This is the story of Eugenie R. who is born in a provincial French town and leaves, following her fiance to Paris. Upon arriving in this glamorous city, Eugenie soon realizes that none of this glamor belongs to her. Her Paris is poor and cut off from the upper echelons of society. When her boyfriend abandons her and Eugenie realizes she is pregnant, she becomes an artists model at first and later a prostitute, doing whatever she can to support her beautiful little girl but before long it is not enough. Eugenie makes the decision to leave her daughter with an orphanage until she can go back for her but the next ten years are filled with so much turmoil and unrest as the French Revolution unfolds. Although Eugenie finally gets a taste of the glamorous life in Paris, her heart aches for her little girl who she desperately hopes to find. This is a sweeping saga that transpires over many decades. It is rich with love, the ravages of war and will surely pull on your heartstrings.
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Best part of story, including ending:
I really liked this story because the scenes are so vivid and the characters are intriguing. The author creates a world for the reader to get lost in.
Best scene in story:
My favorite scene is when Eugenie works as an artist's model. The scene is like a painting itself, rich with so many beautiful details.
Opinion about the main character:
I disliked the fact that she gave her little girl up in the first place. I kept thinking the girl would have been better off with her family back home in the country.