Barbe-Nicole Clicquot’s determination and drive struck everyone she met, and I’ve loved breathing life into her once more, along with her (real and imagined) band of allies, renegades, misfits and rebels. As I wrote and researched, I was enchanted by the alchemy of winemaking and the vineyards, fascinated by the French Revolution and intrigued by the Year of the Comet champagne. I’m delighted that Nicole Clicquot has captured hearts across the world, and my best-selling novel is now translated into Czech, Romanian and Russian, with Italian and Slovenian versions coming soon!
The French House
She plucks a perfectly ripe grape, glowing golden in the moonlight. In that moment she knows her life will be full of joy and sorrow: harvest feasts and heartbreak, the thrill of the season’s first sip and the bitter threat of betrayal. But if her success could taste this sweet, she would have it no other way.
Fans of Chocolat, Carnegie’s Maid, Dinah Jeffries and anyone longing to sip champagne under the stars will adore this stunning historical read, inspired by the true story of how Nicole Clicquot blazed her own path to build the world’s greatest champagne house: Veuve Clicquot.
What everyone’s saying about The French House
‘Extraordinary. Outstanding... absolutely amazing... just wow!... this book is exquisite. Absolute perfection. A masterpiece. One of my favourite reads ever... one of the finest books out this year and one of the best historical fiction reads ever.’ Renita D’Silva, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wow! What a story… I was captivated… I found myself reading late into the night with this extraordinary story… so moving… totally enthralled me… will stay with me for a long time.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Simply fizzing with romance, intrigue… I adored this book… wonderful… A great read.’ The Book Jotter
‘Beautifully written… fascinating novel… The landscape around Reims comes alive on the pages… wonderful… extra special.’ Angela Petch, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A fascinating book… very heartwarming… I found this book very hard to put down and I thoroughly enjoyed every page.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Instantly and completely immersed me in a beautiful romance, heartbreak and the passion of Madame Clicquot… The author’s ability to whisk me away to the vineyards of post-Revolutionary France and bring to life a feisty, determined heroine who blazed her own path in a man’s world is extraordinary.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Vivid and wonderful… a lovely book.’ The Writer's Workout
Audacious, bold, and an inspiration
Barbe-Nicole Clicquot was a remarkable woman. She came from a wealthy family and had absolutely no financial need to keep the vineyards and business going, but we know from historical records that she was obsessed with it, often staying up to the early hours, poring over ledgers and thinking about ways in which she could improve production.
She was deeply in love with her husband, François, and there are historical accounts of them riding out side by side to oversee the vineyards together. Barbe-Nicole was also a highly respected ‘nose’ and could take her place alongside the very best in this profession, discerning which blends would make the best wines.
What motivated her in her endeavour? It would not have been easy for a woman to go it alone in a man’s world of business and wine. Why did she not just re-marry and settle into a life of ease with her family in Reims? It was these questions that set my imagination alight as I delved into the company archives, courtesy of Veuve Clicquot Krug Ruinart in Reims. Here, I found original correspondence between Barbe-Nicole and her ebullient and faithful star salesman Louis Bohne. There were the neat accounts ledgers she kept, written in her own hand, with her notes in the margin, noting all the highs and lows of the business. There was even a letter written to her granddaughter, advising her how important it was to always be ‘bold and audacious’ in everything she did.
Armed with this first-hand material, I walked the chalky paths amongst the vines, visited her rustic house and press in Bouzy and the grand family mansion in Reims, strolled along the banks of the river Vesle rendered a pale green by the chalk soil, and imagined her story.
I have worked hard to ensure the accuracy of historical events and place, but I have also played with chronology and facts in places, and of course this is a work of fiction, inspired by her story. And what an inspiration! Over two hundred years later, Veuve Clicquot is an international luxury brand with a reputation for producing some of the finest champagnes in the business.
