I fell in love with Michelle Gable’s writing and ordered all of them that my library had because I wanted to read everything on her I could get my hands on. Her writing is incredible. The first novel I grabbed “I’ll meet you in Paris” I grabbed because Paris was in the title, I grab anything with a good cover or anything with Paris in the title, if it’s neither of those I often don’t even see it to be honest. The other’s I read by her (A Paris Apartment and the summer I met Jack) were because of my instant love of her writing.
“A Paris Apartment” follows April Vogt, a furniture specialist at Sothebys who ventures to Paris to offer her expertise on a flat absolutely stuffed with antiques never before seen on the market, including a never before known Boldini (a painting for those of you who may not have gone to art school). But what April stumbles upon is not just a flat full of antiques. The flat has been closed up since the first world war, and is only being opened because it’s heir has recently passed and the woman she in turn left it to is ready to clear out the items and stop paying the rent. This flat, this apartment, IS the belle epoque. Everything that represents that time period is there. It turns out the former occupant of the apartment was a bit renowned in her day, while not someone who would have graced the history books Marthe De Florian was one of the most influential Les Demimondaines (basically a courtesan but more wealthy), she spent time with all of the famous names of the age.
April stumbles upon Marthe’s identity in the form of journals left in the apartment, arguing provence she attains permission to continue reading through all of the journals and the novel becomes a split narrative between April’s time and Marthe’s time as told through her journals.
It is fantastic and mysterious, filled with the wonder and romance of Paris.
One thing I find super interesting about the novel that I didn’t realize when I first read it 3 years ago is that it’s actually based on a true story. Marthe De Florian is a real person who was really painted by Boldini and existed during the belle epoque in Paris. Which I’m sorry that’s insanely cool. I love historical fiction based on true events. I love learning history through the lesser known characters or through fictional ones experiencing the actual historical events. I feel like you get a better sense for the time
or situation that way.
I’ll love April’s tenacity, how engrossed she gets in her work, even before finding the journals. Especially her coworkers reaction to them. I feel like everyone expects you to be so aloof about your profession. Yes I know all about antique furniture, it’s my job, its rather boring and stuffy….NO! Give me the April Vogt’s of the world, especially in literature. I am one of the “crazy” people who actually really enjoy their job, I get over excited, I’ve had clients crack up before when I start excitedly explaining the plans for their home. I know I get animated when talking about projects I’m working on...to me that was the whole point, the whole point of killing myself in school while also working, of going to school in the first place, to have a job that yes is hard work, but at the end of the day also brings me joy (not always, sometimes I want to scream and pull my hair out...it is a job) but it also gives me positive and creative outlets. My point is, I love how much April loves her job, it draws me to her even more.
More than that even is how hard she fights to make sure Marthe’s story is told. It feels like the supreme act of sisterhood. April never met this woman or anyone directly related to her. Marthe wasn’t famous, she wasn’t Boldini or Victor Hugo. She was a member of Les Demimondaines...some people would consider her akin to a common whore. They would judge her life rather than appreciating the window into the past she provided. Marthe was not perfect, given her origin story there’s a reason she’s pretty f*d up, that would mess anyone up. But Marthe was strong and defiant and she found a way to remain unmarried and survive in a man’s world without sacrificing her dreams of having a comfortable life. April understood that, she gave voice to it. She fought... hard to ensure that Marthe’s estate was not only given it’s own auction but that through the province, her story was made known, she was given the fame and the renown she hoped for. The recognition she never got as Victor Hugo’s daughter.
This was the most beautiful part of the novel to me, not Paris (which I love and absolutely have to visit one day because I’m obsessed with it in books). The most beautiful part is the bond that forms between April and Marthe, centuries apart. These two women, struggling with the men in their lives, women who grew up orphaned, women so far apart and yet so close together. The compassion April instantly feels for her, the need to make sure everyone knew who Marthe was.
This novel is beautiful and magical, you are transported both to Paris of today as well as a Paris of the golden age, you will laugh and cry and be unable to put it down. I’m so glad I bought myself a copy of this book and revisited it.
A quick disclaimer, while this book is based on a true story, not all events, characters etc in the novel are not true. Marthe is a real person, obviously Boldini and Victor Hugo are real people. The apartment being abandoned for 70 years and then being auctioned by Sotheby’s was true, but other facts not as much.
I've linked a couple articles below that I read after finishing my second trip through the novel about the real apartment and real Marthe. Also, you guys, the articles have pictures...if you are reading the book, look at the articles after, because my god the pictures are matching what my head saw and it’s a crazy and awesome experience.
https://www.ellacarey.com/inspiration/marthe-de-florians-abandoned-apartment-in-paris/
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/untouched-1940s-paris-apartment-inspires-thrilling-new-novel - omg there’s another novel about Marthe
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