What do you think?
Rate this book
Isolde 1939
Published for the 200th anniversary of composer Richard Wagner's birth, "Isolde 1939" is the story of French soprano Yvonne Chevallier, who becomes known before World War II for singing Wagner's operas and slowly finds herself embroiled in the great tragedy of her time - first singing her favorite role of Isolde at the Bayreuth Festival in 1939 with Adolf Hitler in attendance, and later singing Isolde again at the Paris Opera for the Nazis who have occupied France. Will Yvonne's passion for her art turn her into a full-fledged collaborator? How will her peers judge her after the war? And what consequences will her behavior have on the people she loves most? Loosely inspired by actual events.
100 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2013
3 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Aurelie Thiele
3 books51 followersI write historical fiction about power, politics and art with strong female leading roles.
Some authors I like include Ha Jin, Czeslaw Milosz, Dinaw Mengestu, Lynne Olson, Claire Messud, Jennifer Haigh, Julie Orringer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I live in Dallas, TX.
Some authors I like include Ha Jin, Czeslaw Milosz, Dinaw Mengestu, Lynne Olson, Claire Messud, Jennifer Haigh, Julie Orringer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I live in Dallas, TX.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 30, 2023
This is a fictional account of French opera singer, Yvonne Chevallier, who gets caught up in the politics surrounding Paris and Bayreuth in the late 1930s through 1940s. It is a story inspired by the actual singer, Germaine Lubin, the first French woman to sing the role of Isolde (Wagner's: Tristan und Isolde) in Bayreuth, Germany.
Yvonne has struggled, made sacrifices, made difficult decisions throughout her life, all in the interest of clawing her way to the top in pursuit of her career as an exceptional opera singer. She is one who is captivated by the exquisite, difficult and physically demanding music of Richard Wagner. She lives to sing the role of Isolde at the Bayreuth Opera Festival. In 1938, she answers the call to perform the role of Kundry in Parsifal, garnering rave review. In 1939, through extenuating circumstances, she is called back to Bayreuth to sing the role of her dreams, Isolde. There's talk that she sang the role better than any German had thus far. She was a phenom and her career catapulted further.
She returns home to Paris just before war breaks out. She is called upon time and time again to entertain the occupying German forces. She cannot say no. To her, there is no other way to pursue her craft.
The question remains, "How will she be judged by her peers?" Was she merely pursuing her career in the company of the occupiers? Was she a true collaborator? Is there any redemption for her? .....You decide.
I am grateful for having received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads "First Reads" program. Their generosity did not, however, influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Yvonne has struggled, made sacrifices, made difficult decisions throughout her life, all in the interest of clawing her way to the top in pursuit of her career as an exceptional opera singer. She is one who is captivated by the exquisite, difficult and physically demanding music of Richard Wagner. She lives to sing the role of Isolde at the Bayreuth Opera Festival. In 1938, she answers the call to perform the role of Kundry in Parsifal, garnering rave review. In 1939, through extenuating circumstances, she is called back to Bayreuth to sing the role of her dreams, Isolde. There's talk that she sang the role better than any German had thus far. She was a phenom and her career catapulted further.
She returns home to Paris just before war breaks out. She is called upon time and time again to entertain the occupying German forces. She cannot say no. To her, there is no other way to pursue her craft.
The question remains, "How will she be judged by her peers?" Was she merely pursuing her career in the company of the occupiers? Was she a true collaborator? Is there any redemption for her? .....You decide.
I am grateful for having received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads "First Reads" program. Their generosity did not, however, influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.
June 8, 2013
First I would like to say that I received this book as a first read giveaway.
I really enjoyed this book; although it is short I was intrigued throughout the entire book. ‘Isolde 1939’ is the story of a French opera singer, Yvonne, who lived during WWII. The sliver of history this book covered was entertaining. Yvonne seems to wrap herself up in her own reality oblivious to the war, politics or the suffering that is going on around her. The author does an excellent job of just telling Yvonne’s story with out pulling the reader to feel a particular way about her. Aurelie Thiele allows the reader to decide for themselves whether or not Yvonne’s actions are forgivable, and if they think she received a punishment worth her crimes in the end. I recommend this book it was highly entertaining in it’s telling of one French woman’s experience during WWII.
I really enjoyed this book; although it is short I was intrigued throughout the entire book. ‘Isolde 1939’ is the story of a French opera singer, Yvonne, who lived during WWII. The sliver of history this book covered was entertaining. Yvonne seems to wrap herself up in her own reality oblivious to the war, politics or the suffering that is going on around her. The author does an excellent job of just telling Yvonne’s story with out pulling the reader to feel a particular way about her. Aurelie Thiele allows the reader to decide for themselves whether or not Yvonne’s actions are forgivable, and if they think she received a punishment worth her crimes in the end. I recommend this book it was highly entertaining in it’s telling of one French woman’s experience during WWII.
August 11, 2015
This is a wonderful fictional take loosely based on French soprano opera singer Germaine Lubin. The novella follows Yvonne, the character that represents Germaine Lubin, through the rise and fall of her fame. Struggling as a low class French citizen wanting to sing Wagner's work in Germany.
Yvonne isn't a likeable person but I still pitied her. There were many artists stuck in the middle of who to impress and where to succeed during the Nazi occupation. This is a great example as such. Author Aurélie Thiele has done a wonderful job researching the subject and bringing it to light.
I would recommend this to any person who either likes historical or opera themes. It's a great weekend read that is hard to put down.
Yvonne isn't a likeable person but I still pitied her. There were many artists stuck in the middle of who to impress and where to succeed during the Nazi occupation. This is a great example as such. Author Aurélie Thiele has done a wonderful job researching the subject and bringing it to light.
I would recommend this to any person who either likes historical or opera themes. It's a great weekend read that is hard to put down.
June 28, 2013
Yvonne is an opera singer who has struggled to get to the top. She's a ruthless, arrogant woman. She is French, singing in Germany during WWII. Things do not go well for her when the war ends. This is a novella, but I would have read more. Even tho I did not like Yvonne, I did feel sorry for her. Good read.
October 24, 2013
I won this book from a goodreads giveaway and I am so glad I did! The characters were interesting and I really got into the plot. I really want to read more from this author!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews