The French Lesson

Brought to you by Penguin.

Fear your neighbour. Praise the Republic. Preach liberty. Hate monarchy. Speak in whispers. Trust no-one.

Revolutionary Paris, 1792: As the city spirals into bloodshed, Henrietta Lightfoot a young Englishwoman runs for refuge to the sumptuous home of Grace Dalrymple, notorious courtesan to the aristocracy. But loyalties are tested when she meets Agnes de Buffon, committed revolutionary and mistress of the most powerful man in France. Trapped in an unpredictable game between two dangerous women, Henrietta is about to learn a brutal lesson.

A tale of friendship and loyalty in tumultuous times, The French Lesson is a gripping drama of female power and influence, as the women written out of history tell their own astonishing story of ingenuity and sacrifice.

'A thrilling novel of female intrigue, betrayal and revenge. Read it!' LUCY WORSLEY

'Dark and delicious' Red Magazine

'Utterly gripping and highly relevant' SIMON SEBAG-MONTEFIORE

'A gleefully modern retelling of a juicy chapter in history' The Times

'Rubenhold unfolds a complicated plot with great dexterity' Sunday Times

© Hallie Rubenhold 2016 (P) Penguin Audio 2016