Marthe’s storyline was at times fascinating and the author (thankfully) took much from her actual life - how she created her name, her elegant persona and how she dug herself out of a brothel into high class society during the Bell Epoque. The chapters alternate between Marthe de Florian’s story told through fictionalized diary entries and April Vogt, a current-day American furniture expert from Sotheby’s who is called to Paris to help prepare the contents of the apartment for auction. So, as you know from the previous post, I was seriously excited to open this book and settle in for a good read. Marthe left the apartment to her granddaughter, Madame de Florian, who shuttered the apartment and fled Paris at the start of WWII.

The actual Marthe started out as a bartender at the famous Les Folies Bergères, became an elegant courtesan known for having famous lovers, including a few prime ministers, a French president and the artist Boldini. Then contrast that with the modern-day story of the antiques experts who must have been agog at the opportunity to research the priceless antiques and delve into Marthe’s journals. Perhaps I had unrealistically high expectations – what a great story could be told - the unopened apartment, the story behind the painting, Marthe and the time of the Belle Epoque*. I admire any first time author who has the courage and fortitude to keep writing and get a novel (any novel) published, so it is with mixed feelings that I must tell you I tried to look at this debut from several different viewpoints, but there is no getting around my disappointment. Remember THIS POST? Well readers I finally finished A Paris Apartment, a novel based on the life of Marthe de Florian and her forgotten apartment crammed with antiques and a famous portrait.

A paris apartment by michelle gable