Another tedious F-Rev novel. Modern readers like to scoff at Baroness Orczy's Scarlet Pimpernel books, but finding a contemporary author who can create such memorable characters amidst a terrifying historical backdrop without sounding like a clunky creative writing exercise are few and far between. Hallie Rubenhold does not make the grade. I didn't care at all for her whining 'unreliable narrator' but was intrigued, conversely, by the real life courtesan and possible spy, Grace Dalrymple Elliott - I have ordered a copy of Grace's memoirs on life in France during the Revolution, so thank you to the author for that recommendation, at least!

I really cannot put into words how much I grew to loathe Henrietta Lightfoot, the central character in this well-trodden F-Rev adventure. Like Moll Flanders or Fanny Hill in reverse, she narrates her story and tries to make herself sound like a poor abused victim, when in fact she is a former whore with an eye for the easy life. She follows her lover to Paris when he spins her a tale and tries to ditch her, telling her to go home to London, and there latches onto Mrs Elliott, former mistress of the Duke of Orleans. Mrs E pets and pampers her new friend, treating her like a long lost daughter, before dispatching her to spy on Orleans' new mistress, La Buffon. Of course, Henrietta is such a delight that Agnes de Buffon instantly befriends her, which doesn't stop the angelic Hetty from reporting back to her 'mother' with all the gossip. This, plus truckloads of awkward historical exposition - Henrietta is knocked out while running after her long-lost lover and spends the next two months in bed, so that the other characters have to tell her what's been happening in the capital, a la 'Meanwhile, back at the Revolution' - makes for the bulk of the story until everything comes unstuck for our noble-hearted heroine. Torn between her duty to Mrs Elliott and affection for La Buffon, Henrietta decides to visit the former to announce that she will no longer spy on the latter, angering both - but of course nothing is her fault! Oh woe is she!

To have abandoned my principles, to have lain with a man I did not desire, to have betrayed a true friend, to have nearly lost my life, all on account of falsehoods. It was unspeakable, unconscionable, cruel.

All I could think by this point was SHUT UP! If you're going to write about a fallen woman of the demi-monde, at least have her embrace her life and make the most of her power over men, as Mrs Elliott advises. And the ending merely validates Henrietta's constant self pity and protestations of innocence - accused of being a traitor and on trial for her life, she is saved at the last minute. By a man. Of course. I would much rather have preferred Henrietta to learn from her mistakes and look out for herself, but instead we're expected to swallow some half-hearted romance based on exactly no character development whatsoever.

The historical research is excellent, if awkwardly utilised, as would be expected from a historian, but the characters just didn't come to life for me, and the story would have moved at a faster clip if Henrietta had been excised altogether. I even found myself falling asleep after reading a few pages from the plodding narrative and constant moaning of the pointless protagonist. (And I've just discovered that this is the second book in a trilogy - the thought of reading another 450 pages of Henrietta's blather would be enough to make me give up books altogether!)

The French Revolution is one of my favourite historical eras - yes, because of the Scarlet Pimpernel - but this particular contribution adds nothing new to the genre. Stick to non-fiction, Hallie Rubenhold. ( )

This is an entertaining account of Henrietta Lightfoot’s time in the Paris of 1792 during the French Revolution, a period of which my knowledge is scanty. ‘The French Lesson’ is a women’s story told with authority by social historian Hallie Rubenhold, at a time when the new order replaced the old and changed women’s lives in the process.
Years after the event, Hettie writes her account of what happened at the request of a benefactor. As the novel opens, she is living in Brussels with the love of her life, George Allenham, 4th Baron Allenham of Herberton, expecting to be married and so calling herself Mrs Allenham. But when Allenham’s mysterious work takes him to Paris, he does not return. She receives a letter from him saying Paris is dangerous and though he must stay there for his work, she must return to England for her safety. But Hettie follows her heart to Paris.
With the Revolution threatening, she is attacked, robbed, rescued and so finds herself indebted to Mrs Grace Elliot, an English woman who survives in Paris as a lover to rich important men. Hettie is drawn into this life too. ‘The French Lesson’ is an enjoyable account of a fast-paced, thrilling and bloodthirsty moment in history, combining real characters – d’Orleans, known as Philippe Égalité after the Revolution; his current mistress, Agnès de Buffon; and former mistress, Mrs Elliot – with fictional characters Hettie and Allenham.
As always in war, people are not what they seem. Hettie is driven on first by love, then by the need to survive. She is told by Mrs Elliot not ‘to trust’ and it is a hard lesson to learn.
I learned after reading ‘The French Lesson’ that it is the second of a trilogy – the first is ‘Mistress of My Fate’ - though it can be happily read as a stand-alone novel.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/ ( )

This is a dark story of an English woman, Henrietta Lightfoot, arriving in Paris at the time of the French Revolution.
her associations with the incumbents of the Palace of Versailles, her arrest and incarceration in Paris and finally arriving back in England.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Random House via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review. ( )