Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky

October 26, 2009
English poet Greenhalgh's debut novel about Coco Chanel and Igor's Stravinsky's short, fiery affair provides an intense look at love, passion and heartbreak. Coco first became aware of Stravinsky in 1913 when the young designer, who was beginning to make her place in French society, attended the debut performance of the Russian composer's Rite of Spring
. Seven years later, when the two meet at a dinner party, an immediate and undeniable connection is forged, and soon Coco invites Stravinsky; his sickly wife, Catherine; and their children to stay at her summer home outside of Paris. She isn't without her motives, however, and proceeds over time to seduce Stravinsky. As their affair deepens, the reader's heart breaks for Catherine as she struggles with Igor's emotional abandonment. This finely wrought study in artistic and romantic passion is remarkable for its explicit depiction of the devastation left in the wake of selfishness.

December 2, 2009
In 1913 Paris, designer Coco Chanel attends the premier of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. Fast-forward seven years, and the wealthy couturiere invites the exiled Russian composer and his family to spend a summer in her villa. The impoverished visitors rely on Coco's financial support, even for Catherine's medical care, and soon Coco's energy, beauty, and unconventionality draw Igor into an affair that both energizes and unsettles him. In his debut, screenwriter Greenhalgh excels at depicting not only the physical and emotional passion that connects Igor and Coco but also the creative drive that fuels their professional achievements. Coco's search for a distinctive perfume parallels Igor's efforts to set down the complex music in his mind. A brief chronology identifies the intersections in this duo's professional and personal lives in the 50 years following their little-known affair. Verdict The January 2010 U.S. release of the movie, adapted by Greenhalgh from his novel, will undoubtedly garner interest, especially among readers who enjoyed the recent film Coco Before Chanel, but this book stands on its own as a first-rate choice for fans of historical romance.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State Univ., Mankato

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