Linda Urbach

From the moment I started reading this, I knew it was going to be wonderful. I did not need to have prior knowledge of the original Madame Bovary to grasp what the characters were about. Filled with humor, pathos, intrigue, and luxurious descriptions of the burgeoning fashion industry in Paris, this novel is a quick and easy read. I found myself rooting for Mme. Bovary throughout, as she tries to shake off her mother's reputation and make her own way in the world.

Urbach mixes historical and fictional characters seamlessly; as Mme. Bovary has interactions with Charles Frederick Worth, Jean-Francois Millet, and even Levi Strauss. Her descriptions of 1800's fashion, sweatshops, and society's attitudes towards women are spot on. I really enjoy being able to read a book and feel that I'm immersed in that time period; and this novel did not disappoint. I read it in a few hours because I was so entranced. Kudos to Urbach for introducing new readers to the Bovary name.… (más)

What happens to Berthe Bovary after her parent’s death? Would she follow in her mother’s footsteps or carve out her own destiny?

At twelve years old Berthe is now alone and is forced to live on her grandmother’s farm where life will be a lot different than she is accustomed. Her one reprieve from her many chores is becoming a model for a painter, a painter of peasants at work, a painter by the name of Jean-Francois Millet. She learns quickly that things are not always as they seem and she must rely on herself to make it in the world. Her determination leads her to the cotton mills, where she learns she must be strong on order to make it in the world. She eventually finds her way to Paris but she has a long way to go before she finds her dream job and the love she seeks, but does that life include a career in fashion as well as finding true love.

The novel was an interesting idea-- covering “what happens after” the demise of Madame Bovary and her husband. While it kept my interest throughout there were some interesting characters- both real and imagined- that I had a hard time connecting with in the book. The book also ended much too quickly for my liking, it seemed to be wrapped up rather abruptly when there was more story there. Even with a couple questionable plot twists, I still enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone interested in historical fiction, art and/or literature.… (más)

Urbach's premise is fantastic: what became of little Berthe Bovary after her parents' death? She starts off well by having Berthe meet the famous painter Millet and from there weaves fiction and reality. The descriptions of the living and working conditions are lively and precise, both in the country and the city. Berthe's exposure to couture and fashion is likely with delightful details on styles, innovations and fabrics. The story is told with a lot of panache and the characters are often multifaceted and intriguing.

There are, however, many weaknesses: the villanous Rodolphe Boulanger is a laughable caricature of his counterpart in the original novel, Berthe's ascension requires much suspended disbelief, not to mention her unquestioned status as a single mother under the Restauration and some of the intrusions of history into the plot, particularly Levi Strauss's apparition, are sometimes stretched.

A summer read full of passion and generally solid entertainment, but completely without the original's touching emotivity.… (más)