Monday, January 24, 2011

Madame Tussaud - Guest Post by Michelle Moran + Giveaway



MADAME TUSSAUD: The Woman

When most people hear the name Madame Tussaud, the first thing that comes to mind are the eerily lifelike waxworks which crowd her museums throughout the world. But who was the woman behind the name, and what was she like in the flesh?

Madame Tussaud’s story actually began in 18th century Paris. While most people know her from her famous museum in London, it was in France, on the humble Boulevard du Temple, where Marie first got her start as an apprentice in her uncle’s wax museum, the Salon de Cire. At the time, the Boulevard du Temple was crowded with exhibits of every kind. For just a few sous a passerby might attend the opera, watch a puppet show, or visit Henri Charles’ mystifying exhibition The Invisible Girl. The Boulevard was a difficult place to distinguish yourself as an artist, but as Marie’s talent grew for both sculpting and public relations, the Salon de Cire became one of the most popular attractions around. Suddenly, no one could compete with Marie or her uncle for ingenious publicity stunts, and when the royal family supposedly visited their museum, this only solidified what most showmen in Paris already knew — the Salon was an exhibition to watch out for.


But as the Salon’s popularity grew, so did the unusual requests. Noblemen came asking for wax sculptures of their mistresses, women wanted models of their newborn infants, and – most importantly – the king’s sister herself wanted Marie to come to Versailles to be her wax tutor. While this was, in many ways, a dream come true for Marie, it was also a dangerous time to be associated with the royal family. Men like Robespierre, Marat, and Desmoulins were meeting at Marie’s house to discuss the future of the monarchy, and when the Revolution began, Marie found herself in a precarious position. Ultimately, she was given a choice by France’s new leaders: to preserve the famous victims of Madame Guillotine in wax, or be guillotined herself.

Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution is the story of Marie’s life during one of the most tumultuous times in human history. Her survival was nothing less than astonishing, and how she survived makes for what I hope is a compelling read.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Thank you so much to Michelle for guest posting on The Eclectic Reader. I'm beyond excited waiting to receive my copy of Madame Tussaud and now readers have a chance to win a signed hardcover copy of MADAME TUSSAUD as well as a pair of Marie Antoinette cupcake earrings. How awesome is Michelle ... and this giveaway is international!!



HOW TO ENTER:

*Competition is only open to followers of my blog (so if you're not a follower & you'd like to enter just click on the follow button on the right hand side of my blog - easy peasy)

*Leave a comment regarding Michelle's guest post and your email address or ensure you are contactable in the event you are the winner!

EXTRA ENTRIES:

+2 post about this give-away on your blog & leave a link

+2 post the comp on Twitter & leave a link

+1 post the comp on sidebar of your blog

Competition is International. Ends Feb 7th and the winner will be announced on this blog. Good luck everyone!



This month on The Eclectic Reader 2 readers will win a copy of Delirium by Lauren Oliver or The Tudor Secret by C W Gortner, or Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning. Check this blog post for details. Open Internationally.

44 comments:

  1. Thanks for the guest post! I'm intrigued and really want to read the book now. I've only read about the French Revolution in history books at school, so it'll be interesting to see how it plays out in this novel.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Not entering the comp, I've pre-ordered my copy. Great post and I love the picture!

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  3. It's very intriguing! The fascination with wax sculptures being sort of associated with status. For me, I find wax figures a little...terrifying.

    +2 tweeted - http://twitter.com/#!/precious_shusky/status/29449404670808064

    Thank you!

    precious_shusky@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. this sounds like a great book-please enter me-I am a follower and I also tweeted your contest

    http://twitter.com/#!/thereadinglife/status/29463422131245056

    thanks

    ReplyDelete
  5. I just read A Royal Likeness which also involved Madame Tussaud. Such a fascinating character. Would love to be counted in for this giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  6. this book sounds great. i'd love to be entered :)

    i tweeted : http://twitter.com/#!/becunique/status/29473903604666368

    - A GFC follower

    uniquas at ymail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have been hearing fantastic things about this novel. Plus I love historicals so it sounds great to me.

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is fantastic. I've always been curious about Madame Tassaud.
    Would love to reed this!

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  9. I've also heard wonderful things about this novel-can't wait to read it!
    Michelle-what inspired you to move your focus from Egypt?
    Thanks for the great post.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I didn't know that she was threatened like with death. This souds like an excellent story.

    +2 Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/Zombie_Girrrl/status/29525153104789504

    +1 Sidebar: crackinspines.blogspot.com

    Follower.

    zombiegirrrl21 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for the giveaway! I would love to win this book!

    Taylor~ http://allthingshistoricalfiction.blogspot.com/

    taylor_ward11@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thank you for the giveaway, and for the interesting guest post. I am intrigued by Marie Tussad's involvement with the leaders of the Revolution.
    lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I would love to read about her. It sounds so interesting.
    I follow on GFC.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow, I knew this book was about the French Revolution, but I really had no idea that she was an artist in a wax museum! I would love to win it.
    joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I would love to read this book.
    Thank you
    kaiminani at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I don't know anything about her and it sounds like she would be interesting to know! thanks for the chance to win this book.

    sbrockis (@) embarqmail (.) com

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  17. I always interested to know how Madame Tussaud's life and how she came up with the idea that made him famous around the world. I hope this book can answer it ^^

    Tweeted here: http://twitter.com/#!/LynossaDBL/status/29568517921574912

    Lynossa(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm a follower!

    cmdaphne(at)tds(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  19. I enjoy reading all types of historical fiction and I can't wait to read this one! Thanks for the giveaway!
    GFC follower (Lexie@BookBug)
    +2 Tweeted at http://twitter.com/#!/LexieBookBug/status/29580622775193600
    +1 Posted on blog at http://thebookbug-hogan.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html
    lexie.bookbug@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Sounds like a great book :)

    hege-svendsen(at)c2i(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ms. Moran gives a good background to the life of Madame Tussaud.

    pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Sounds like an interesting book! I've never thought of the story of Madame Tussaud herself before!

    yavampire(at)hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I've actually never realized that Madame Tussaud was a real person...Pretty ignorant of me, huh?? I would love to read this book to learn more about this actual person!!

    mrsderaps @ hotmail . com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Haven't read anything about Tussaud before so this sounds interesting!

    I'm follower
    tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/Elysianfield/status/29663583667224576

    crimson_haze(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'm so looking forward to this book!

    I tried following you, but the follower gadget is not showing, but I do follow you through my Google reader!

    +2 retweeted contest link: http://twitter.com/#!/teddyree/status/29433248111132672

    ReplyDelete
  26. THanks for the great guest post! I'm really looking forward to this book.
    amandarwest at gmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  27. Count me in please. This looks really good.

    k_anon[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk

    GFC follower.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I have entered to try and win this book at a number of blog which are offering it. Hopefully I will get lucky at one of them!

    When I first saw reviews of this book I dismissed them as it seemed that it was just a novel about the worlds best known waxworks and the growth of the phenomenen.

    However when some more in depth reviews were published and I realised it was a biography about the woman behind the waxworks, I became interested.

    So please enter me in the giveaway and I will be holding thumbs!

    I am a Follower via GFC.

    Thanks.

    Carol T

    ReplyDelete
  29. Great contest, I totally loved Cleopatra's Daughter, and can't wait to read another book by Michelle Moran.
    Madame Tussaud sounds like an intriguing book, plus I love books set in that time period. Thanks for the sauper giveaway. ^_^

    +2 tweeted HERE

    hauntingorchid (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  30. This looks so good. I haven't read anything about Madame Tussaud before, looks like she led a more interesting life than I would have imagined! Please sign me up, I'm a follower.

    notyourstar11(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Wow, that's interesting but also kind of scary!
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    folksohana(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  32. The book sounds fascinating and those earrings are adorable! :) I'm a bit of a sucker for anything with a cupcake motif lol. I'd love to find out more about Madame Tussaud, like most people I only know about the wax museum.

    I'm following via GFC as Jasmine1485.

    Kate1485 at hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I can't wait to read this book - Madame Tussaud sounds fascinating!
    I'm a GFC follower: Michele

    +2 Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/rlawrence110/status/30258543974158337

    rlawrence110(at)yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I remember visiting the wax museum as a child but I never knew about the history of the women herself - interesting.

    +2 I tweeted
    http://twitter.com/#!/EVA_n_essence/status/30932536897052673

    +1 I posted to my sidebar
    http://evasblackspot.blogspot.com

    eva.s.black[@]gmail[.]com

    ReplyDelete
  35. wow. this sounds really good. the cover always catches my eye when i stumble upon it. it's beautiful. i must admit that i didn't really knew anything about her, didn't even know she was a real living person.

    I especially love the time - i enjoy books that take place during the french revolution - it was a very interesting time.

    hrududu AT hotmail DOT de

    ReplyDelete
  36. I never knew that Madame Tussaud was given an ultimatum about the guillotine!

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I am drooling in anticipation to read this one! Thank you for hosting - I am a current follower!

    coffeeandabookchick at gmail dot com

    Tweeted + 2 http://twitter.com/#!/CoffeeBookChick/status/32241547240013824

    ReplyDelete
  38. Oh, this sounds excellent!

    ofabookworm AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Thanks for the guest post.I enjoyed it! I'love to win a copy of MADAME TUSSAUD. It would be a new author to me! Thanks for the giveaway! :)

    Follower,yup
    thebookish96[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  40. I've blogged about the contest here.
    joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  41. The contest is also on my sidebar here.
    joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  42. I am a GFC follower (Colleen Turner). So excited to read this book! I had no idea that Madame Tussaud was politically involved in France during this tenuous time! I cannot wait to see how she fits into the history.
    Thanks,
    candc320@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. GFC follower
    What an interesting guest post! I had no idea about the history of Madame Tussaud & would love to read more.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    megalon22 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hello

    I´am Welzen, I am a GFC follower.

    +2 post at http://welzen.wordpress.com/2011/02/05/noticias-de-febrero/

    +2 post at http://twitter.com/#!/elblogdewelzen/status/34226225354379264

    +1 post sidebar
    at http://welzen.wordpress.com/

    I have been curious about Mademe Tassaud. I would love to win this book.

    Thanks for the giveaway :)

    welzen@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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