La Belle Créole: The Cuban Countess Who Captivated Havana, Madrid, and Paris

by Alina García-Lapuerta

2015 Internation Latino Book Awards Honorable Mention for Best Biography in English

Known for her beauty and angelic voice, Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo, la Belle Créole, was a Cuban-born star of nineteenth-century Parisian society. She befriended aristocrats and artists alike, including Balzac, Baron de Rothschild, Rossini, and the opera diva La Malibran. A daughter of the creole aristocracy, Mercedes led a tumultuous life, leaving her native <!--? prefix = st1 ns = "" /-->Havana as a teenager to join her mother in the heart of Madrid’s elite society. As Napoleon swept Spain into the Peninsular War, Mercedes’ family remained at the center of the storm, and her marriage to French general Christophe-Antoine Merlin tied her fortunes to France. Arriving in Paris in the aftermath of the French defeat, she re-created her life, ultimately hosting the city’s premier musical salon. Acknowledged as one of the greatest amateur sopranos of her day, she nurtured artistic careers and daringly paved the way for well-born singers to publicly perform in lavish philanthropic concerts. Beyond her musical renown, Mercedes achieved fame as a writer. Her memoirs and travel writings introduced European audiences to nineteenth-century Cuban society and contributed to the debate over slavery. Scholars still quote her descriptions of Havana life and recognize her as Cuba’s earliest female author. Mercedes epitomized an unusually modern life, straddling cultures and celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic. Her memoirs, travel writings, and very personal correspondence serve as the basis for this first-ever English-language biography of the passionate and adventuresome Belle Créole.<!--? prefix = o ns = "" /-->

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, 19th Century, France

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2014

About the author

Born in Havana but raised from an early age in the United States, Alina García-Lapuerta shares a strong bond with her subject, Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo, La Belle Créole, both through their mutual birthplace as well as through the experience of living across different cultures. Alina is a graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and received a master's degree in international relations from Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. She lives in London and returns regularly to South Florida.

Reviews

[Erin (Historical Fiction Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

I picked up Alina García-Lapuerta's La Belle Créole: The Cuban Countess Who Captivated Havana, Madrid, and Paris on a whim. Much like Sylvia, Queen of the Headhunters: An Eccentric Englishwoman and Her Lost Kingdom and Louisa Catherine: The Other Mrs. Adams, the title highlighted an individual I'd not heard of and boasted an intriguing premise, but unfortunately the reality didn't live up to my expectations.

To be clear, Mercedes Santa Cru z y Montalvo is a very interesting and noteworthy woman. The daughter of a prominent Cuban family, she defied the convention of the rank and station to which she was born while making a name for herself on the world stage.

My difficulty stems from García-Lapuerta's style and presentation. The author spends a great deal of time on Mercedes' family history, the political landscape of the day and the culture of the societies in which Mercedes lived. It's great material if you enjoy that sort of exposition, but not being familiar with Mercedes or her achievements, I struggled to appreciate the role these details played in shaping her legacy and often lost working my way through the text.

I fully agree with Publishers Weekly in that the book "illuminates lesser-known aspects of 19th-century transatlantic culture," but I can't help feeling it would be a stronger publication if it were more direct in its delivery.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Chicago Review Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

Ok, this may be a minor quibble, but the sub-title of this book is "The Cuban Countess Who Captivated Havana, Madrid, and Paris". The book appears to be about Mercedes Merlin, a woman with a voice of gold who entranced all who met and heard her.

It's mostly about the areas where she lived, the things that happened in them and the people around her. Mercedes, who is a woman of talent and passion and life, is mostly, frustratingly, silent in her own book. It's a great book for bringing that time period and those locations, Havana, Spain and France to life, but not a great book to showcase Mercedes. I wanted to be wowed by an amazing woman, I wanted to be just as captivated as the rest of her contemporaries. I never once said wow about her and that saddens me, as she seems to have been an incredible dynamo of a woman, but we never really get to experience it.

There were a few contemporary books that were written that had her or her salons mentioned in them, so I added them to my Mt. TBR, so I can see what the people of the day thought of her because I want to know more. This book just never delivered.

And the ending was depressing AF. Yes, the end of anyone's life, especially back in that time period, was sad, but her ending seemed sadder than most. Her branch of the family always had issues with money, over spending, etc., but she added to it by trusting a lover to deal with the finances and by trying to keep him afloat and he made things SO much worse for her. I would think that after the second time, she would no longer trust him, but she was a very forgiving person I guess. I say "I guess", because we aren't really shown her warm-heartedness. We are told a few times, but we never get shown it, so suppositions are all the reader has when trying to understand why Mercedes would keep trusting someone who obviously didn't deserve it.

Also sad was her sons decided to contest the final will where she was trying to provide something for her daughters, as being a woman back then was a lot more difficult than being a man. Women had fewer options for making money, etc. Also, not sure why she didn't take more steps to make sure it wasn't able to be contested, as her father had a scandal with his final will, dying moments before he was able to sign in. That took over 14 years to resolve.

So, other than bringing Mercedes Merlin to my attention, this book did little to teach me about her. If it had been about that time period and those locations, with her life as the link, it would have been fine. Since she was supposed to be the focus but wasn't, it didn't work nearly as well.

Mercedes wrote a lot of autobiographical works, but the author states that Mercedes liked to embellish, so it is difficult to tease the kernel of truth from the rest. Even so, I would have liked to see more words from Mercedes than we had.

I will admit, I expected a certain something with this book which I didn't get, so I am disappointed. It's not bad or badly written, but it doesn't succeed in bringing Mercedes Merlin to life like I had hoped it would. If you go into it without that expectation, and just for the historical significance of it, I think you will get more enjoyment out of this than I did.

2.5 stars, rounded up to 3, as it did at least introduce a remarkable woman to me, even if she wasn't as fully fleshed out as she could have been. Well researched and informative about that era and area of the world.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo, often known as La Belle Créole, was a Havana born singer and socialite who hosted one of the most acclaimed and popular salons in Paris and met many of the leading figures of the day. A fascinating woman who led a fascinating life, the author has done a great deal of painstaking research and describes the historical background in meticulous detail. But she fails to bring Mercedes herself to life and seems less interested in Mercedes’ inner life than her outer one. This meant that I never felt invested in the character or the book about her. A workaday biography.

[Louisa Treger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercedes is an fascinating, unforgettable character, skilfully brought to life by Alina Garcia-Lapuerta in her wonderful new biography. All the characters are vividly alive, and seamlessly woven into the turbulent historical background, so that you understand not just their personalities, but also the events that shaped them. The book is beautifully written, and impeccably researched - flawless and highly recommended.

[Vykki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a excellent Biography. I love reading about her life she sure went through a lot this book was well written and well research. This was a excellent book and I recommend it to everyone. I won this book on Goodreads Thank you.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pros: A great biography of an amazing woman who has slipped off the wider spectrum of history. The retelling of Maria de las Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo (or simply, Mercedes) is balanced, thought provoking and intriguing. Her birth into upper crust Cuban society is envious, not because of the wealth (that doesn't hurt) but by being raised by her maternal great grandmother Louisa, or Mamita. If we all were raised by people like Mamita, the world would be an incredible place. This is in contrast to her paternal grandmother, Maria Josefa -- who seemed to be Mamita's opposite. The love of Mercedes parents, Joquin and Teresa were also a huge influence to Mercedes kind heart. Although Mercedes was an accomplished author, philanthropist, singer, beautiful and excelled at hosting salons, she had a perpetual melancholy. Garcia-Lapuerta was able to make Mercedes extraordinary, fallible, and unique. It was interesting to read about the Cuban, Spanish and French turbulent history during this era. So much happened and happened to upend Mercedes life, livelihood and financial situation. Mercedes reminds me of other spectacular women like Empress Eugenie, Consuelo Vandervelt, Marie of Romania and others. So happy to include Mercedes into the pantheon of incredible women more people should know about. Appreciate the photos and the maps.

Cons: Not much -- it's hard to present a balanced picture of a life without including lots of names and antidotes. Garcia-Lapuerta did a great job.

Cover art: 5 out of 5. Fabulous!

[Adelais · Rating 4 out of 5]

Біографія кубінки Мерседес Монтальво, яка прибула з рідної Гавани і прямо у наполеонівську Іспанію, де швиденько вийшла заміж за наполеонівського генерала-француза, пережила війни і втечі в чому була, але не втратила оптимізму і літературного та співочого таланту. Прославилася вона не тільки салонними та благодійними концертами, а й мемуарами про дитинство на Кубі, і Бальзак кілька разів писав з неї своїх неголовних героїнь. Не сказати, щоб дуже видатне життя, скоріше оцією звичністю у своєму класі і часі (талановита аристократка з купою звязків) і приваблює.

[Arielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, almost novel like. Vivid imagery and characterizations.

[Ann Greyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biographical novel chronicles the life of my tremendously famous cousin Maria de la Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo (1789-1852), better known as ‘Mercedes’ or Condesa de Merlin, a key figure in 19th-century Parisian society. At the beginning of the book, after the Author’s Note page, is a ‘Family Tree’ diagram page listing many of my relatives.

Born into an old aristocratic family in Cuba, Mercedes was raised by her great-grandparents Luisa Maria Herrera y Chacon [my great-great-great-great-grandaunt] and Juan Jose O’Farrill y Arriola {my great-great-great-great-great-great-granduncle}. She was considered a second-class citizen, a nascent Creole, (those of Spanish descent, born in the colonies), reinforced by the laws of Spain to differentiate themselves. Whereas, the term Peninsular was used for a Spaniard born in Spain.

In 1802, Mercedes arrived in Madrid, Spain, where her parents held a preferential place in the Spanish Court of King Carlos IV thanks to Minister Gonzalo O’Farrill y Herrera [my cousin]. Her brother Francisco Javier Santa Cruz y Montalvo, {IV Conde de San Juan de Jaruco and II Conde de Santa Cruz de Mopox}, [my cousin] acquired the greater part of the family fortune after their father’s death, including the passing on of Jesus Nazareno, an old sugar mill in Cuba, which was subject to ongoing litigation with some O’Farrill cousins regarding a boundary dispute. In 1808, Napoleon Bonaparte’s army invaded Spain and installed Joseph Bonaparte on the Spanish throne in place of the Bourbon King Ferdinand VII. Gonzalo O’Farrill y Herrera served as Minister of War under Joseph Bonaparte. During the fraught years of The Peninsular War (1807-1813), Spaniards’ War of Independence, Mercedes became the wife of Count Antoine Christopher Merlin of Thionville, a general in Joseph Bonaparte’s military entourage.

In 1813, the French were effectively expelled from Spain. Arriving in Paris in the aftermath of the French defeat, Mercedes deployed the skills she had learned firsthand from her mother, María Teresa Montalvo y O'Farrill (my cousin) and father Joaquin Santa Cruz y Cardenas, {III Conde de San Juan de Jaruco and I Conde de Santa Cruz de Mopox}, hosting a distinguished musical salon from her home on rue de Bondy. Taking on a starring role in the social milieu, the ‘Comtesse de Merlin’ re-created her life. Her musical evenings assured her a “passport to celebrity,” attracting notables like novelists Honore de Balzac and George Sand (Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil), and lending her own angelic voice often partnering with professionals such as opera singer Maria Malibran.

After the sale of the Jesus Nazareno sugar mill in her brother’s favor, Mercedes sought means of earning money with writing, seeking refuge in the home of her uncle Jose Lorenzo Montalvo y O’Farrill, {II Conde de Casa Montalvo}, [my cousin]. There she wrote her most popular novel, “Viaje a la Habana, “ a poetic reminiscence of her journey back to Havana introducing European readers to 19th-century Cuban society, and a censored version of the longer work “La Havane” (1844), an extensive analysis of the political, economic and social organization of Cuba. But “La Havane,” (1844) also incorporated female perspectives such as celebrating the special bond between mother and daughter based on her own experience. This narrative consisted of thirty-six letters mostly addressed to her French-born daughter Maria de la Mercedes Teresa Merlin y Santa Cruz [my cousin]. Her daughter, Madame Gentien de Dissay, was married to Firmin Gentien, a landowner and mayor of Dissay, a commune in Vienne, France.

Cuba's first published female author, Mercedes earned her place in literary history as primarily a travel writer. Her ability to adjust, adapt and recreate her life and her world, navigating multiple cultures and find fame as both a performer and a writer made her an unusually modern figure for her era. Drawing on Mercedes’ memoirs, travel writings, and personal correspondence, author Alina Garcia Lapuerta pieces together a remarkable woman’s tumultuous life story.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a history major I have always been frustrated by the lack of biographies and histories of women who were not part of the Western European Royal and Noble elite. When I was given the opportunity to read La Belle Créole, I was intrigued. I had never heard of María de las Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo, the Comtesse Merlin, to be honest I didn’t know anything about Cuban culture during the Spanish Colonial period – let alone the women who lived through it.

Comtesse Merlin, or Mercedes, was born into some of the most powerful families in colonial Cuba. Her life was one of glamour and constant upheaval while the world changed around her. She persevered as she left her homeland for Spain in 1802 at the age of 13, experienced the fall of the Spanish crown, the rise and fall of Napoleon, and her own success as the hostess of Paris’s leading salon. Mercedes was not the only noble to struggle during the uncertain political climate of the Napoleonic and Restoration eras, but she is definitely one of the more fascinating ones. She didn’t have affairs or cause political intrigue; she was known for her kindness, her love of music, and her love for her family and homeland.

I’ve mentioned this in the past and I will continue to mention it because I believe it to be very important – if the work is non-fiction, read the author’s note or introduction, and La Belle Créole is no different. Alina García-Lapuerta begins by defining the term “créole”, a word that made me think of Gambit from the X-Men. What I didn’t know was that the term créole referred to anyone born on a colony; in Cuba the term was also used for anything that came from the colonies, to differentiate it from Spain. She also clears up some naming issues amongst other things. Thankfully the author did include a partial family tree, but I wish she had placed it at the beginning with the introduction instead of in the back after the index and bibliography.

The author clearly has a deep appreciation for Mercedes and pre-Revolutionary Cuba. The research was well done and the author did well to question certain accounts from Mercedes and her contemporaries. Her descriptions of the palaces and grand estates in colonial Cuba painted a vivid picture of a time of wealth and family prestige. Alina García-Lapuerta did touch on slavery as it affected Mercedes but didn’t delve further, although there were occasions where I believe she wanted to go into more detail but chose not to. I wish the author had shown some of that restraint when talking about Mercedes’ time as a successful salon hostess. After the initial descriptions of notable guests and events she continued on and on to where it became repetitive.

Overall La Belle Créole is a beautiful story about an extraordinary woman who lived during an extraordinary time. A must read for anyone interested in women’s history or women of the time who were not Marie Antoinette or Josephine Bonaparte. I look forward to reading more from Alina García-Lapuerta, perhaps maybe a history of colonial Cuba…

**NetGalley provided me with an advanced reader copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.**

[Lauralee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before La Belle Creole, I had never heard of Mercedes, the Countess of Merlin. However, I can see why because La Belle Creole is the first biography of Mercedes to be in English. After reading this novel, I was surprised why she hadn’t been a popular subject to English and American historians. Mercedes is a fascinating character. She was the daughter of a Cuban elite, and became a fashionable hostess of salons in Paris, entertaining celebrities such as Balzac, Rossini, and royalty in her day. She also became a successful writer, the most famous being her memoirs about Cuba. Mercedes was an influential woman who helped romanticize the vision of Cuba.

Mercedes was born in Cuba. She had a spirited childhood. It is because, when she was born her parents placed her in the care of her mother’s relative so they could go to Europe. What I found interesting about this was that she doesn’t see her father until she is eight years old, and her mother until she goes to Spain. One funny story was that when her father placed her in a convent to be educated, and maybe be a nun, is that later on, she managed to escape and go back home to her beloved relative. Eventually, she goes to Spain and later on marries a French military officer in Napoleon’s army.

The book is broken into three parts, Cuba, Spain, and France. Each of these countries is where Mercedes lived, but what she considers her true home is Cuba. Cuba is where her heart lies. It is because of her memories of Cuba that enables her to become a successful author. The author of La Belle Creole paints a gorgeous portrait of Cuba, Spain, and France in the 19th century. The reader feels like they are walking alongside Mercedes’s journey as she grows from a spirited, somewhat disobedient child to a successful woman who is prone to emotions. I also found Mercedes’s and her husband’s connections to the Bonapartes’ interesting, and it is because of them that she is forced to go to France.

Overall, Garcia-Lapuerta’s biography shows a woman who makes the best out of her situations. She is portrayed as a warm-hearted and generous woman. This biography proves that Mercedes is an intriguing Cuban historical figure. I recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in the Napoleonic Wars, Cuban history, travel, and anyone interested in the arts in the Romanticized period. This novel is a great introduction to Mercedes, the Countess of Merlin, and her era.
(Note: Read an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

[Elizabeth Reuter · Rating 4 out of 5]

La Belle Creole is the true story of a popular and talented woman who ran social gatherings over several countries. Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo survived Napoleon's brutality, gave concerts to people still famous today, and inspired authors such as Alexandre Dumas to add her as a character in their books. She had literary and musical talent, and was clearly and rightly beloved all throughout her life.

The best of this book is its descriptions. Cuba in particular comes alive in Mercedes's childhood, La Puerta's lush descriptions aided by attached color photographs. Mercedes herself appears as a precocious, lively child full of promise that kept me turning pages. And she fulfills that promise . . . sort of.

Reading about her, I had no trouble seeing why this bright, talented woman was liked. Yet I never found her interesting. She often had little money, and went begging to friends and relatives. She was not supposed to sing professionally because of her social class, and so she didn’t. Many upper-class women of her age wrote semi-biographical novels to make money, and Mercedes did too. The people around her believed in slavery, and she agreed. In other words, she came across in every way as an average upper class woman who acted as many upper class women did. Her birthplace and an abundance of charm made her exotic and popular enough to bewitch people around her, and she lived an interesting life. But to me, nothing about her personality or her actions stood out.

Of course, what makes a person interesting is in the eye of the beholder, and so other readers may be more impressed with Mercedes than I was. Personally, I will settle for being impressed by the book itself.

Elizabeth Reuter
Author, The Demon of Renaissance Drive

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love learning about intriguing women throughout history. The story of María de las Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo or just Mercedes, is no exception. Born in Cuba to a well-connected family in the 19th century, Mercedes was perfectly placed to drive her own destiny. Raised in her great-grandmother's household and then sent to her mother's household in Spain in the midst of political tumult, Mercedes continued to thrive and grow. She eventually married becoming the Comtesse Merlin and hosted the premiere soirees of her time.

I loved Mercedes stories of her childhood and the way that they were captured. Her daring escapes from her relative's imprisonment as well as the convent were exciting as well as humorous, even if they were romanticized by Mercedes later in life. Mercedes time in Cuba was the most interesting to me, the landscape, houses, family issues and Mercedes antics made her childhood seem like an adventure. Her parents lives were equally as entertaining and it's easy to see where her personality, persuasive ways and flare for the dramatic came from. In her adulthood Mercedes went from Spain to France and hosted extravagant salons featuring premiere artists and musicians of the day. This section painted a beautiful portrait of France at the time and the luxuriousness of Mercedes' salons. Luckily, Mercedes wrote about her life in her published memoirs. I had only wished that I could have read more of the actual excerpts that Mercedes had written. Alina Garcia-Lapuerta has pulled the most interesting times out of Mercedes varied past and brought to life a captivating woman who was ahead of her time.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

[Tessa Arlen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A daughter of the creole aristocracy in the 19th century Mercedes was transplanted to Paris via Madrid as a young woman and is the central character in this story of an extraordinary women acknowledged as one of the greatest sopranos of her time. Her salon in Paris nurtured the artistic careers of singers and musicians alike. But most of all Mercedes introduce the world to nineteenth-century Cuban society through her writing. Mercedes is a very real woman, unbowed by the events that shaped her life, strong, determined but compassionate and self-aware.

At a time of political uncertainty and turbulence during Napoleon's Peninsula wars Mercedes remains unbowed by life's misfortunes. A story both beautifully written and authentic in its research. A treat for those who love historical biography - especially about little known Cuba of the 19th century.

[Tess Tobin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of Mercedes, the countess of Merlin before reading this book. She lived a fascinating life considering the tumultuous times which the author skillfully brings to life in La Belle Creole. I enjoyed reading about Mercedes' life as a young child in Cuba. At 13 she is sent to Spain to be reunited with her mother. The author gives us extensive details about how her family managed during the Peninsula Wars revealing the aristocrat life of that era. Mercedes marries Christophe Merlin, a Frenchman and she spends the remainder of her life in France. During the 1830s and 40s she hosts one of the grandest salons of the day. She is a self-taught soprano and she too performs at the salon.
Garcia-Lapuerta offers a very readable biography with ample footnotes and insights into the life of Mercedes, the countess of Merlin.

[Alissa Waite · Rating 5 out of 5]

La Belle Creole: The Cuban Countess Who Captivated Havana, Madrid, and Paris

What a wonderful book and so timely considering the recent US/Cuba developments. For most of us who have never visited Cuba, but have wanted to, this is a "must read". It gives a glimpse at its colonial past, as well as Spain and France during significant times in their history. The tremendous amount of research is apparent, but it doesn't get in the way of the story of an truly interesting woman. Well done!

[Azabu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Downton Abbey fans, here is a great story that connects Cuba to Europe with a glamorous and intelligent central character. The Countess was the original 'saloniste' who understood how to persuade the upper class to underwrite charity. Fascinating, especially in light of new normalized relations between the US and Cuba.

[Dusty Summerford (Reviews by Reds) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a story about a very likable and strong woman in history! And what a great story it is! Mercedes is such a fascinating person! I love that her father placed her in a convent to be educated, and possibly a nun, only to have her escape and go back home to relatives! Loved her gumption & love for life!!

Thanks to Goodreads giveaway for the opportunity to read about such a wonderful woman!!

[Bettie]

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