by Chris Greenhalgh. In 1913 Paris, designer Coco Chanel attends the premier of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. Fast-forward seven years, and the wealthy couturiere invites the exiled Russian composer and his family to spend a summer in her villa. The impoverished visitors rely on Coco's financial support, even for Catherine's medical care, and soon Coco's energy, beauty, and unconventionality draw Igor into an affair that both energizes and unsettles him. In his debut, screenwriter Greenhalgh excels at depicting not only the physical and emotional passion that connects Igor and Coco but also the creative drive that fuels their professional achievements. Coco's search for a distinctive perfume parallels Igor's efforts to set down the complex music in his mind. A brief chronology identifies the intersections in this duo's professional and personal lives in the 50 years following their little-known affair. Verdict The January 2010 U.S. release of the movie, adapted by Greenhalgh from his novel, will undoubtedly garner interest, especially among readers who enjoyed the recent film Coco Before Chanel, but this book stands on its own as a first-rate choice for fans of historical romance. --Library Journal. (Check catalog)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky
by Chris Greenhalgh. In 1913 Paris, designer Coco Chanel attends the premier of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. Fast-forward seven years, and the wealthy couturiere invites the exiled Russian composer and his family to spend a summer in her villa. The impoverished visitors rely on Coco's financial support, even for Catherine's medical care, and soon Coco's energy, beauty, and unconventionality draw Igor into an affair that both energizes and unsettles him. In his debut, screenwriter Greenhalgh excels at depicting not only the physical and emotional passion that connects Igor and Coco but also the creative drive that fuels their professional achievements. Coco's search for a distinctive perfume parallels Igor's efforts to set down the complex music in his mind. A brief chronology identifies the intersections in this duo's professional and personal lives in the 50 years following their little-known affair. Verdict The January 2010 U.S. release of the movie, adapted by Greenhalgh from his novel, will undoubtedly garner interest, especially among readers who enjoyed the recent film Coco Before Chanel, but this book stands on its own as a first-rate choice for fans of historical romance. --Library Journal. (Check catalog)
