Apart from Maude, who was your favorite character to write and why?

All the characters and relationships in the book are vividly drawn. Making them visible and seeing them triumph is extremely satisfying.ģ. I’ve always been attracted to characters who are invisible or who we underestimate. In the story she’s forced to find her voice and define what beauty truly means for her. In Belle Epoque Maude is thrown into a world of beauty, but beneath the surface it’s incredibly ugly. Jane Eyre inhabits a very cruel world, yet manages to maintain her integrity and sense of self – I think that’s what makes her such a compelling character. Yes, I love Jane Eyre too and it was definitely a source of inspiration for my novel. What is it about a woman/girl alone in the world that’s so compelling? When I read the book, I couldn’t help but think of Jane Eyre, which is a book I adore and assume you do too. How would it affect your self-esteem, your relationships and your outlook on the world? It was the desire to answer all of these questions which prompted me to write the novel.Ģ. Being paid as a beauty foil, to basically flaunt your flaws seemed like such a rich source of conflict. Although written in the 1860’s, the story felt so modern and immediately relatable to our beauty-obsessed world. Zola’s short story focused on the creation of an agency of ugly women and the idea of such a place was both horrifying and fascinating to me. Belle Epoque is based on Emile Zola’s short story “Les Repoussoirs.” What was it about the story that grabbed your imagination?

And the longer her deception continues, the more she has to lose.ġ. Yet the more she learns about Isabelle, the more her loyalty is tested. Monsieur Durandeau has made a fortune from wealthy socialites, and when the Countess Dubern needs a companion for her headstrong daughter, Isabelle, Maude is deemed the perfect foil.īut Isabelle has no idea her new “friend” is the hired help, and Maude’s very existence among the aristocracy hinges on her keeping the truth a secret.

Hire a plain friend and become instantly more attractive. The Durandeau Agency provides its clients with a unique service-the beauty foil. Desperate for work, she answers an unusual ad. When Maude Pichon runs away from provincial Brittany to Paris, her romantic dreams vanish as quickly as her savings. Here Elizabeth talks about her inspiration for the novel, the Jane Eyre connection, among other things. This graceful, character-driven book is among my favorite YAs of the year. Elizabeth Ross has created a delicious world in her debut young-adult novel Belle Epoque.

Belle epoque by elizabeth ross