The Widow Clicquot by Tilar J. Mazzeo

The Widow Clicquot

I’m not the best about keeping up with my book club reading (let alone Wine Book Club), so I was a bit sneaky this month, and got not just one, but my two separate book clubs to read the same title: The Widow Clicquot by Tilar J. Mazzeo. Even so, I have only managed to get about half way through the tome, which considering my track record isn’t so bad. And I do plan to finish it (though intentions probably don’t count for much).

Given that I’ve only read about half the book, I don’t think it’s fair for me to “review” it. But I’ll give you a sense of my impressions at this stage. Mazzeo has found fascinating subject matter on a few different levels. Gender politics and identity in 19th century France? Check. The development of an international brand in a world where Capitalism was in its infancy? Check. Industrial and technical evolution of Champagne itself? Check. One woman’s life and experience in light of all these things? Check…kind of.

It’s the last area, the one that’s in fact promised by the book’s title, that leaves the most to be desired as far as the writing goes (at least in the first 150 pages…). Mazzeo exclaims repeatedly that few records exist of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin’s personal history; and, likely given her academic background, Mazzeo seems unwilling to make assumptions that aren’t based on hard evidence. Whether it was Barbe-Nicole or her younger sister Clementine, or neither of them, whisked to safety in disguise during the revolution isn’t determined; whether Barbe-Nicole was widowed due to her husband falling prey to Typhoid, or succumbing to a spell of depression that led to his suicide, is also unanswered. So many “perhapses” and “it is possibles” become frustrating.

I’ll keep reading this book. But really what I’d prefer to be reading is the fictionalized version of Barbe-Nicole’s life — a sort of Girl With a Pearl Earring-style history-based novel that takes plenty of license with the characters, all while imbuing the text with fact-based details of the time period, the Champagne industry, and the socio-economic specifics of the era that Mazzeo is more successful in exploring here than the personality behind the history.

Of course, knowing my tendency to start and not finish books, I’d actually probably end up waiting for the filmed version, perhaps starring Hilary Swank (wearing some sort of prosthetics) and directed by Katja von Garnier. Film industry friends, are you reading this blog? Go option this! There’s an enormous branded-entertainment opportunity here, for sure.

(Image above is of the Champagne we drank at book club last night. We went for an obscure NM along with the Le Brun-Servenay 1997, an RM, over Yellow Label Veuve…but that’s fodder for a different blog post.)

Leave a Reply

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

what's all this, then?

Domaine 547 is a community meant for people who want to come along with us on our journey, as we learn about the world of wine.

It’s a point of view, that says wine need not be put on a pedestal or saved for special occasions, but should instead be a part of everyday life—because life is just that much better with a glass of wine in your hand (unless, of course, you are an alcoholic or under the age of 21).

Domaine 547 is a virtual tour guide, a way for all of us to travel the globe, even when our wallets and schedules might not permit physically doing so.

Mostly, it’s a place without pretensions, where we can drink, learn, communicate, and probably drink some more. And of course, there is no snobbery or attitude allowed.

Learn more about us…

The domaine547 name, logo, illustrated characters and all other materials on this site copyright © domaine547 unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

No site is complete without links for all the legal mumbo jumbo and privacy information.