Short Stories, Irish literature, Classics, Modern Fiction, Contemporary Literary Fiction, The Japanese Novel, Post Colonial Asian Fiction, The Legacy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and quality Historical Novels are Among my Interests








Sunday, July 7, 2024

Jacqueline in Paris - A Novel . By Ann Mah.-2022 - 322 Pages-A Paris in July 2924 Work


 Jacqueline in Paris - A Novel . By Ann Mah.-2022 - 322 Pages-A Paris in July 2924 Work

Paris in July 2024

Paris in July does not just include books. Contributions on your Paris vacation, your favourite meal or restaurant, French movies, music, art, Parisian history and more are very welcome. On the home page for the event you will inevitably discover perhaps new to you books, movies and recipes to send you if you are lucky to Paris or at least the kitchen.


During Paris in July 2022 I read a marvelous book, Mastering the Art  of French Eating:Lessons in Food and Love from a Year  in Paris by Ann Mah. 2015 - 273 Pages 

I am very glad to have  an opportunity to post on another set in 
in Paris novel  by Ann Mah during this year's Paris in July.

Jacqueline in Paris is a first person narrative of the experiences of Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of President John Kennedy, of her year spent in Paris as part of a year abroad program at Vassar College in 1949 up to her return on an official visit as the wife of the president in June of 1961.  She tells the story from her memories after his assassination.

The work with her life with her divorced from her father mother who has very strict expectations for her.  Her mother remarried for money.  The only proper life for a girl according to her mother was a wife to a wealthy young man from the right sort of family.  She told Jacqueline to hide her intelligence as it would turn away potential suitors.  She also remains close to her alcoholic father with a reputation as a philander.


"September 1949 Jacqueline Bouvier arrives in postwar Paris to begin her junior year abroad. She’s twenty years old, socially poised but financially precarious, and all too aware of her mother’s expectations that she make a brilliant match. Before relenting to family pressure, she has one year to herself far away from sleepy Vassar College and the rigid social circles of New York, a year to explore and absorb the luminous beauty of the City of Light. Jacqueline is immediately catapulted into an intoxicating new world of champagne and châteaux, art and avant-garde theater, cafés and jazz clubs. She strikes up a romance with a talented young writer who shares her love of literature and passion for culture – even though her mother would think him most unsuitable.

But beneath the glitter and rusho France is a fragile place still haunted by the Occupation. Jacqueline lives in a rambling apartment with a widowed countess and her daughters, all of whom suffered as part of the French Resistance just a few years before. In the aftermath of World War II, Paris has become a nest of spies, and suspicion, deception, and betrayal lurk around every corner. Jacqueline is stunned to watch the rise of communism – anathema in America, but an active movement in France – never guessing she is witnessing the beginning of the political environment that will shape the rest of her life—and that of her future husband.

Evocative, sensitive, and rich in historic detail, Jacqueline in Paris portrays the origin story of an American icon. Ann Mah brilliantly imagines the intellectual and aesthetic awakening of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, and illuminates how France would prove to shape her life" from the Publisher 

Ann Mah is an American food and travel writer. She is the author of the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller The Lost Vintage, as well as three other books. She contributes regularly to the New York Times Travel section, and her articles have appeared in the Washington Post, Condé Nast Traveler, The Best American Travel Writing, The New York Times Footsteps, Washingtonian magazine, Vogue.com, BonAppetit.com, Food52.com, TheKitchn.com, and other publications.

I hope to read this month another of her set in France novels, The Lost Vintage.




9 comments:

Emma at Words And Peace / France Book Tours said...

So fascinating! There are more connections between American and French history than we think

reese said...

So fascinating. I didn't know about any of this. It says novel on the cover but it sounds like it's all pretty true. Thanks for letting me know about the book!

Lisbeth said...

Fascinating story of Jacqueline's early life. Maybe a must read for me as well.

Mel u said...

Emma at Words and Peace. In another French connection, Mrs Kennedy was wearing a Chanel inspired outfit when in car on day of assassination of her husband

Mel u said...

Reese. Thanks for your comment and visit. I hope you do get to read this work.

Mel u said...

Lisbsth- thanks as always for your comments

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

A friend recommended a picture book about Jackie in Paris, and I just read that, but now I'd like to read this adult novel.

Mel u said...

Deb Nance. Very glad we are both participating in this marvelous event

Buried In Print said...

How neat that you've been able to return to this author for a different Paris In July. Lovely!