Mistress of Paris: The 19th-Century Courtesan Who Built an Empire on a Secret

by Catherine Hewitt, Sarah Nichols (Narrator)

Valtesse de la Bigne was a celebrated nineteenth-century Parisian courtesan. She was painted by Manet and inspired Emile Zola, who immortalised her in his scandalous novel Nana. Her rumoured affairs with Napoleon III and the future Edward VII kept gossip columns full.

But her glamourous existence hid a dark secret: she was no Comtesse. She was born into abject poverty, raised on a squalid Paris backstreet; the lowest of the low. Yet she transformed herself into an enchantress who possessed a small fortune, three mansions, fabulous carriages, and art the envy of connoisseurs across Europe. A consummate show-woman, she ensured that her life – and even her death – remained shrouded in just enough mystery to keep her audience hungry for more.

Catherine Hewitt’s biography tells, for the first time ever in English, the forgotten story of a remarkable woman who, though her roots were lowly, never stopped aiming high.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, France, Biography Memoir, Art, Audiobook

Audiobook

First published November 5, 2015

About the author

Catherine Hewitt’s academic career began with a passion for 19th-century French art, literature and social history. Her doctoral research uncovered the remarkable story of a forgotten 19th-century courtesan, and after being awarded her PhD, she set out on her career in biography. Catherine’s first book, The Mistress of Paris, was awarded the runner-up’s prize in the 2012 Biographers’ Club Tony Lothian competition for the best proposal by an uncommissioned, first-time biographer. Based on meticulous research, Catherine’s writing seeks to lift history out of the dusty annals of academia and bring its characters and events to life for the 21st-century reader. Her writing introduces real people, telling their stories in intimate detail and enabling readers to share their successes and frustrations. As well as writing, Catherine lectures and runs workshops on 19th-century French art, literature and social history, always seeking to share her enthusiasm for French history and culture. She also works as a translator, and past projects have included translating a permanent exhibition of the work of the radical French female painter Suzanne Valadon for a gallery near Limoges in France.

Catherine lives in a village in Surrey, UK. When she is not writing, she can be found helping restore her family’s house in the middle of rural France, cooking, reading and enjoying country walks with her little black cockerpoo, Alfie.

Reviews

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was riveting... until it wasn't. About halfway through, it seemed the author was struggling to find enough facts and events to keep the narrative moving. I wanted it to stay gritty and in depth. Instead, it became awkward, repetitive, and full of filler. So I kept it by the bed and fell asleep every 10-15 pages after that. It took me a month and a half to finish as a result. Do I regret the time spent? No. I learned a lot about this fascinating woman, late 19th century French/Parisian society, and the courtesan profession. Do I feel like at least 150 pages could have been handled better? Yes.

[El · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I received this Advance Uncorrected Proof from the publisher for review.)

Valtesse de la Bigne was born in 1848 to a single mother who had to turn to prostitution to support her seven children. Valtesse, born Emilie-Louise, turned to prostitution herself as a teenager, encouraged (but not forced) by her mother. Valtesse, however, was not content with being a common prostitute - she had her sights set higher, and she worked her way up the social hierarchy ladder to become a well-know and much-respected Parisian courtesan. Her popularity inspired Eduard Manet to paint her and Emile Zola to write Nana as inspired by her. She spent her free time becoming an educated and cultured woman who was capable of discussing anything with anyone at any time.

A fascinating look at an interesting woman, as well as Paris in the 19th century which featured some incredible moments in history.

Official review here.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I am a courtesan,’ she announced, ‘and how I do enjoy my work.”
- Catherine Hewitt, The Mistress of Paris

REVIEW

When I requested a copy of The Mistress of Paris by Catherine Hewitt from Allen and Unwin, I didn’t expect such a fascinating read! The blurb sounded really interesting however I wasn’t prepared for just how enthralling it would actually be! The Mistress of Paris is a classic rags-to-riches story about a woman whose intelligence and charisma drove her from the poverty-stricken streets of her childhood to the ultimate life of luxury.

Louise Delabigne was born to a questionable mother and no father, raised in squalor. When she was thirteen she began working in a dress shop that sparked a curiousity for a life more affluent and glamorous than her own. When she was old enough she left home, the romance of the city luring her away from the poverty she had always known. Louise failed to make an impression in the theatre where she began pursuing work and soon turned to prostitution to make a living. Who knew it was such a complex social hierarchy? Unregistered girls on the streets began as grisettes and then progressed to a lorette, both hoping to attract a wealthy benefactor to elevate them to a higher social status. The girls could then progress to the highest ranks of the profession – les grande horizontales or la garde – which is where Louise wanted to be. Known for her beauty and stunning red hair, she navigated her way up the social ladder and reinvented herself as Valtesse, a play on words that translates to ‘your highness’! Valtesse became a courtesan because this allowed her be exactly who she wanted to be.

What follows is an extraordinary tale of a woman who controlled every aspect of her life from her outward appearance, her behaviour and public image she wanted people to see. Valtesse’s confidence was astounding; through careful manipulation of people and situations, Valtesse found herself surrounded by the best of Parisian society including noteworthy artists, writers and political figures. Her intelligence and appreciation of the arts was well known and she soon amassed an unrivalled collection of works. She craved knowledge and sought out the company of those who would enrich and challenge her mind. She mimicked the behaviours of those she wished to impress; Valtesse was a social chameleon, blending in to any situation she chose to be in. She was a woman who knew how to claim and maintain power; even her choice of clothing and colour palates symbolised patriotism, sovereignty and grandeur. She nicknamed herself Rayon d’Or or ‘ray of gold’ – what a woman! Confidence was not something Valtesse lacked and no matter what obstacle threatened to undo her carefully constructed life – private or public – she managed to navigate each outcome in her favour.

Although the author chose a fascinating subject, the power of The Mistress of Paris lies in Hewitt’s brilliant storytelling. There are times when Hewitt’s story reads like fiction; there is a certain fairytale-like quality to it although it does not take away from how well researched it is. Hewitt’s insight into the life of Valtesse de la Bigne is exceptional and her observations and deductions paint her in a most illuminating way. The Mistress of Paris is one of the best biographies I have read!

[Hermien · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning is a bit of a summing up of all her lovers, but once she is established at the top of the demi monde in Paris it becomes an interesting look at French social history at the end of the 19th century.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

This biography of a 19th century Parisian courtesan reads like a cheesy soap opera and I soon lost interest in learning about every person she slept with in order to enrich herself. Totally bored with the subject matter, I got half way through this book and gave up.

[Desiree Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest, I bought this book thinking, based on the amazing cover art and font, that this was a fiction piece, so I shelved it with my To-Be-Read's for a few weeks. When I did pick it up shortly thereafter, I was pleasantly surprised at Ms. Hewitt's writing style. This is no dry historical recitation. Hewitt stealthily imbued the biography with so much atmosphere and magical details that this historical piece read more like a fiction novel. Notably also, the meticulous research behind this piece was both superb and impressive. I haven't read a non-fiction piece this interesting since Erik Larson's "Devil in the White City".

"The Mistress of Paris" is a massive undertaking to recreate the life of one of Paris's most famous (and infamous) courtesans, the self-styled Valtesse de la Bigne, a celebrity in the style of Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian, but in 19th Century France. This girl from the back-streets of Paris bilked her transactional lovers out of (in today's value) millions upon millions of dollars, houses, arts, jewels, and countless other gifts. Her death and burial were akin to a funeral of state. Truly a rare and enterprising individual of genius proportions.

One of the most astonishing things about the book is the actual photographs and artwork of Valtesse included in the middle pages. That beautiful cover art? It's an actual photo of de la Bigne (colorized of course).

That said I did find myself losing interest a few times, realizing I was reading without absorbing the content, thus why I settled on the 4 stars of "really liked it" to reward the stunning effort, yet to take into account my personal feelings of enjoyment which fell more at a 3-star "I liked it". Fans of narrative non-fiction aka creative non-fiction are sure to enjoy this incredible true tale.

#TheMistressofParis
#CatherineHewitt
#ThomasDunneBooks
#StMartinsPress

[Simon Binning · Rating 3 out of 5]

What makes a biography successful? For me, it's finishing the book and feeling I understand something of the subject; not merely what they did or what they said, but who they were, what they thought. It's easy to recount the facts of a life; far harder to understand the person behind those cold details. And some subjects are easier to pick apart than others. Catherine Hewitt could hardly have selected a tougher character to write about; a woman whose life's work was to create a whole personna for herself, and hide her origins, and her true self. Comtesse Valtesse de la Bigne was a fascinating woman; strong, independent, intelligent and famous for being famous. She was a courtesan.
She was born Emilie Delabigne in Paris in 1848 (although she was generally called Louise). Her mother had moved to the capital from Normandy lured by the growth of the city, and the poverty at home. She found more poverty. Although she found work, life was hard, and fairly soon she was pregnant. Louise's father is not named on her birth certificate, but he was around at least some of the time, as over the next few years she was joined by six brothers and sisters. Her childhood was typical of poor single parent families of her time, living in appalling conditions, spending much of her time on the street, avoiding her mother's male visitors. In her early teens she found work in a dress shop, where she saw something of the life of those with money. Then shortly afterwards she was raped, and it was to prove a life changing experience.
She realised that to get anywhere, to have the material things she helped to make, you needed money. All around her, girls were selling themselves for the price of a meal. She was attractive and smart, so like them, she decided this was a way to move on. But she also decided something else; she wasn't going to stay on the streets, she was aiming far higher. This early section of the book is well handled; surprisingly full of detail, and with much useful background information about life in Paris at the time. Louise knew how to get herself noticed, and knew what she was worth. Bit by bit she aimed to move up what was a fairly well established sex worker pecking order, well explained in the book. She also made the conscious decision to close her heart, to become single-minded in achieving her goal. During this period she had two children, but it was her mother who looked after them, and when she cut her family out of her life, she rarely saw them, although she did pay for their upbringing.
Over this time, she reinvented herself. She befriended artists, writers, musicians, politicians and military men (for whom she always had a weakness). Many became lovers and benefactors, and many remained friends for years. She read voraciously, absorbing information about a variety of subjects. She changed her name and was careful to cultivate a sophisticated, intelligent image. And she continued to meet - and conquer - increasingly wealthy clients. The money involved is sometimes quite staggering. One of her patrons was paying her the equivalent of £150,000 a month, and she never relied on one at a time. But she seemed to keep them all satisfied. The courtesan was an established part of French society. They had a handful of regular clients who paid handsomely for their privileges; many ruined themselves on these dalliances. Everyone knew who and what they were, but they were accepted at all levels of society. Indeed, they were often trendsetters. Valtesse, as Louise now was, was one of the most successful.
Her story is told conventionally, with a lot of detail. She was a public figure, and her life was documented in the press, and she was involved with many of the great figures and controversies of her time, so there are a variety of sources. However, the problem for me was that she spent her whole life creating a history and image for herself. Although her real origins are revealed, once she transformed herself, her story becomes less interesting. Information about her clients and patrons, her friendships and public appearances are all known and recounted, but there is little about the person underneath. She hid her real thoughts and feelings - even possibly from those closest to her. The author spends time detailing the events her friends and clients were caught up in, but Valtesse's presence often seems like a cipher - ghost-like. It's as if we are seeing her public face, but not her private one.
At various times, close female friends are mentioned, but with one or two exceptions we are told little about them. She had an affair with a protege; was this a need for love and intimacy that her male patrons didn't provide, or was it another part of her calculating character at a time when lesbianism had become a hugely controversial - but very popular - topic? There are unanswered questions too. After she died, two men were later buried in her grave; their initials were already carved on the gravestone at her funeral. Although both have been tentatively identified (one more strongly than the other), we have no idea why she chose to have them buried with her. Although that is hardly the author's fault, it does partially explain my problem with the book.
Yes, the known facts are laid out clearly, with lots of supporting information. But for me, the book is more an interesting story about what life was like for courtesans in late nineteenth century Paris. By the end I could understand the life they led; how rewarding, but precarious and short-lived, it was. I could understand their motivation and admire what they achieved given that they all tended to come from, at best, humble origins. But as for Valtesse - or Emilie - or Louise - I didn't feel I got close to understanding her as a person. Although I enjoyed the book, and learnt much about Paris at the time, she remained tantalisingly elusive.

[Helen Carolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought I was onto a winner here as this one started well,discussing why so many young women were flocking to Paris and finding the only means of survival open to them was prostitution. Sadly as the book went on it became frothy and gossipy more interested in jewels and fashions than telling us anything of merit. Disappointed.

[Gini Tillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this historical account of Valtesse. What I distinctly enjoyed was all the learning the history of the times in which she lived . The period between 1848 to 1910 is fascinating reading - the Belle Epoque, fin-de-siecle.. the major artists and writers of this period. So much more than a biography!

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The historical aspects of this book were the only things that kept me reading it. You would think that a story about a 19th century courtesan would be interesting but it was incredibly tedious. Instead of coming to understand the character of the subject or given a view of any criticism of her, it feels as if this is a book report. It was almost as if the author had interviewed this narcissistic person and just wrote down every glowing thing she said about herself. She apparently did no wrong, was as close to perfection as possible and was instrumental to French society and politics. And while I support the “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” idea, and I don’t think it is impossible that she made something of herself, she was essentially a poor, uneducated prostitute and some of it seemed difficult to believe, and definitely one sided.

[Cece Shelburne · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's an amazing true story and kudos to the author for uncovering it. That said, I wonder why someone didn't assign her a better editor—particularly a copy editor. It reads as though the author resorted to over-frequent use of a thesaurus without really knowing what the implications of her word choice. Frequently, this makes the text read as though it's translated from another language.

[Kayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and detailed account of the life of a Parisian courtesan in the 19th century. I enjoyed reading this book immensely - the details of Valtesse's life and the Paris she knew are so well explored.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Whipsawed by this book's split personality - snooty Masterpiece Theatre or trashy Lifestyles-of-the-Rich-and-Famous? - I couldn't bear any more and gave up less than halfway through.

[TK · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little heavy-handed, but nonetheless a FASCINATING study of one of the FEW ways a female born into poverty could move up in society. Valtesse de la Bigne was a very shrewd business woman whose life was an incredible achievement!!

[Cheryl Workman · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting bit of history described in far too much detail. Of course, that is to be expected when an author admires her subject as much as Ms. Hewitt does Mme de la Bigne.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of interesting details of life as a courtesan in Paris. It describes many artists and notable people of the day and give a real insight into a fascinating lady.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a huge non-fic fan – especially when it comes to audio – and I was more than happy with this one. If biographies of fascinating, self-made women are your thing, look no further.

For the mini review and more, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!

[Marguerite Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

This was one of those books which was really well-written, entertaining and enlightening, but because I found the main protagonist, the legendary courtesan Valtesse, so unlikable, I struggled with it.

Valtesse was born in 1848, the year or revolutions, the illegitimate daughter of a laundry maid. Determined not to live the life of a drudge (and taught at an early age by her mother how to make the best of her assets) she took to the Parisian life of the demi-monde like a duck to water. Quickly working her way up the ranks, she reached the heights and stayed there, earning a vast fortune from her countless willing protectors and lovers (and there was a difference between the two) in the process.

On the one hand, fair play to Valtesse. She really, really worked hard at educating herself, at promoting herself, at protecting and polishing her reputation, and at being 'someone'. She was discrete, and she was obviously very good at her job, both in the bedroom and, just as importantly, without. She was socially sought after, she was patron of the arts - and a subject, and a benefactor. And she was popular with other women too - though what the women associated with her lovers thought of her is one of the thins this book leaves in-researched.

I enjoyed, to an extent, reading of her rise and rise, and of the Paris that changed beyond recognition during her time. But I must confess, as she progressed, I couldn't help but wonder about all the people she trampled on or side-lined in the process. Her children in particular, but also her mother, a troublesome figure who sent her out onto the streets, but who also looked after her two daughters. Valtesse was apparently known for her charity, but she came over as such a cold creature, I couldn't help but wonder how much of this was part of the image. Her friends loved her, seemingly. I did not.

My main problem with this biography was that it was so uncritical. It was a 'place and time' piece of history, and in that sense it really worked. But I wanted more. I wanted balance. I wanted to know what other people thought of her exalted position in society who were not her admirers. I was scandalised by the amount of influence she held politically, for example and couldn't help but draw parallels with the Rougon Maquart series, in particular the tale of Nana's (Valtesse's) mother, L'Assomoir.

[booksandcakes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I get the feeling modern IG influencers aren't far descendent from this woman's experience

[micaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leave it to me to complain about art first thing, but the thing that most annoyed me about this book was that in the glossy art pages, the portrait by Jacquet (I think) was nowhere to be found, despite how often it was mentioned in the book. If you’re going to read about the same piece over and over, it’s annoying to not see it.

And, “over and over” was kind of how the whole book was. I understand why it was long - a relatively long life deserves its due page count - but so much of her long life was repetitive. That’s just how real life is, but even a faithful biography has to be edited; after the fifth repetition of how she gossiped to her advantage, acquired beautiful art, intentionally maintained mystery, I started to find my attention wandering frequently. (Especially because I couldn’t tell if this repetition was unique to how she maintained power or if it was just because lives, or courtesans’ lives in particular?, were repetitive.)

Exacerbating this is how fast the author glossed over major political events. I get that as a courtesan, even a politically connected one, she didn’t have any real power in many of these events, and when she did it was covered, but this is one of those books that kind of tries to make its subject Indicative Of The Times, and giving short shrift to The Times makes her repeating pattern of life, well, more boring. I would rather read about her powerlessness, even if it didn’t flatter her, than another story of a client admiring her fancy bed.

The clearest example of this was the Dreyfuss Affair. While I obviously have somewhat of a vested interest here, I think this was a missed opportunity because of the key players. Emile Zola was mentioned so often and prominently in the first half of the book with his writing of Nana that his contribution to the Dreyfuss Affair was notably missing - J’Accuse was a major point of that event in history and if the book posited that part of what made Valtesse important was consorting with the political and historical elite of Paris, this would go a long way to bringing that point home.

I grant some of this may be my own still-middling feelings about nonfiction, which even as my appetite grows is always kind of on the fence. In fact, in fact-checking this post I spotted mostly wonderful reviews of this book, which leads me to believe I still have a lower tolerance for some of the things that are inherent in nonfiction than I thought. However, no matter my boredom with the prose, the recitation of art pieces, the avoidance of any subject that made Valtesse seem weak or unlikable, the woman in question was a fascinating figure. It’s just that the book mainly felt like it couldn’t decide what to do about her: provide an example of the life of a courtesan in 19th century Paris? or show how this unique courtesan broke the mold?

[Parę słów o książkach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valtesse de la Bigne, a właściwie Emilie-Louise Delabigne, określana jest jako Kim Kardashian XIX wieku. Była aktorką, modelką Maneta, a także pierwowzorem głównej bohaterki powieści "Nana" autorstwa Emile'a Zoli. Tytułowała się hrabiną i chodzą słuchy, że zawróciła w głowie - i portfelach - wielu mężczyznom, w tym Napoleonowi III i księciu Lubomirskiemu. Prawda jest taka, że Valtesse nie była żadną hrabiną, a swój majątek i pozycję zawdzięczała pieniądzom bogatych mężczyzn i własnej profesji - byciu kurtyzaną. Jak to się więc stało, że młoda dziewczyna budując całą swoją historię na kłamstwie została wyniesiona na salony?

"Paryska kochanka" to biografia kurtyzany, która odmieniła życie niejednej osoby w XIX wieku. Mimo trudnych początków spowodowanych ubogim życiem zdołała osiągnąć wielkie marzenie, czyli zostać znaną wśród paryskich elit. Obecnie mało kto wie kim była hrabina de la Bigne, jednak poznając jej historię można założyć, że była jedną z pierwszych celebrytek.

Catherine Hewitt bardzo dobrze nakreśliła postać pani de la Bigne. Jest ona bardzo tajemnicza i może wydawać się arogancka, jednak jej myśli sięgały daleko naprzód, a otaczające ją plotki tylko ją podbudowywały. Valtesse to jedna z tych postaci, która nie poddaje się po pierwszym błędzie i nie pozwala, by ktoś inny rządził jej życiem. Choć jej działania były dyskusyjne i budzące kontrowersje, to robiła wszystko, by ten hałas wokół utrzymać, a przez to poznać jak najwięcej wpływowych osób.

Bycie kurtyzaną nie sprawiło, że poddała się woli innych, ale była jedną z tych osób określanych jako silne i niezależne, szczególnie jak na ówczesne czasy. Historia Valtesse jest zarówno zaskakująca, szczególnie biorąc pod uwagę jej urodzenie i wielkie plany. W tamtych czasach osiąganie sławy, niezależnie od sposobu, nie było proste, więc nasza bohaterka może być śmiało uznawana za kobietę - prowodyra, która wiedziała czego chce od życia i osiągnęła to zyskując przy tym wiele korzyści.

Zdecydowanie polecam zapoznać się z historią hrabiny - nie hrabiny tym, którym brakuje na co dzień siły i potrzebują czynnika zapalnego, osoby, która pokaże im, że można dopiąć swego. Autorka zawarła w tej książce mnóstwo historii, co jest oczywiste biorąc pod uwagę biografię, jednak przez tę nowość przewinęło się wiele nazwisk znanych nawet tym, którzy są z historią na bakier. W różnych sytuacjach pojawia się takie postaci jak Aleksander Dumas, czy kompozytor Offenbach. Książkę czytało się przyjemnie i choć nie przepadam za biografiami, to autorka użyła barwnego języka, nawiązującego zarówno do epoki Valtesse, ale i poparła swoje opinie wieloma pracami, przez co książka wydaje się być jeszcze bardziej wiarygodna, a zarazem łatwo przystępna.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

*sighs contentedly* Five stars is not enough for this book – I would give it TEN if I could. I am more than just a little obsessed with women living on the fringes of what is socially acceptable (I have a whole bookshelf here titled “Courtesans, Mistresses and More”, I mean really…). This book and the real woman profiled here was engaging and fascinating from start to finish. Valtesse rose from nothing and with charm and considerable brains, expertly managed her own rise to the demimonde of Belle Epoch Paris. This book is so packed full of notable figures, famous names, and wonderful lush descriptions of glittering events. Not content to be just desired and wealthy, Valtesse supported various artists and even produced well received paintings, poetry and prose of her own. This book serious has it all – did I mention a music hall act featuring trained pink bunnies firing miniature cannons? I NEED this in my life. I think Valtesse’s charm and social power are neatly summed up by an interaction with Alexandre Dumas fils. At a party at her home, he inquired about seeing her bedroom and its FAMOUS bed. She smiled sweetly but firmly replied “You can’t afford that” and sent him back to the party…which is just everything!

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure why I waited so long to read this. I've been a long time fan of the whole Belle Époque Paris scene - Natalie Clifford Barney, Liane de Pougy...so of course I knew of Valtesse from multiple biographies of Natalie, and the one biography of Liane I found which is only available in the original French and the Japanese translation (I read the latter since my French is nowhere near as good). But Valtesse had always just shown up as a somewhat shadowy figure, the older mentor of Liane who had once been famous in her own right. So it was amazing to read just HOW famous she had been, that she had been the top courtesan of Paris and had such a long and illustrious career. Overall I really enjoyed this book, the only caveats being that possibly because I knew so much of it from the other side, the chapters on Liane and Natalie didn't seem to quite fit the rest of the book. However, I really felt
I got a great sense of who Valtesse had been as a person, enough to start nodding along by the end of the book, thinking 'Yes of course Valtesse would have planned everything out so scrupulously.' Etc

[Methlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am just past the half mark of this book which had so much promise but falls short due to the author’s inability to present the subject matter as nothing less than perfect. This makes the entire book feel incredibly disingenuous. Page after page of no value added as it had already been stated numerous times that Valtesse was simply the most brillant woman Paris will ever know. A good biography doesn’t only focus on the positives but aims to give a full picture. With the attempt to make Valtesse appear perfect the reader is aware the non flattering aspects of Valtesse’s life has been hidden, it’s such a shame this could have been good. The two stars are for the history in the book even though it is presented only as a prop to highlight Valtesse’s greatness.

[Theodora T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down. Not only is it well-written but it also gives a vivid account of the Parisian lifestyle of the 19th century interspersed with other historic events. However, the protagonist, Valtesse, is a narcissistic individual whose only aim in life is to climb the social ladder and become famous and a prominent figure. Neither is she a loving and a caring mother nor a female with dignity and decency. It goes without saying that all she achieves in life (social status, prestige, and possessions) are through sex. Not someone to look up to, I'm afraid. Nonetheless, the book is very entertaining.

[Susan Ovans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was actually in Paris while reading this book and got to see the facade of the home Valtesse owned on Boulevard Malesherbes, so that added some fun to the text. And this does feel like an academic text in some ways, so if you're going in expecting a dishy tabloid read, you'll be disappointed. The self-styled Comtesse de la Bigne was a fascinating woman and it's interesting to understand how a dirt-poor girl vaulted herself to the most elegant circles of Paris in the middle 1800s, but a lot of this still reads like a sociology study.

[Nicole C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend told me about this book and it piqued my interest. I thoroughly enjoyed this true tale of a poor gal brought up in the backstreets of Paris and her path to becoming one of the city's most well-known courtesans, reaping riches along the way. But more than that, she was a patron of the arts, both by amassing collections of paintings and sculpture as well as writing a novel and a play. Valtesse was a very smart woman, who learned to read the people around her and by doing so, was able to assimilate into all sorts of situations - "fake it until you make it," essentially.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to adore this book. It is historical fiction and about an era and city I love. Altho nicely written, the book became this glowing epitaph to an apparent flawless character. Admittedly, it is impressive the way she recreated herself to be the person she chose to strive to achieve - and she did...but so perfectly and flawlessly. The author did many things well in this book however, she did not address her subject and treat her as a human being. Painting her with such a brush of perfection, made the book very ho-hum and more than a tad boring.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I was dubious at first about reading a biography written about the ascent of a 19th century French prostitute into a celebrated courtesan, I admit that I am no longer. Hewitt managed to take what could have been an excruciatingly difficult read, and turned it into a beautiful, and quite frankly, inspiring biography.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really a 3.5 rating. Originally thought this was an historical fiction book and then discovered it was factual. The Mistress of Paris was an interesting and enjoyable read. One gets a good picture of the life of a successful courtesan in the Belle Epoque. The artwork and pictures shown in the book help story to come alive too. A book to recommend.