Mademoiselle: Coco Chanel and the Pulse of History

by Rhonda Garelick Narrated by Tavia Gilbert

Overview

Little black dresses. Fake pearls. Jersey knit. Blazers. Ballet flats. Today-and for nearly the last hundred years-we all see some version of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel every time we pass a woman on the street. But few among us realize that Chanel's role in the events of the twentieth century was as pervasive as her influence on fashion, or how deeply she absorbed and then brilliantly reimagined the historical currents around her. Here, with unprecedented detail and ambition-and through fascinating, thoroughly researched portraits of Chanel's lovers and friends-Rhonda Garelick shows us the Chanel who conquered the world: a woman who thirsted to create others in her image, who ruthlessly and innovatively borrowed from her famous (and infamous) intimates, who understood the idea of branding and image well ahead of her time, who created “wearable personality.” This is Chanel at the nexus of history: a woman of daring, passion, and legendary vision, in a wonderful biography that gives her long-awaited due.

Editorial Reviews

FEBRUARY 2015 - AudioFile

As Tavia Gilbert leads the listener through Coco Chanel’s countless alliances and conquests, she reveals Coco’s driving ambition and eccentricities. A dominant and colorful influence in twentieth-century fashion, Chanel has already been the subject of numerous biographies, but Garelick delivers historical context to render this account worthwhile. Gilbert elegantly portrays the multitude of Chanel’s wealthy lovers and financial backers, ranging from the Duke of Westminster to a Nazi officer. Gilbert’s smooth pronunciation of French names is melodic but understandable to the American listener, and her consistent pace carries through the author’s complex comparisons of Chanel’s relationships to the politics of her time. Gilbert’s vibrant narration almost—but not quite—compensates for the absence of the print edition’s photographs. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2015 - AudioFile

As Tavia Gilbert leads the listener through Coco Chanel’s countless alliances and conquests, she reveals Coco’s driving ambition and eccentricities. A dominant and colorful influence in twentieth-century fashion, Chanel has already been the subject of numerous biographies, but Garelick delivers historical context to render this account worthwhile. Gilbert elegantly portrays the multitude of Chanel’s wealthy lovers and financial backers, ranging from the Duke of Westminster to a Nazi officer. Gilbert’s smooth pronunciation of French names is melodic but understandable to the American listener, and her consistent pace carries through the author’s complex comparisons of Chanel’s relationships to the politics of her time. Gilbert’s vibrant narration almost—but not quite—compensates for the absence of the print edition’s photographs. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169980639
Publisher:	HighBridge Company
Publication date:	09/30/2014
Edition description:	Unabridged

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