Stéphane Bern

In this fictionalized biography, Stéphane Bern digs deep into the personal life of Marie Blanc, wife of François Blanc. This dynamic couple put Monaco on the map: in the 19th century the prince of Monaco agreed to let the Blancs build a casino, hotel de Paris and other amenities that brought the wealthy and their money to Monaco. The Blanc-family became one of the wealthiest in Europe.
The Marie Blanc that is portrayed in this book is based on the real Marie Blanc. Born into a a large family of shoemakers, she caught the eye of the wealthy widow François Blanc, a casino-director in Bad Homburg. More than 25 years her senior, he let her get a proper education before he married her. Marie was a down-to-earth woman who was totally committed to her husband, their three children and the obligations that went with her status.
The author tells the story mainly from Marie's point-of view. She lives in a sophisticated, glamorous world so the pages are filled with opulence and luxury. Historical facts and figures give the book an authentic feel, but when looking closer into the real history of Marie Blanc, it appears that the author has slightly changed her biography although I can't see why he did that. The real Marie Blanc's life seems interesting enough.
This would have been an amazing biography if the author had kept to the facts and included his sources. Now it's a delightful, very enjoyable piece of fiction.
And don't be fooled by the cover. It's a lot more profound than it appears from that cover. I read this book for my European Challenge. I'm glad I found a good book for Monaco. It's not the easiest of countries to find a book for.… (more)