possible. But three friendships change that. Journalist Martha Gellhorn encourages Jess to bend the rules. Captain Dan Hallworth keeps her safe in dangerous places so she can capture the stories that truly matter. And most important of all, the love of a little orphan named Victorine gives Jess strength to do the impossible. But her success will come at a price."-- - (Baker & Taylor)
A "rich and riveting" New York Times bestseller based on the true story of a female journalist who defied all the rules while covering World War II (Publishers Weekly, starred review).
New York City/Paris, 1942: When American model Jessica May arrives in Europe to cover the war as a photojournalist for Vogue, most of the soldiers are determined to make her life as difficult as possible. But three friendships change that. Journalist Martha Gellhorn encourages Jess to bend the rules. Captain Dan Hallworth keeps her safe in dangerous places so she can capture the stories that truly matter. And most important of all, the love of a little orphan named Victorine gives Jess strength to do the impossible. But her success will come at a price...
France, 2005: Decades after World War II, D'Arcy Hallworth arrives at a beautiful chateau to curate a collection of famous wartime photos by a reclusive artist. It's the opportunity of a lifetime, but D'Arcy has no idea that this job will uncover decades of secrets that, once revealed, will change everything she thought she knew about her mother, Victorine, and alter D'Arcy's life forever.
Includes a reading group guide!
"An emotional and sweeping tale set against the backdrop of World War II...Rich detail, compelling characters, and an interwoven dual timeline make this an engrossing read for historical fiction fans." --Chanel Cleeton, USA Today bestselling author of Next Year in Havana
"[A] splendid, breathtaking novel, full of mystery and passion...a must read!" --Jeanne Mackin, author of The Last Collection
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Grand Central Pub)
Natasha Lester worked as a marketing executive for L'Oreal before penning the New York Times and internationally bestselling novel The Paris Orphan. She is also the author of the USA Today bestseller The Paris Seamstress. When she's not writing, she loves collecting vintage fashion, traveling, reading, practicing yoga and playing with her three children. Natasha lives in Perth, Western Australia.
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Grand Central Pub)
Booklist Reviews
Jessica May is a model for Vogue in the 1940s, until she is kicked out of high fashion when her unscrupulous lover sells her image for a feminine-hygiene ad. Desperate to be seen as more than a pretty face, Jessica convinces an editor at Vogue to let her photograph and report on the war. Soon she is in Italy, witnessing the horrors there, and she suffers much to bring the reality of war to the American public. The impact of this suffering and postwar decisions continue to reverberate in the twenty-first century. In 2005, D'Arcy Hallworth arrives in France to pack up some photos from a reclusive photographer, and there she uncovers family secrets. Alternating perspectives between D'Arcy and Jessica, Lester (The Paris Seamstress, 2018) tells an intriguing story inspired by real-life female photojournalists during WWII. This look into that life is the most compelling part of the book, and readers of historical fiction featuring courageous women will greatly enjoy Jessica's story and, by extension, the story of the heroism of female photojournalists. Copyright 2019 Booklist Reviews.
