Parents' Guide to

Belle Epoque

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Charming story of plucky plain Jane in 1880s Paris.

Book Elizabeth Ross Historical Fiction 2013
Belle Epoque Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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What's the Story?

Young Maude Pichon in desperation takes a job with an agency as a repoussoir, someone who makes another seem more beautiful in contrast to her own plainness. She struggles with the ethics of this while getting swept up the glamorous world of the Paris aristocracy in the 1880s. Genuine friendship grows with her client's daughter Isabelle, the one she's supposed to make look better, until Isabelle learns who Maude really is. Eventually the two are able to put an end to the agency and pursue their own dreams, free from the clutches of Isabelle's socially ambitious mother.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

BELLE EPOQUE is full of small historical details that will resonate with those who know a little about the Impressionist painters. But the details of daily life that might have given the novel broader appeal are glossed over. Still, the backdrop is interesting and unusual enough to enchant imaginative readers. Maude is easy to relate to, and her determination and struggles eventually lead the way to a contented life in which she can love and be loved while she pursues her dream of becoming a professional photographer.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what makes a person lovable. Do you think good looks make someone more lovable?

  • Does the historical setting make the existence of the agency maude works for more believable? Would it be believable if the story were set in today's world?

  • At the time it was built, a lot of people thought the Eiffel Tower was hideous. Can you imagine Paris without it now? Could anything symbolize the city so well?

Book Details

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