Célestine

By Gillian Tindall,

Book cover of Célestine: Voices from a French Village

Book description

Seven marriage proposals written to Celestine in the early 1860s, and carefully preserved by her, offer a glimpse of rural nineteenth century French life

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Célestine as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

A dusty bundle of 150-year-old letters found in a deserted house in rural France forms the premise of this intriguing literary hybrid. Author Gillian Tindall beckons us to follow her on an enthralling, real-life detective story, as she uncovers the life and loves of the letters’ addressee, an obscure provincial innkeeper’s daughter named Célestine Chaumettte. As she pieces Célestine’s story together, Tindall breathes life back into a whole slice of history and a community now vanished. A rich cast of forgotten characters springs from the pages as we see, taste, and smell the many textures of rural society in 19…

From Catherine's list on France and women since the Revolution.

Want books like Célestine?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Célestine.

Browse books like Célestine

Book cover of France and Women, 1789-1914: Gender, Society and Politics
Book cover of Madame Bovary
Book cover of My Blue Notebooks: The Intimate Journal of Paris's Most Beautiful and Notorious Courtesan

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,187

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in France, the French Revolution, and Victorian?

France 941 books
Victorian 163 books