Downton Abbey meets Titanic in this sweeping historical novel about three women of different generations and classes, whose lives intersect on a majestic ocean liner traveling from Paris to New York in the wake of World War I.
The year is 1921. Three women set out on the impressive Paris ocean liner on a journey from Paris to New York.
Julie Vernet is a young French woman from a working class family who has just gotten her first job as a crew worker on the ship. Escaping her small town and the memory of war, she longs for adventure on the high seas…
Constance Stone is a young American wife and mother who has traveled to Paris to rescue her bohemian sister, Faith, who steadfastly refuses to return to America and settle down. Constance returns home to New York, having failed at the duty her father asked of her…
Vera Sinclair, a rich, ex-patriate American is leaving France after thirty-one years to live out her remaining time home in America. Over the course of the transatlantic voyage, she reflects on her colorful life and looks forward to a quiet retirement. While each of these women come from different walks of life, their paths cross while at sea in a series of chance encounters. The powerful impact these disparate lives have on one another make for a magnificent and unforgettable read.
Dana Gynther was raised in St Louis, Missouri and Auburn, Alabama. She has a BA from the University of Alabama in Political Science and French and an MA in French Literature. She has lived in France and currently lives in Valencia, Spain, where both she and her husband Carlos are teachers and translators. They have two daughters, Claudia and Lucia. Crossing on the Paris is her first novel. Visit her official website. Crossing on the Paris is available for Pre-Order.
The giveaway of two copies of Gynther’s novel, which is sponsored by Simon & Schuster, is open to US residents only. Leave a comment below to be entered into the drawing!
I have been devouring historical fiction on the great war recently trying to get a good understanding of the war my grandfather fought in. I would love to read this first novel by Dana Gynther. BTY I’m an Alabama native also raised right down the road from U of A.
Looks like a great book….would love to read it…have always loved books of this kind….Hope to win a copy. 🙂
When I first saw this mentioned in HNS list of 2012 releases, I was intrigued. I’ve set all three of my own novels in WWI and love this early 20th century period. I would enjoy it immensely – live in Florida.
Oh, I’ve so been looking forward to this book from the first time I heard about it! Thanks for the contest to both your blog and Simon & Schuster.
This book sound great, I’d love to read it !
This looks like a lovely book – I would love to read it! Thanks for the opportunity!
Sounds like it is another woman centric novel of which there are plenty. However, this novel would be interesting to read as it approaches these women’s lives from a very uncommon angle. It is travel, life history and human condition and even life abouard a cruise ship.
I’m a complete sucker for tales of grand oceanic crossings, the literal portrayal of class differences in the stark contrast between those, like my own Grandfather, who barely made it through the journey in steerage, with to the steamer-trunk/ballroom set. I live in Brooklyn New York, and could really use a distraction about now.
Well, it sounds like another woman centric novel but one with a unique stage. A cruise ship with very ENCHANTED APRIL feel to it.
It’s not Titanic, but I love “crossing” novels–the microcosm of people, the food, the CLOTHES!!!
Sounds like a great book!
Some background on the ship for those interested….
The SS Paris was a transatlantic ocean liner (not cruise ship) built by Penhoët, in Saint Nazaire, France for the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (CGT) or French Line as it was more commonly known. The ship was launched in 1916 but completion was delayed due to the war until 1921. Her vital statistics were.
Length 764 ft
Beam 85 ft
Weight 34000 gross tons
Service Speed 21 knots
Passengers Capacity 560 1st class 530 2nd class 840 3rd class
She made her maiden voyage in June of 1921 and quickly established an enviable reputation for service and the haute cuisine for which the French Line became famous. Her interiors reflected the early postwar style often characterized as Art Nouveau. Though she also had strong elements of the prewar style in Edwardian Jacobean and Louis XV along with hints of the coming Art Deco. Many of her first class cabins had the rare luxury of en-suit bathroom and water closet facilities along with technical novelties like in cabin telephones so you could call the pursers office without summoning by electric bell your cabin steward. Some of the grander staterooms were virtual apartment suites with separate bedrooms, sitting room and parlor, private dining room and adjoining quarters for one’s personal servants and steamer trunks.
The ship had all of the amenities expected on an express ocean liner including grand dining rooms lounges parlors a music room library palm court and winter gardens. There was a smoking room (men only thank you very much) and for the more active a gymnasium and salt water swimming pool with an adjoining steam room.
Accommodations in the 2nd class were more modest in the cabins with 2-4 berth cabins being normative but the public rooms were tastefully decorated and the dining would certainly pass for an upscale restaurant in today’s world. The 3rd class as originally configured was mainly intended for the immigrant traffic. After the United States began to restrict immigration in the mid 1920’s the ship’s third class was redesigned for tourist class passengers traveling on a tight budget.
The Paris became an extremely popular liner in the 20’s serving as CGT’s flagship until the 1927 arrival of the SS Ille de France. She continued to serve even during the depression years in the 30’s. Sadly she caught fire and capsized at her berth in Le Havre in April of 1939. The ship was declared a total loss and scrapped.
I’ve already devoured this book, so count me out of the drawing, but I just wanted to say—read it everyone! I loved it! Also, I’ll be hosting an interview with Dana Gynther next week, if anyone is interested. http://www.heatherwebb.net/blog
Sounds wonderful – I’m finishing House of Velvet and Glass, and would love another Titanic-themed book to distract me from having no power…
This book looks amazing!!!! Even if I don’t win it, I am going to go out and buy it asap!
That book sounds fabulous! I would love to read it!
I love historical fiction, and this book sounds like a good one.
Looks like a great read to keep me going over the holidays. After wind, rain and snow, I need a book like this to transport me without leaving the couch!
So… did I ever tell you my grandparents sailed on the Titanic’s sister ship, the Andrea Doria?
Historical fiction is my favorite genre. The past two years I have spent reading about English kings and their love interests. I’m glad to find yet another new author of historical fiction. My grandfather, Charles, came to America from England in the early 1900s.
Sounds lovely! Thanks for a chance.
This looks like such a great book! Please enter me in the drawing.
This looks like a great book! Please enter me in the drawing.
Sounds like a wonderful book; I’d love to read it!
Interesting book to read.
Sounds like a good read. I haven’t had one of these in quite a while.
Looks like a fascinating read!
Sounds like a nice early Christmas gift for myself.
Absolutely, please count me as one who whould like to read this book.
I’d love to be entered! 🙂
I love historical fiction and this looks exactly like my kind of book. Adding it to my TBR list!
This sounds like an AMAZING read! Can’t wait to do so.