The Velvet Hours Author:Alyson Richman From the international bestselling author of The Lost Wife and The Garden of Letters, comes a story?inspired by true events?of two women pursuing freedom and independence in Paris during WWII. — As Paris teeters on the edge of the German occupation, a young French woman closes the door to her late grandmother?s treasure-filled apartment, unsure i... more »f she?ll ever return.
An elusive courtesan, Marthe de Florian cultivated a life of art and beauty, casting out all recollections of her impoverished childhood in the dark alleys of Montmartre. With Europe on the brink of war, she shares her story with her granddaughter Solange Beaugiron, using her prized possessions to reveal her innermost secrets. Most striking of all are a beautiful string of pearls and a magnificent portrait of Marthe painted by the Italian artist Giovanni Boldini, conjuring a tale of love and survival.
Inspired by the true account of an abandoned Parisian apartment, Alyson Richman brings to life Madame de Florian and Solange Beaugiron, the young woman forced to leave her fabled grandmother?s legacy behind to save all that she loved.
The Velvet Hours explores the unlikely relationship between two women who pursue freedom and independence during uncertain times, as Solange and Marthe?s stories unfold like velvet itself, each stitched with its own shadow and light.« less