Mademoiselle Chanel
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-10-22 05:51:10
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：C.W. Gortner
- ISBN：0062356437
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Summary
For readers of The Paris Wife and Z comes a vivid novel full of drama， passion， tragedy， and beauty that stunningly imagines the life of iconic fashion designer Coco Chanel—the ambitious， gifted laundrywoman’s daughter who revolutionized fashion， built an international empire， and become one of the most influential and controversial figures of the twentieth century
Born into rural poverty， Gabrielle Chanel and her siblings are sent to orphanage after their mother’s death。 The sisters nurture Gabrielle’s exceptional sewing skills， a talent that will propel the willful young woman into a life far removed from the drudgery of her childhood。
Transforming herself into Coco—a seamstress and sometime torch singer—the petite brunette burns with ambition， an incandescence that draws a wealthy gentleman who will become the love of her life。 She immerses herself in his world of money and luxury， discovering a freedom that sparks her creativity。 But it is only when her lover takes her to Paris that Coco discovers her destiny。
Rejecting the frilly， corseted silhouette of the past， her sleek， minimalist styles reflect the youthful ease and confidence of the 1920s modern woman。 As Coco’s reputation spreads， her couturier business explodes， taking her into rarefied society circles and bohemian salons。 But her fame and fortune cannot save her from heartbreak as the years pass。 And when Paris falls to the Nazis， Coco is forced to make choices that will haunt her。
An enthralling novel of an extraordinary woman who created the life she desired， Mademoiselle Chanel explores the inner world of a woman of staggering ambition whose strength， passion and artistic vision would become her trademark。
Born into rural poverty， Gabrielle Chanel and her siblings are sent to orphanage after their mother’s death。 The sisters nurture Gabrielle’s exceptional sewing skills， a talent that will propel the willful young woman into a life far removed from the drudgery of her childhood。
Transforming herself into Coco—a seamstress and sometime torch singer—the petite brunette burns with ambition， an incandescence that draws a wealthy gentleman who will become the love of her life。 She immerses herself in his world of money and luxury， discovering a freedom that sparks her creativity。 But it is only when her lover takes her to Paris that Coco discovers her destiny。
Rejecting the frilly， corseted silhouette of the past， her sleek， minimalist styles reflect the youthful ease and confidence of the 1920s modern woman。 As Coco’s reputation spreads， her couturier business explodes， taking her into rarefied society circles and bohemian salons。 But her fame and fortune cannot save her from heartbreak as the years pass。 And when Paris falls to the Nazis， Coco is forced to make choices that will haunt her。
An enthralling novel of an extraordinary woman who created the life she desired， Mademoiselle Chanel explores the inner world of a woman of staggering ambition whose strength， passion and artistic vision would become her trademark。
Reviews
Bookaviz
，
🍂رمان زیبایی بود و ترجمه خوبی هم داشت💙。تلاش های زیاد شنل و در نهایت موفقیتش حس خیلی خوبی بهم القا کرد✌😎。البته نمیتونم منکر بشم که بعضی جاهاش برام کسل کننده بود😉😄。در کل اگه به مد و فشن علاقمندی و درباره برند معروف کوکو شنل کنجکاوی خوندن این کتاب رو بهت توصیه میکنم😉💙。
Becky
，
A fascinating look at a woman who changed women's fashion from one of corsets and hats to the little black dress and long pearls through tenacity， talent and drive。 Not always a likable character， the author does an excellent job of creating a woman in the early 1900's competing in a man's world of business。 I especially enjoyed the section where Chanel turned the world of fashion upside down with her creation of the first "trousers" for women。 There is much in this book to learn about living th A fascinating look at a woman who changed women's fashion from one of corsets and hats to the little black dress and long pearls through tenacity， talent and drive。 Not always a likable character， the author does an excellent job of creating a woman in the early 1900's competing in a man's world of business。 I especially enjoyed the section where Chanel turned the world of fashion upside down with her creation of the first "trousers" for women。 There is much in this book to learn about living through WWII in Paris， the lives of the rich and artistic in the city， the creation of Chanel 5， and the world of survival， spies and espionage during the war。 Historical fiction， but of the best kind， giving the reader new perspectives on life during the challenging， sometimes horrific， moments of Paris under German occupation。 。。。more
Paula Yerke
，
The book was okay but I just couldn't muster up any feelings for Chanel。 Perhaps it remined me too much of the heroine in THE GREAT CIRCLE which I just finished。 Strong women who treated sex very cheaply - kind of tired of that sort of heroine。 The book was okay but I just couldn't muster up any feelings for Chanel。 Perhaps it remined me too much of the heroine in THE GREAT CIRCLE which I just finished。 Strong women who treated sex very cheaply - kind of tired of that sort of heroine。 。。。more
Wanda Gibbons
，
Coco Chanel。 Her story of life in Paris and starting into the fashion during the Second World War。 She is an inspirational character with a life of determination and a desire to succeed。
Nasim。Radfar
，
خداوند يا هر خالق بى رحم ديگرى كه تقديرمان را رقم مى زند، مرا رها كرده بود。 من اما هرگز خود را رها نمى كردم。@@@@&داستان زندگى گابريل شنل （（（كوكو شنل）））
Page Churner
，
A great read， especially if you’re into fashion。 No warm and fuzzies here， just an egotistical workaholic。
Nasim
，
_این کتاب 512 صفحه ای که در قالب رمان خارجی و زندگی نامه به چاپ رسیده است، شامل پنج نمایش اصلی و دو بخش که در یک زمان و مکان رخ داده ولی در ابتدا و انتهای کتاب آورده شده است。 مترجم هم یادداشتی خوب در اول و آخر کتاب اضافه کرده است。 داستان واقعی گابریل کوکو شنل طراح مشهور مد و لباس و همچنین عطر معروف جهان که از 8 یا 10 سالگی او تا پایان زندگی اش به نگارش درآمده که جز به جز به تمام مسائل زندگی او پرداخته است。 پس از خواندن کتاب حسرت خوردم که چرا زودتر از این درباره این زن نخواندم و ندیدم و نشنیدم！ ک _این کتاب 512 صفحه ای که در قالب رمان خارجی و زندگی نامه به چاپ رسیده است، شامل پنج نمایش اصلی و دو بخش که در یک زمان و مکان رخ داده ولی در ابتدا و انتهای کتاب آورده شده است。 مترجم هم یادداشتی خوب در اول و آخر کتاب اضافه کرده است。 داستان واقعی گابریل کوکو شنل طراح مشهور مد و لباس و همچنین عطر معروف جهان که از 8 یا 10 سالگی او تا پایان زندگی اش به نگارش درآمده که جز به جز به تمام مسائل زندگی او پرداخته است。 پس از خواندن کتاب حسرت خوردم که چرا زودتر از این درباره این زن نخواندم و ندیدم و نشنیدم！ که چه زندگی پُر باری！ به نظرم شنل از نوابغ جهان از جهات گوناگونی است؛ ما و نسل آینده باید زندگی او و تمام ویژگی های شخصیتی اش و کارهای بزرگش که خواه یا ناخواه گام بزرگی در تحول مد و لباس داشت و به بشر کمک کرد را بشناسیم و مورد بررسی قرار دهیم؛ زیرا که قطعا میتواند در جنبه های مختلف الگوی ما برای رسیدن به اهدافمان باشد。 البته که نویسنده کتاب تنها به ستایش شنل نپرداخته بلکه راوی تمام زندگی اش از جمله اشتباهات و تلخی های وی بوده است و ما به عنوان خواننده کتاب می بینیم که شنل نیز مانند 99 درصد انسان های تاریخ خطاها و اشتباهاتی داشته که آن ها نیز به تنهایی درسی برای خوانندگان کتاب هستند！ در واقع برخی ویژگی های شخصیتی منفی که منجر به اشتباهات و پشیمانی او شد و یا اشتباهاتی که پله ای برای فتح قله های موفقیت او。_یکی از نکته های مهم این کتاب که در جذابیت آن تاثیر زیادی داشته، ترجمه عالی کتاب بوده است؛ خانم عبادی قطعا با موفقیت توانسته از پس ترجمه این کتاب بربیاد؛ اصطلاحات و کلمات جالب توجه که به خوبی به زبان فارسی ترجمه شده اند، ترجمه اسامی هم واقعا بی نقض بود。 。。。more
Emily
，
Love this for the writing style and storytelling。 I think this is a very glamorized version of CC's life。 To me this book significantly downplays her active role as a German spy during WII， down playing her collaboration and casting it mostly as unconscientous。 I would recommend this as a captivating work of fiction with an historically accurate setting， but not to understand the life of Coco Chanel。 Love this for the writing style and storytelling。 I think this is a very glamorized version of CC's life。 To me this book significantly downplays her active role as a German spy during WII， down playing her collaboration and casting it mostly as unconscientous。 I would recommend this as a captivating work of fiction with an historically accurate setting， but not to understand the life of Coco Chanel。 。。。more
Ali
，
This book gives an entertaining and detailed history of how Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel transformed herself into Mademoiselle "Coco" Chanel。 I always enjoy the behind-the-scenes， more intimate， view of a personality but I also really enjoyed learning how she built her fashion empire。 I always associate Chanel with her No。 5 perfume， her interlocking "C" logo and tweed suits but didn't realize she created the "little black dress" （which was not just a dress but a movement） and was instrumental in sh This book gives an entertaining and detailed history of how Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel transformed herself into Mademoiselle "Coco" Chanel。 I always enjoy the behind-the-scenes， more intimate， view of a personality but I also really enjoyed learning how she built her fashion empire。 I always associate Chanel with her No。 5 perfume， her interlocking "C" logo and tweed suits but didn't realize she created the "little black dress" （which was not just a dress but a movement） and was instrumental in shunning corsets and developing comfortable fashions， even sportswear， for women。 Chanel isn't particularly likable but she doesn't really care what people think of her which is a trait I both begrudge and admire in her。 No matter how famous and celebrated she became， she could never shake her identity as an orphan abandoned by her family， making her both a respectable and sympathetic character。 But， really all I want now is to buy myself a bottle of Chanel No。 5！ 。。。more
BirdBuddy
，
Given some reviews of this book are attempting to cancel Chanel from beyond the grave （seriously？？）， I feel I should mention that I myself do not particularly approve of her values and the way she lived her life or the friends she kept。 Unlike other reviewers however， I don't need a book to explicitly tell me a bad thing is bad through tone， I can make up my own mind about it。I do also recognize that this is a novelization and not an accurate depiction of her life， if such a thing ever could exi Given some reviews of this book are attempting to cancel Chanel from beyond the grave （seriously？？）， I feel I should mention that I myself do not particularly approve of her values and the way she lived her life or the friends she kept。 Unlike other reviewers however， I don't need a book to explicitly tell me a bad thing is bad through tone， I can make up my own mind about it。I do also recognize that this is a novelization and not an accurate depiction of her life， if such a thing ever could exist for anybody。 However， I will simply go ahead and write that as if Chanel were accurately depicted in this book for conveniences sake。 Everybody gives up something when they chase fame。 Chanel continually chose work and fame， in the ever changing landscape of fashion she discarded with tradition to the extent it cost her a heavy degree of happiness in her life。 I believe that she likely grew content with her choices， but still， choosing work over love and eschewing tradition for the sake of eschewing tradition will not make a woman happy。 In a time where people are more encouraged than ever to not stay in committed relationships or work to raise families on a strong bedrock of love and commitment， this book is a testament to resist the trend。 Open relationships do not work， staying uncommitted and non-reproductive will not lead to happiness。 Choose love， grasp love in your hands like Chanel grasped fashion and fame。 。。。more
Deborah Christmann
，
Long， but very interesting。
Christina Plaut
，
3。5 starts
Shahrzad
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 زندگینامه‌ها همیشه برای من خیلی جذاب بودن، این کتاب هم به همین علت خیلی دوست داشتمهرچند به نظرم میتونست بهتر باشهدر رابطه با ارتباط شنل با نازی‌ها مثل اینکه ابهاماتی هست ولی خب تو این کتاب خیلی ساده از کنارش رد شدهبه نظرم شنل اونقدر‌ها هم که کتاب سعی میکنه نشون بده معصوم و از همه جا بی خبر نبوده و خیلی جاها شاید زرنگ بازی در میاوردهولی به هرحال برای من کتاب جالبی بودحتما بعدش خودتون هم سرچ بکنید درمورد صحت اتفاقات :）
Yasaman
，
LOVED IT！！！
Shaghayegh
，
شنل برخواسته از خاکستر دختری فقیر، مثل ققنوسی که هربار با پذیرش ناکامی‌هایش می‌سوزد و دوباره از خاکستر خودش بلند می‌شود。بدون شک گابریل شنل، یا همانند چیزی که در خاطره‌ها ثبت شده، کوکو شنل، نماد زنی مقاوم است که بی‌مهابا نظراتش را به گوش همه می‌رساند و از متفاوت بودن نمی‌ترسد。خوندن این کتاب تجربه متفاوتی بود، و چقدر دلچسب بود که تو این دوره خوندمش。
Grace
，
Very interesting start to this story， however， my interest faded as I got closer to the end。
_minaeeeee
，
یه شاهکار بی نظیر！
Morgan （thebooksofmorgan）
，
I love fashion history， so I was interested in learning more about Coco Chanel。 I got this from a free library， and I was hoping it was going to be non-fiction。 It was a fictional version of her life， so I was a bit disappointed。 Although， I liked how it went through the different decades of her life and the turning points for style and fashion
Celeste Corrêa
，
[editada em 28。8。2021） «- E as oportunidades são como as histórias dos livros - respondi。 - Basta escolher uma。- Julgo que acabaste de o fazer。 Queres ser alguém。»A escrita é agradável， clara， concisa e demonstra o quanto C。W。Gortner é fascinado por Coco Chanel。Coco Chanel nasceu pobre， filha de um pai ausente; ficou órfã de mãe aos 12 anos e viveu num orfanato – onde desenvolveu a arte do corte e costura -， até aos 18 anos。Talentosa， trabalhadora， inovadora e arrojada soube aproveitar as oportu [editada em 28。8。2021） «- E as oportunidades são como as histórias dos livros - respondi。 - Basta escolher uma。- Julgo que acabaste de o fazer。 Queres ser alguém。»A escrita é agradável， clara， concisa e demonstra o quanto C。W。Gortner é fascinado por Coco Chanel。Coco Chanel nasceu pobre， filha de um pai ausente; ficou órfã de mãe aos 12 anos e viveu num orfanato – onde desenvolveu a arte do corte e costura -， até aos 18 anos。Talentosa， trabalhadora， inovadora e arrojada soube aproveitar as oportunidades proporcionadas pelos seus amantes e amigos influentes pois movimentou-se num círculo social privilegiado。Construiu um império， e， acima de tudo， uma marca; o fato Chanel， sedutor com chapéu a condizer， tornou-se um eterno clássico， muito copiado e que não saiu de moda até hoje。Tendo eu trabalhado em publicidade numa empresa de uma marca conhecida e reconhecida mundialmente， valorizo muito esse facto e sei o quanto é difícil manter a sua notoriedade。Testou os limites do gosto comum e até os ultrapassou retirando as mulheres do uso dos desconfortáveis espartilhos; tinha como divisa «quanto menos melhor»«A minha roupa fazia a ponte entre o exclusivo e o comum。 Dizia muitas vezes às minhas clientes que as mulheres acreditavam que o luxo era o contrário da pobreza， quando， na realidade， era o oposto da vulgaridade。 É na simplicidade que se encontra a elegância。 A sua roupa deverá ser a segunda coisa， depois dela， a ser notada。 É quando está bem vestida que uma mulher mais se aproxima de estar nua。»Mademoiselle Chanel nasceu em 1883 e morreu em 1971 na sua suite no Ritz。 Foi sepultada no cemitério de Lausanne， na Suiça， sob uma lápide de mármore com cinco cabeças de leão， unindo assim para sempre o seu signo do zodíaco com o seu número talismânico， que representava vento， terra， fogo， água e， acima de tudo， espírito。Viveu as duas guerras mundiais e a queda da bolsa americana em 1929， factos que provocaram uma alarmante redução no número de encomendas， mas， no entanto， aprendeu a erguer-se aproveitando as necessidades da nova situação económica e social usando， por exemplo， novos tipos de tecidos。Foi uma mulher enigmática， deslumbrante e eternamente só。 Não casou nem teve filhos。A sua colaboração （ou não） com os nazistas é a parte menos boa do livro sendo contada de modo labiríntico， mas sabemos que depois de terminada a II Guerra Mundial esteve exilada na Suiça por um período de 15 anos。Seja como for， é impossível não admirar esta mulher na sua coragem， espírito empreendedor e ânsia de escapar à pobreza。Teve uma vida longa com momentos bons e maus e testou os seus limites。Coco Chanel pertence àquele grupo， que ， à sua maneira， lutou pela igualdade de direitos， liberdades e importância social das mulheres e fê-lo pela moda desenhando uma nova silhueta feminina。Enchantée， Mademoiselle Chanel！28。8。2021 。。。more
Nadia
，
Overall:It was a good book that followed a traditional one character's life。 I really enjoyed the detail and holistic character that was created。 Personally:I read into the authors choices a bit too much which gave me a negative view on him。 Also more personally I felt a bit cheated as I didn't know when the story was fact or fiction and I think I would have preferred a biography as that would have given me more ease of mind。 Overall:It was a good book that followed a traditional one character's life。 I really enjoyed the detail and holistic character that was created。 Personally:I read into the authors choices a bit too much which gave me a negative view on him。 Also more personally I felt a bit cheated as I didn't know when the story was fact or fiction and I think I would have preferred a biography as that would have given me more ease of mind。 。。。more
Maggie McDaniel
，
Really liked and recommend
Liliflaj
，
Lepa， romansirana biografija Koko Šanel， čuvene modne kreatorke。
Rita Tomás
，
Tenho acompanhado as obras deste autor， que nos traz histórias de mulheres fantásticas maravilhosamente bem escritas e que nos envolvem por completo。 Mademoiselle Chanel não é diferente。Gabrielle Chanel foi， de facto， uma mulher incrível。 Vinda de uma família de poucas posses， criou à sua volta todo um império， não se deixando impedir por ninguém。 Independente e inovadora， Chanel foi também percursora do feminismo e da libertação dos estereótipos que limitavam as mulheres。 Renegou a moda dos ves Tenho acompanhado as obras deste autor， que nos traz histórias de mulheres fantásticas maravilhosamente bem escritas e que nos envolvem por completo。 Mademoiselle Chanel não é diferente。Gabrielle Chanel foi， de facto， uma mulher incrível。 Vinda de uma família de poucas posses， criou à sua volta todo um império， não se deixando impedir por ninguém。 Independente e inovadora， Chanel foi também percursora do feminismo e da libertação dos estereótipos que limitavam as mulheres。 Renegou a moda dos vestidos opulentos， com espartilhos， no sentido de libertar a mulher e criou um estilo mais prático feito de vestidos direitos e calças。 As suas criações tornavam démodé tudo o que havia sido feito anteriormente。Seguiu-se a criação da sua famosa fragância， o Nº5， sobre o qual podemos descobrir mais em Mademoiselle Chanel e o Perfume do Amor。Diferentemente da maioria das outras mulheres， Chanel nunca sentiu o apelo do casamento e da constituição de uma família， muito provavelmente devido ao seu próprio passado familiar。São controversos os indícios de que esteve ligada aos nazis durante a ocupação de França。 Também este envolvimento é explicado no livro。 Certo ou errado， Chanel teve os seus motivos para as suas ações。 Quem nunca errou que atire a primeira pedra。Independente。 Inovadora。 Instintiva。 Ousada。 Visionária。 Livre。 Um exemplo para todas as mulheres。 Esta é Coco Chanel。 。。。more
Kowabfi
，
زندگی‌نامه‌ی یک زن الهام‌بخش خاکستری که تغییر بزرگی رو در دنیای مد به وجود آورد که اساسش رهایی از لباس‌های تنگ و دست و پاگیر و نا راحتی بود که زنان مجبور بر پوشیدن و تحملش بودند。 برای گابریل هم‌رنگ جماعت بودن و سنت‌گرایی معنا نداشت。در تلاش بود که زن‌هارو از زنجیر اسارتی که بخش‌های مختلف زندگی‌شون رو تحت تأثیر قرار میداد رها کنه اما در اطرافش زنانی بودند که ذهن‌شان آنقدر بسته و در اسارت بود که حتی فکر نمیکردند که شاید لیاقت‌شان زندگی‌‌ای فراتر از چیزهایی که دنیای مردسالار اونها رو مجبور به پیروی زندگی‌نامه‌ی یک زن الهام‌بخش خاکستری که تغییر بزرگی رو در دنیای مد به وجود آورد که اساسش رهایی از لباس‌های تنگ و دست و پاگیر و نا راحتی بود که زنان مجبور بر پوشیدن و تحملش بودند。 برای گابریل هم‌رنگ جماعت بودن و سنت‌گرایی معنا نداشت。در تلاش بود که زن‌هارو از زنجیر اسارتی که بخش‌های مختلف زندگی‌شون رو تحت تأثیر قرار میداد رها کنه اما در اطرافش زنانی بودند که ذهن‌شان آنقدر بسته و در اسارت بود که حتی فکر نمیکردند که شاید لیاقت‌شان زندگی‌‌ای فراتر از چیزهایی که دنیای مردسالار اونها رو مجبور به پیروی کردن میکنه باشه。توی این کتاب که از زمان مرگ مادر گابریل شنل شروع میشه همراه میشیم با کودکی سخت تا بزرگسالی و زندگی‌اش در روزها و سال‌های جنگ جهانی و سختی‌هایی که تحمل کرده و تجربه کردن در اون مسیر بوده که گابریل تبدیل شده به کوکو شنلی که سالیان سال هست که ازش به عنوان کسی که تحولات بزرگی رو در دنیای مد، مخصوصاً در قرن بیستم برای زنان بوجود آورد یاد میشه؛ کسی که همیشه از خودش یک قدم پیش‌تر بود و ضمن غروری که داشت، استقلال فکری و مالی هم براش از مهمترین مسائل بود。من بعد از مدتها با خوندن این کتاب برگشتم به لذت عمیق رمان خوندن، لذت ساعت‌ها در کلمات داستان غرق شدن و ناتوانی از کنار گذاشتن کتاب。 جوری که صبح‌ها چشم باز میکردم و قبل از هر کاری، اول چند صفحه ازش میخوندم تا کنجکاویم برطرف بشه。این کتاب از زبان اول شخص، کوکو شنل روایت میشه اما اینکه نویسنده از چه منابع مستندی استفاده کرده رو دقیقاً نمیدونم。اتفاقی که عجیب بود برام، بعد از خوندن این کتاب فیلم سینمایی Coco before chanel 2009 رو دیدم و علاوه بر اینکه بنظرم با این کتاب و چند منبع دیگه در طرح جزئیات تفاوت داشت شک کردم اصلاً که چقدر میتونه فیلمی بنا بر واقعیت و قابل ارجاع باشه。 مسئله‌ای که عجیب بود، در فیلم حتی شخصیت عمه و خواهر گابریل انگار که جاشون عوض شده بود و حتی اون سطح از ارتباطی که گابریل و بوی داشتند خیلی گنگ و سطحی به نمایش دراومده بود。اما چندتا پادکست فارسی هم درباره‌ی کوکو شنل وجود داره که به نظر من به واقعیت نزدیک‌تر بودند و میشه با سرچ کردن بهشون رسید و خالی از لطف نیست شنیدنشون。 。。。more
Christy
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coco chanel was an amazing person。 She came from rough circumstances to become a leader in fashion。 Its a must read。
Kathy Kaderly
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I was surprised at how good this book was。 I listened to the audio version and the reader made me feel like Mademoiselle Chanel was reading the book。 This famous designer's life reads like a novel， you couldn't make up a story so compelling。 The world attempted to devastate Mlle。 Chanel at every turn but somehow she survived becoming rich and famous。 I was surprised at how good this book was。 I listened to the audio version and the reader made me feel like Mademoiselle Chanel was reading the book。 This famous designer's life reads like a novel， you couldn't make up a story so compelling。 The world attempted to devastate Mlle。 Chanel at every turn but somehow she survived becoming rich and famous。 。。。more
Melissa
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Interesting read。 As it turns out， Coco Chanel was much more than an iconic designer。 This book details the degree of her involvement in the events surrounding WWII。
Alice Malahova
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Recently i’ve understood， that Coco Chanel was everything we praise now in the world: start-ups， women in business， self-starter。 Why no one is telling about this， why she is not an example now？ Maybe because war years has changed the perception of her。。 I’ve started to read this book because I wanted to know more about this woman， and google told it’s the best book about her。 And it is indeed the best book about this wonderful woman。
mary coleman
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Historical fiction that was a lot of fiction。 I will have to do some research on Coco Chanel as some of the story was way too much to believe。
Lisa
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3。5 StarsMy friend Anne lent this book to me many months ago。 It moved to the top of my pile last week when I told her I hadn't read it yet and she replied， "Read the damn book！" So there you have it。This was an entertaining read。 Having zero fashion sense， I knew absolutely nothing about Coco Chanel other than she had a perfume that I saw advertised on TV when I was a kid。 Anne， a former European history major assured me that the facts were all accurate; so I could let go of keeping track of wh 3。5 StarsMy friend Anne lent this book to me many months ago。 It moved to the top of my pile last week when I told her I hadn't read it yet and she replied， "Read the damn book！" So there you have it。This was an entertaining read。 Having zero fashion sense， I knew absolutely nothing about Coco Chanel other than she had a perfume that I saw advertised on TV when I was a kid。 Anne， a former European history major assured me that the facts were all accurate; so I could let go of keeping track of what to look up and just enjoy the story。Chanel was a dynamo of a woman。 Starting from nothing， with a skill for sewing and design， a burning ambition， and a ferocious work ethic， she became a fashion icon。 She did have financial backing and support from 2 important men in her life which got her started。 Chanel's vision positioned her to dress women as their roles changed over a number of decades。 I have never given much thought to how the way we live influences our clothes and how our clothing can influence the way we live， very interesting to ponder。 Chanel also was one of the first women to create a successful business empire， overturning social conventions of the times。I enjoyed meeting the artists， writers， dancers， and other creative people that surrounded Chanel during her lifetime。 This novel sent me googling photos of Chanel's fashions and short biographies of her friends whose names were new to me。Gortner's writing is good， and it is obvious that he admires Chanel both professionally and personally。The part that was murky to me was Chanel's involvement with the Nazi's in occupied Paris。 Further research shows that this is unclear to historians as well。 The world may never know the truth about this topic。Be inspired。 As Coco Chanel says，"If you were born without wings， do nothing to prevent them from growing。 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Mademoiselle Chanel
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Mademoiselle Chanel&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Mademoiselle Chanel&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0