Six bestselling and award-winning authors bring to life a breathtaking epic novel illuminating the hopes, desires, and destinies of princesses and peasants, harlots and wives, fanatics and philosophers—six unforgettable women whose paths cross during one of the most tumultuous and transformative events in history: the French Revolution.
***National Praise***
“An excellent choice for a lively book discussion and readers of historical fiction will appreciate this unique take on an era not often covered in English-language popular fiction.”—BOOKLIST, starred review
“This skillfully crafted novel of the French Revolution by well-known historical fiction authors tells of singular women during tumultuous times. Sure to appeal to devotees of historical fiction, feminists, and those looking for a stirring #metoo read.”—Library Journal
“Ambition. Heartache. Scandal. Brilliantly executed portrayal of women’s participation in the French Revolution. When the characters crossed paths, the page sparked with tension. Six of your favorite writers writing about six fascinating women. I cannot think of a better way for you to spend your time than reading this book. ~ Dolen Perkins-Valdez, NYT Bestselling author of Wench
“This would be an amazing book at any time, but given this moment in time, it is especially perfect. Read it for the entertainment value, read it for the history, read it for the wonderful tales about these strong, unrelenting, powerful, committed women. But most of all read it to be inspired. To be reminded of what mere mortals can do when we are determined. We need this book and more like it. Bravo Ladies, you do the women of the past, yourselves and all of us proud.” ~ M.J. Rose, NYT Bestselling author of Tiffany Blues
“HERstory at its finest; this novel of the French Revolution, collaboratively written by titans of Historical Fiction, brings women to the forefront of the time known as The Terror. This novel has it all; the ability to move, entertain, educate, and inspire. We cannot forget these women, now that we’ve discovered them anew through this powerfully written book.”~Melanie Benjamin, NYT Bestselling author of The Aviator’s Wife
“The French Revolution, told through the voices of six unforgettable women who lived through it. These powerful stories need to be heard, and this novel lifts them from the history books and brings them roaring into the 21st century. Fantastic! Historical fiction to devour this fall.” ~Hazel Gaynor, NYT bestselling author of The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter
Ribbons of Scarlet is a timely story of the power of women to start a revolution—and change the world. Coming October 29th 2019.
In late eighteenth-century France, women do not have a place in politics. But as the tide of revolution rises, women from gilded salons to the streets of Paris decide otherwise—upending a world order that has long oppressed them.
Blue-blooded Sophie de Grouchy believes in democracy, education, and equal rights for women, and marries the only man in Paris who agrees. Emboldened to fight the injustices of King Louis XVI, Sophie aims to prove that an educated populace can govern itself–but one of her students, fruit-seller Louise Audu, is hungrier for bread and vengeance than learning. When the Bastille falls and Louise leads a women’s march to Versailles, the monarchy is forced to bend, but not without a fight. The king’s pious sister Princess Elisabeth takes a stand to defend her brother, spirit her family to safety, and restore the old order, even at the risk of her head.
But when fanatics use the newspapers to twist the revolution’s ideals into a new tyranny, even the women who toppled the monarchy are threatened by the guillotine. Putting her faith in the pen, brilliant political wife Manon Roland tries to write a way out of France’s blood-soaked Reign of Terror while pike-bearing Pauline Leon and steely Charlotte Corday embrace violence as the only way to save the nation. With justice corrupted by revenge, all the women must make impossible choices to survive–unless unlikely heroine and courtesan’s daughter Emilie de Sainte-Amaranthe can sway the man who controls France’s fate: the fearsome Robespierre.
