"Chanel's Riviera explores the fascinating world of the Cote d'Azur during a period that saw the deepest extremes of luxury and terror in the twentieth century ... The elite flocked to the Riviera each year to swim, gamble, and escape from the turbulence plaguing the rest of Europe. At the glittering center of it all was Coco Chanel, whose very presence at her magnificently appointed villa, La Pausa, made it the ultimate place to be ... But this wildly seductive world was poised on the edge of destruction. In a matter of ...
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"Chanel's Riviera explores the fascinating world of the Cote d'Azur during a period that saw the deepest extremes of luxury and terror in the twentieth century ... The elite flocked to the Riviera each year to swim, gamble, and escape from the turbulence plaguing the rest of Europe. At the glittering center of it all was Coco Chanel, whose very presence at her magnificently appointed villa, La Pausa, made it the ultimate place to be ... But this wildly seductive world was poised on the edge of destruction. In a matter of months, the Nazis swooped down and the glamour of the pre-war parties and casinos gave way to the horrors of evacuation and the displacement of thousands of families during World War II. From the bitter struggle to survive emerged powerful stories of tragedy, sacrifice, and heroism. Enriched by original research and de Courcy's signature skill, Chanel's Riviera brings the experiences of both rich and poor, protected and persecuted, to vivid life"--
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Good. Dirty marks to cover and pages Miscut pages Sun Damage to edge of Pages. No.1 BESTSELLERS-great prices, friendly customer service-usually dispatched within 24 hrs.
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Very good. Bumped edges and book is warped Miscut pages Not on any Amazon Market No.1 BESTSELLERS-great prices, friendly customer service-usually dispatched within 24 hrs.
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Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used textbooks may not include companion materials such as access codes, etc. May have some wear or limited writing/highlighting. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Good. Hardcover This item shows wear from consistent use but remains in good readable condition. It may have marks on or in it, and may show other signs of previous use or shelf wear. May have minor creases or signs of wear on dust jacket. Packed with care, shipped promptly.
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Acceptable. Hardcover The item is fairly worn but still readable. Signs of wear include aesthetic issues such as scratches, worn covers, damaged binding. The item may have identifying markings on it or show other signs of previous use. May have page creases, creased spine, bent cover or markings inside. Packed with care, shipped promptly.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
This book covers the history basically of Coco Chanel's villa La Pausa at Roquebrune on the French Riviera from construction in 1930 to sale in 1953, with some historical background about her. The first half is a compendium of the author's collected anecdotes about the rich and famous who frequented there or were nearby, from archdukes through musicians, intellectuals and politicians (e.g., Winston Churchill) to hangers-on. The second half that was more interesting to me is a descriptions of the travesties inflicted on the Riviera and Paris under German influence on Vichy, and later occupation outright.
It is an editorial mess, with factual and grammatical errors, non-sequiturs, wanderings and speculations, repeated stories, and even a sentence ending with a comma (,). Either the author refused an editor and proofreader or one was not offered, but it would have been a tighter, more convincing book if better written, though maybe that was not her goal. As it is, it feels like the author just sat down and scribbled what came to her mind, which clearly has a lot of interesting content. It's fun to read for all the name-dropping and dishing, including the despicable couple known as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and for the description of the war on the Riviera, but hardly a scholarly tome, and I doubt you can count on the truth of some of the assertions, considering the outright mistakes that stick out.
