Pamela Binnings Ewen turned to writing after a career in law, bringing a keen analytical mind to her exploration of complex human relationships and moral dilemmas. Her narratives delve into the intricacies of the human psyche, crafting compelling stories with profound emotional resonance that captivate readers. Ewen's distinctive style is characterized by vivid descriptions and engaging prose, establishing her as a significant voice in contemporary fiction. She masterfully weaves together historical settings with deeply personal journeys, offering readers a unique perspective on the human experience.
Pamela Binnings Ewen's newest novel tells the story of Emilienne, once the most beautiful and sought-after woman in Paris and star of the Folies Bergère. As she starts to age, she worries her career will soon be over and leaves the stage for the safety and security of a life with Etienne, a married man. Soon, she realizes she is only an object to Etienne, and he is beginning to lose interest. As Emilienne's star diminishes, she watches as Coco Chanel's rises. Coco gains fame and fortune as Emilienne's feelings of jealousy grow, and Emilienne must find a way to survive that does not depend on her beauty or support from married lovers.
Legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel is revered for her sophisticated style--the iconic little black dress--and famed for her intoxicating perfume Chanel No. 5. Yet behind the public persona is a complicated woman of intrigue, shadowed by mysterious rumors. The Queen of Paris, the new novel from award-winning author Pamela Binnings Ewen, vividly imagines the hidden life of Chanel during the four years of Nazi occupation in Paris in the midst of WWII--as discovered in recently unearthed wartime files. Coco Chanel could be cheerful, lighthearted, and generous; she also could be ruthless, manipulative, even cruel. Against the winds of war, with the Wehrmacht marching down the Champs-Elysees, Chanel finds herself residing alongside the Reich's High Command in the Hotel Ritz. Surrounded by the enemy, Chanel wages a private war of her own to wrestle full control of her perfume company from the hands of her Jewish business partner, Pierre Wertheimer. With anti-Semitism on the rise, he has escaped to the United States with the confidential formula for Chanel No. 5. Distrustful of his intentions to set up production on the outskirts of New York City, Chanel fights to seize ownership. The House of Chanel shall not fall. While Chanel struggles to keep her livelihood intact, Paris sinks under the iron fist of German rule. Chanel--a woman made of sparkling granite--will do anything to survive. She will even agree to collaborate with the Nazis in order to protect her darkest secrets. When she is covertly recruited by Germany to spy for the Reich, she becomes Agent F-7124, code name: Westminster. But why? And to what lengths will she go to keep her stormy past from haunting her future?
