Best selling author, Michelle Moran, whose three previous books Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen & Cleopatra's Daughter have made her a favorite of historical fiction fans, is up to her old tricks again! She's coming out with another great book about another important lady from the history books - this time Madame Tussaud! Yes, we all know about the famous wax museums in her name, but there is so much more rich history behind Madame Tussaud that you may not know...Today, Michelle is going to share a little behind the scenes history with us with her guest post about Madame Tussaud: The Woman. Join me in a warm welcome for Michelle!
MADAME TUSSAUD: The Woman
When most people hear the name Madame Tussaud, the first thing that comes to mind are the eerily lifelike waxworks which crowd her museums throughout the world. But who was the woman behind the name, and what was she like in the flesh?
Madame Tussaud’s story actually began in 18th century Paris. While most people know her from her famous museum in London, it was in France, on the humble Boulevard du Temple, where Marie first got her start as an apprentice in her uncle’s wax museum, the Salon de Cire. At the time, the Boulevard du Temple was crowded with exhibits of every kind. For just a few sous a passerby might attend the opera, watch a puppet show, or visit Henri Charles’ mystifying exhibition The Invisible Girl. The Boulevard was a difficult place to distinguish yourself as an artist, but as Marie’s talent grew for both sculpting and public relations, the Salon de Cire became one of the most popular attractions around. Suddenly, no one could compete with Marie or her uncle for ingenious publicity stunts, and when the royal family supposedly visited their museum, this only solidified what most showmen in Paris already knew — the Salon was an exhibition to watch out for.
But as the Salon’s popularity grew, so did the unusual requests. Noblemen came asking for wax sculptures of their mistresses, women wanted models of their newborn infants, and – most importantly – the king’s sister herself wanted Marie to come to Versailles to be her wax tutor. While this was, in many ways, a dream come true for Marie, it was also a dangerous time to be associated with the royal family. Men like Robespierre, Marat, and Desmoulins were meeting at Marie’s house to discuss the future of the monarchy, and when the Revolution began, Marie found herself in a precarious position. Ultimately, she was given a choice by France’s new leaders: to preserve the famous victims of Madame Guillotine in wax, or be guillotined herself.
Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution is the story of Marie’s life during one of the most tumultuous times in human history. Her survival was nothing less than astonishing, and how she survived makes for what I hope is a compelling read.
*Thanks Michelle for stopping by Chick with Books and giving us a glimpse into the life of Madame Tussaud! Michelle Moran's book, Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution will be released Feb. 15th! AND to celebrate, on the release date (Feb.15th), Chick with Books is going to host a GIVEAWAY for a signed copy of Madame Tussaud by Michelle! (plus a little something extra from Michelle). Stop by Feb. 15th for all the details!
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