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    Annette Vallon: A Novel of the French Revolution
    Unavailable
    Annette Vallon: A Novel of the French Revolution
    Unavailable
    Annette Vallon: A Novel of the French Revolution
    Ebook712 pages9 hours

    Annette Vallon: A Novel of the French Revolution

    By James Tipton

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    For fans of Tracy Chevalier and Sarah Dunant comes this vibrant, alluring debut novel of a compelling, independent woman who would inspire one of the world's greatest poets and survive a nation's bloody transformation.

    Set amid the terror and excitement of the French Revolution, James Tipton's evocative novel is the story of a woman who has for too long been relegated to the shadows of history: Annette Vallon, William Wordsworth's mistress and muse.

    Born into a world of wealth and pleasure, Annette enjoys the privileges of aristocracy, but a burning curiosity and headstrong independence set her apart. Spoiled by the novels of Rousseau, she refuses to be married unless it is for passion. Yet the love she finds with a young English poet will test Annette in unexpected ways, bringing great joy and danger in a time of terror and death.

    Told in sparking prose, Annette Vallon captures the courage and fearlessness of a woman whose dramatic story illuminates a turbulent and fascinating era.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateOct 13, 2009
    ISBN9780061873843
    Unavailable
    Annette Vallon: A Novel of the French Revolution

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    Reviews for Annette Vallon

    3.5/5

    64 ratings8 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Fantastically written narrative that reads very much in the traditional prose of romance.The intrigue centers much in the storytelling without needlessly dragging plot. The characterizations remain genuine and grow on you throughout the progression of the story.It certainly helps that it reads in much the same manner as actual books published in the years it took place. A book I would recommend to fans of historical fiction.
    • 4/5
      I got this book from the bargain section and had no idea what to expect. The jacket said it was a novel about William Wordsworth's first love, a French woman who he fell in love with on the eve of the French Revolution. Not knowing a lot about that time or about Wordsworth meant that I learned a lot and I'm definitely interested in finding out what was fact and fiction. The beginning of the book, which was more of a love novel, was nothing special, but about 1/3 of the way in the Revolution hit full swing, the action picked up, Annette began to figure out what she was about, and I was hooked. For all my readers who like to read about strong, independent women (and I know there are a lot of you), this will be an enthralling read.
    • 3/5
      A novel about Annette Vallon, who loved and entered into a pseudo marriage with William Wordsworth. They had one child, a daughter.This is equally about the French Revolution. I liked the first two thirds of the book, but found the last third really hard to get through!
    • 4/5
      In this novel set during the French Revolution, James Tipton fictionalizes the love affair between a young English poet William Wordsworth and Annette Vallon. Drawing from history, Tipton depicts the struggles and trials of these two lovers and the circumstances that kept them apart. I enjoyed the character of Annette, although I did feel she could have been stronger. I also felt that Annette, who bares an illegitimate child and actively opposes the tyranny of the French government by aiding those fleeing the country grew into a much more interesting character than William, who seems almost dull by comparison. Overall, an enjoyable read. Recommended for those who like reading about the French Revolution.
    • 4/5
      I expected not to like this book very much. I have never read any of William Wordsworth's poetry, or much poetry at all, for that matter. I am, though, head over heels for the French Revolution, but little did I know at the time, what a ride I was in for.Annette Vallon's story as the French lover of English poet Wordsworth is worth (sorry) reading for the historical background alone. It begins at the end of Annette's life, in 1821 Paris, with her brief reflection on her role as a woman just trying to get by during the French Revolution: "Some tried to change the world. I just tried to live in it, which became increasingly difficult."...followed by chapter after chapter of author James Tipton's descriptive prose and snippets of Wordsworth's poetry, both of which enhance each other throughout the novel as Annette tells her story of political intrigues, civil war, madness and in the midst of it all, a star-crossed love. Madame Williams, as she is called following her spontaneous marriage to Wordsworth, takes on three different roles as the terror and turmoil of revolution push her and her family into extreme circumstances: that of mother to her child, loyal wife to her beloved (and sadly exiled) Englishman, and as the saving grace to hundreds of supposed counterrevolutionaries in danger of imprisonment and execution. Annette's passion for life, love and literature is reflected in many selfless acts of rescue, making her hands-down one of the the bravest female characters I've encountered. The stakes are high in this book, and after a comparatively tranquil, dreamlike beginning before the terror takes hold of Paris, the suspense starts and does not let up.Does this story represent the real Annette Vallon, "French wife" of Mr. Wordsworth? I have no idea, but it's a historical fiction of the best kind: love and longing, sympathetic personalities, suspenseful intrigues, poetry that I can actually understand. So don't look at the cover and think you've got some boring book about tea cozies - if you're into his-fic or just a good read with all the fixings, here it is.emilysanecdotes.blogspot.com
    • 3/5
      I did not enjoy this book as much as I had hoped, especially since I am a big fan of both historical fiction and Wordsworth. While I understand the title of the book is Annette Vallon, and not William Wordsworth, it was just personally disappointing to see him as a background figure. Otherwise, I did enjoy the story of this woman's courage and convictions in a tumultuous time.
    • 4/5
      Behind every great poet is a courageous, passionate woman; Annette Vallon should be known as far more than just William Wordsworth's first romance, and all praise to James Tipton for shining the light on her for a change. If Annette's character is initially too fantastic to believe, it is only because she lived through incredible times and held the courage of her convictions. Raised in the comfortable ignorance of a wealthy bourgeois background, her story is not a bland championing of the French Revolution, but an honest and occasionally terrifying account of a regime built on paranoia and violence. The author has weighed his obviously thorough historical research and faithfully applied it from the perspective of his heroine. When her uncle's chateau is raided by a local mob, Annette is understandably terrified, and when she is forced to take a stand, it is on the side of humanity, of her own community, and not the Revolution. This refreshing evaluation of a chapter in French history too easily read as a victory of the people is admirable. Tipton describes the Reign of Terror and events like the 'Noyades' in Nantes as Annette might have viewed them - with fear for her life and for her daughter's future, grief for the fate of her country, and a determination to challenge the ruthless leaders and their neurotic laws. Annette becomes a champion of the Chouans, the resistance movement of the Vendee, and risks her life to save others facing persecution and death. In disguise, like a French version of the Scarlet Pimpernel, she becomes a highwayman, freedom fighter and spy, but not as a royalist or an exiled aristocrat - merely to help people, and not to fail her own conscience. But what is truly inspiring, and lifts this novel above the usual historical melodrama, is that Annette's story is based on fact - from 1792 to 1815, she offered protection and shelter for refugees fleeing the Revolution, the Directory and Napoleon, and was rewarded with a pension during the restoration for her services to her country. James Tipton has expertly woven Annette's history with an engrossing romance to create this detailed portrait of a lost era and a forgotten heroine. William Wordsworth, in a mere supporting role, is weak and unremarkable compared to the mother of his child. The detailed descriptions and evocative narrative also help to bond the reader with Annette throughout her bohemian and dramatic life in France, sharing her love and loyalty for the beautiful countryside in which she lived. Apart from some less than subtle exposition, this is a captivating novel. Recommended.
    • 3/5
      Review for HarperCollins:Annette Vallon is a gripping tale of historical fiction that places the reader at the center of events during the French Revolution. At the beginning of the book, Annette is barely more than a child; however, through the course of the book, she morphs into a strong woman and a leader in her own right. Though the book is billed as the story of William Wordsworth’s mistress, Annette is much more than that. Indeed, after the beginning of the book, Wordsworth only plays a minor role. The real story of the book is Annette’s struggle to follow her conscience and make a difference in the horrible backdrop of the French Revolution. She is a heroine in her own right, and fans of historical fiction will thoroughly enjoy reading her story, as presented by James Tipton.