Melanie Benjamin Libri

When Anne Morrow a shy college senior with hidden literary aspirations, travels to Mexico City to spend Christmas with her family, she meets Colonel Charles Lindbergh, fresh off his celebrated 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic. Enthralled by Charle's assurance and fame, Anne is certain the aviator has scarcely noticed her. But she is wrong. Charles sees in Anne a kindred spirit, a fellow adventurer, and her world will be changed forever. The two marry in a headline-making wedding. In the years that follow, Anne becomes the first licensed female glider pilot in the United States. But despite this and other major achievements, she is viewed merely as the aviator's wife. The fairy-tale life she once longed for will bring heartbreak and hardships, ultimately pushing her to reconcile her need for love and her desire for independence, and to embrace, at last, life's infinite possibliities for change and happiness

The morning of January 12, 1888, was unusually mild, following a punishing cold spell. It was warm enough for the homesteaders of the Dakota territory to venture out again, and for their children to return to school without their heavy coats, leaving them unprepared when disaster struck. At just the hour when most prairie schools were letting out for the day, a terrifying, fast-moving blizzard blew in without warning. Schoolteachers as young as sixteen were suddenly faced with life and death decisions: keep the children inside to risk freezing to death when fuel ran out or send them home, praying they wouldn't get lost in the storm? Based on actual oral histories of survivors, this gripping novel follows the stories of Raina and Gerda Olsen, two sisters, both schoolteachers, one who becomes a hero of the storm and one who finds herself ostracized in the aftermath

In March 1940, the Nazis sweep Paris and immediately take up residence in one of the city's most iconic sites: The Hotel Ritz. There, under a roof legendary for its unprecedented luxury and for its fabled residents--including Coco Chanel, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Cole Porter, Hemingway, Balanchine, Doris Duke, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and now Hermann Göring--the Nazis rule over a paralyzed city. But two residents of the Ritz refuse to be defeated: its director, Claude Auzello, and his beautiful American actress wife, Blanche. They not only oversee the smooth workings of the hotel, but both Blanche and Claude throw themselves fearlessly into the dangerous and clandestine workings of the French Resistance

In this spellbinding historical novel, readers meet the young girl whose bright spirit sends her on an unforgettable trip down the rabbit hole--and the grown woman whose story is no less enthralling.

Set in 1914, this captivating novel explores the friendship and creative partnership between screenwriter Frances Marion and actress Mary Pickford, two of Hollywood's pioneering female legends. Frances, at twenty-five, leaves her second husband and Northern California for Los Angeles, eager to establish herself as an independent artist. The burgeoning film industry, with its "flickers," captivates her, and she discovers her true passion for writing stories for this exciting new medium. In Los Angeles, she meets Mary Pickford, known as America's Sweetheart, whose charm and talent resonate with Frances. Their instant connection is fueled by a shared ambition to create and inspire, yet they face challenges from the men around them and societal constraints on their gender. As Mary navigates her fame and seeks love with actor Douglas Fairbanks, Frances also yearns for companionship. Amidst the dramas and conflicts typical of Hollywood, their friendship is tested, and the story unfolds with appearances from iconic figures like Charlie Chaplin and Lillian Gish. Ultimately, the novel delves into themes of friendship, ambition, and the complexities of success in a transformative era, capturing the allure and heartbreak of early Hollywood.

In 1960s Southern California, the sun-soaked days of surfing in Malibu contrast with the vibrant nightlife at Whisky A-Go-Go. Carol Donelly defies societal expectations as a pioneering female surfer in a male-dominated sport, while her daughters, Mindy and Ginger, grapple with the consequences of her unconventional lifestyle. The sisters endure their mother's physical absence at the beach and emotional distance at home, leading them to skip school and seek their mother's elusive affection in the surf. Mindy discovers her natural talent on a board, while Ginger struggles to find her place in the water. As they grow older, their paths diverge: Mindy becomes entangled in celebrity culture, enjoying beachside romances, parties at the Playboy Club, and USO tours to Vietnam, while Ginger seeks belonging in the counterculture of drugs and cults. Despite their differences, the bond between the sisters remains, shaped by the emotional scars of their unorthodox upbringing. This gripping tale explores the complexities of motherhood and sisterhood against the backdrop of a society in flux, where women were expected to conform to traditional roles rather than embrace their individuality.

Babe Paley est la plus en vue des "Cygnes de la Cinquième Avenue" , ces femmes de la haute société new-yorkaise des années 1950. Son atout indéfinissable : son style. Elle incarne l'élégance, fait souvent la une de Vogue, mais ce que personne ne voit, c'est le sentiment de solitude qu'elle laisse dans son sillage, en dépit de sa fortune, de ses enfants, de son mari riche et puissant. Jusqu'au jour où Truman Capote surgit dans sa vie. Leur amitié est instantanée et fulgurante. Babe trouve chez l'écrivain prodige, aussi génial qu'extravagant, la passion qui manquait à son existence. Grâce à elle, Truman accède à cette élite qui le fascine tant. Et à ses secrets, ses rumeurs, ses scandales, y puisant son inspiration, au risque de trahir Babe. Une fiction terriblement délectable et efficace. Nathalie Crom, Télérama. Melanie Benjamin fait tomber les masques de ces êtres iconiques et idolâtrés. Un roman sensationnel. Olivia de Lamberterie, Elle. Traduit de l'anglais (Etats-Unis) par Christel Gaillard-Paris.