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    The Paris Understudy

    A Novel

    Author Aurélie Thiele
    Hardcover
    $30.99 US
    Crooked Lane Books | Alcove Press
    5.67"W x 8.55"H x 1.04"D   | 14 oz | 32 per carton
    On sale Sep 10, 2024 | 320 Pages | 9781639108619
    Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies

    A SEPTEMBER NOTEWORTHY BOOK BY THE WASHINGTON POST!

    This powerful debut novel brings to life the hard choices Parisians made--or failed to make--under Nazi occupation, in the tradition of Pam Jenoff and Fiona Davis.

    1938. Paris Opera legend Madeleine Moreau must keep newcomer Yvonne Chevallier, whose talent she fears, off the stage. As the long-standing star of the opera, she is nowhere near ready to give up her spotlight. The perfect solution: enlist Yvonne as her understudy so she can never be upstaged. When Madeleine is invited to headline at Germany’s preeminent opera festival, she is sure this will cement her legacy. But war is looming, and when she learns that Adolf Hitler himself will be in attendance, she knows she’s made a grave error. As Madeleine makes a hurried escape back to France, Yvonne finds herself unexpectedly thrown into the limelight on the German stage.

    When a newspaper photograph shows Hitler seemingly enraptured by Yvonne, Yvonne’s life is upended. While she is trying frantically to repair her reputation at home, Yvonne’s son is captured and held as a prisoner of war. Desperate to free her son, she makes an impossible choice: turn to the enemy. 

    As the Nazis invade Paris, both women must decide what they are willing to do in pursuit of their art. They form an unlikely alliance, using their fame to protect themselves and the people they love from the maelstrom of history.

    Painting an enrapturing portrait of resilient wartime women, The Paris Understudy is a love letter to the arts and a stark depiction of the choices we make to survive, for fans of Kate Quinn and Kristen Harmel.
    A SEPTEMBER NOTEWORTHY BOOK BY THE WASHINGTON POST!

    Praise for The Paris Understudy:
    “This engrossing historical novel captures the tension between moral fiber, pride, and furthering one’s own interests.”
    —Booklist

    “A complicated morality tale with plenty of operatic intrigue and wartime history.”
    —Kirkus

    “Enjoyable summer reading for opera fans.”
    —New York Journal of Books

    “Thiele has written a powerful, suspenseful debut novel.”
    —Historical Novel Society

    “A simply riveting and deftly crafted read from start to finish.”
    —Midwest Book Review

    “A delightful contemporary novel that immerses readers in the enchanting world of Parisian theater, romance, and self-discovery.”
    —Crossroad Reviews

    “Those who enjoy historical fiction, especially during WW2 Europe . . . will want to add this to their reading list.”
    —Cantina Book Club

    “A captivating read . . . A story that will stay with me.”
    —Just One More Chapter

    “An intense WWII novel that will keep you reading along.”
    —Red Carpet Crash

    “The Paris Understudy is a captivating wartime story where ambition clashes with morality under the haunting melodies of opera. Historical fiction fans will delight in Thiele’s impeccable research and enriching atmosphere. An impressive debut where intrigue and sacrifice blend seamlessly with the music. Bravo!”
    —Andie Newton, USA Today bestselling author of The Secret Pianist

    “The Paris Understudy gives the reader an electrifying glance behind the curtain of one of the world’s most famous opera houses, following the ambitions of two talented and sometimes treacherous sopranos vying for center stage on the cusp of World War Two. The novel hits all the right notes for historical fiction lovers, and passages are written with such skill and passion that they will give the reader goosebumps.”
    —Robert M. Eversz, author of the Nina Zero novels

    “An engrossing tale about war and choices—wrong ones, right ones, yet always difficult ones. I was completely drawn in.”
    —M. B. Henry, author of All the Lights Above Us

    “A decadent feast reminiscent of Alexander Chee’s Queen of the Night, intense and dramatic as an aria, Aurelie Thiele’s The Paris Understudy is an engrossing, immersive portrayal of one woman’s quest to pursue her art against the violence and instability of World War II.”
    —Monica Ferrell, author of The Answer Is Always Yes and You Darling Thing
    Aurélie Thiele is French American and lives in Dallas, TX. She has studied writing at the UCLA Extension School and Bennington Writing Seminars.
    Aurélie Thiele View titles by Aurélie Thiele

    Discussion Guide for The Paris Understudy

    Provides questions, discussion topics, suggested reading lists, introductions and/or author Q&As, which are intended to enhance reading groups’ experiences.

    (Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

    Read More

    About

    A SEPTEMBER NOTEWORTHY BOOK BY THE WASHINGTON POST!

    This powerful debut novel brings to life the hard choices Parisians made--or failed to make--under Nazi occupation, in the tradition of Pam Jenoff and Fiona Davis.

    1938. Paris Opera legend Madeleine Moreau must keep newcomer Yvonne Chevallier, whose talent she fears, off the stage. As the long-standing star of the opera, she is nowhere near ready to give up her spotlight. The perfect solution: enlist Yvonne as her understudy so she can never be upstaged. When Madeleine is invited to headline at Germany’s preeminent opera festival, she is sure this will cement her legacy. But war is looming, and when she learns that Adolf Hitler himself will be in attendance, she knows she’s made a grave error. As Madeleine makes a hurried escape back to France, Yvonne finds herself unexpectedly thrown into the limelight on the German stage.

    When a newspaper photograph shows Hitler seemingly enraptured by Yvonne, Yvonne’s life is upended. While she is trying frantically to repair her reputation at home, Yvonne’s son is captured and held as a prisoner of war. Desperate to free her son, she makes an impossible choice: turn to the enemy. 

    As the Nazis invade Paris, both women must decide what they are willing to do in pursuit of their art. They form an unlikely alliance, using their fame to protect themselves and the people they love from the maelstrom of history.

    Painting an enrapturing portrait of resilient wartime women, The Paris Understudy is a love letter to the arts and a stark depiction of the choices we make to survive, for fans of Kate Quinn and Kristen Harmel.

    Praise

    A SEPTEMBER NOTEWORTHY BOOK BY THE WASHINGTON POST!

    Praise for The Paris Understudy:
    “This engrossing historical novel captures the tension between moral fiber, pride, and furthering one’s own interests.”
    —Booklist

    “A complicated morality tale with plenty of operatic intrigue and wartime history.”
    —Kirkus

    “Enjoyable summer reading for opera fans.”
    —New York Journal of Books

    “Thiele has written a powerful, suspenseful debut novel.”
    —Historical Novel Society

    “A simply riveting and deftly crafted read from start to finish.”
    —Midwest Book Review

    “A delightful contemporary novel that immerses readers in the enchanting world of Parisian theater, romance, and self-discovery.”
    —Crossroad Reviews

    “Those who enjoy historical fiction, especially during WW2 Europe . . . will want to add this to their reading list.”
    —Cantina Book Club

    “A captivating read . . . A story that will stay with me.”
    —Just One More Chapter

    “An intense WWII novel that will keep you reading along.”
    —Red Carpet Crash

    “The Paris Understudy is a captivating wartime story where ambition clashes with morality under the haunting melodies of opera. Historical fiction fans will delight in Thiele’s impeccable research and enriching atmosphere. An impressive debut where intrigue and sacrifice blend seamlessly with the music. Bravo!”
    —Andie Newton, USA Today bestselling author of The Secret Pianist

    “The Paris Understudy gives the reader an electrifying glance behind the curtain of one of the world’s most famous opera houses, following the ambitions of two talented and sometimes treacherous sopranos vying for center stage on the cusp of World War Two. The novel hits all the right notes for historical fiction lovers, and passages are written with such skill and passion that they will give the reader goosebumps.”
    —Robert M. Eversz, author of the Nina Zero novels

    “An engrossing tale about war and choices—wrong ones, right ones, yet always difficult ones. I was completely drawn in.”
    —M. B. Henry, author of All the Lights Above Us

    “A decadent feast reminiscent of Alexander Chee’s Queen of the Night, intense and dramatic as an aria, Aurelie Thiele’s The Paris Understudy is an engrossing, immersive portrayal of one woman’s quest to pursue her art against the violence and instability of World War II.”
    —Monica Ferrell, author of The Answer Is Always Yes and You Darling Thing

    Author

    Aurélie Thiele is French American and lives in Dallas, TX. She has studied writing at the UCLA Extension School and Bennington Writing Seminars.
    Aurélie Thiele View titles by Aurélie Thiele

    Additional Materials

    Discussion Guide for The Paris Understudy

    Provides questions, discussion topics, suggested reading lists, introductions and/or author Q&As, which are intended to enhance reading groups’ experiences.

    (Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

    Read More

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