Annette Vallon: A Novel of the French Revolution

Met the author at our dog park and he told me about his book. I wasn’t sure I would like it but I must say it is very interesting to see what was behind the French Revolution and how this young woman played her part. The people against the aristocracy is very interesting. I had to send the paperback back because the print was very small. So glad I did because the hardback is so worth it.

James Tipton is a fine writer and his portrayal of Wordsworth's liason with Annette Vallon has to be commended.The story, which is set against the backdrop of The French Revolution is well written and one that needed to be told.Writing historical fiction must be a difficult chore indeed and Tipton does a fine job with his research and the portrayal of Wordsworth and Vallon.I have to admit I did find it a bit slow at times but I am so glad I persevered because I have more knowledge of this period now and of Wordsworth's relationships of which I had no knowledge whatsoever.It was interesting to me that Annette Vallon had been previously described by British writers as someone rather loose and vapid.Might I suggest that Wordsworth may have been the more vapid of the pair as Annette accomplished incredible acts of bravery during the upheavals in France whilst Wordsworth had to call upon two women to assist him with his various trials and tribulations which were small beer when compared to his former lover and mother of his child.Since reading this book there is no doubt Annette Vallon will remain in my heart as a brave and compassionate soul whose real story deserved to be told.Congratulations to James Tipton for an intelligent and fascinating story.

I stumbled upon this book quite by accident in the local library and was very pleasantly surprised. I had recently read the first of the Josephine Bonaparte trilogy, and was happy to see that this was along the same lines - set against the backdrop of the French Revolution.I learned many things about the time of the French Revolution, and was entertained while reading. I was actually saddened when I finished, because the story was over. Annette Vallon sounds like an incredible figure from that time period. If the story is even half true, what an incredible heroine we have before us! It was a story of romance and love, heroism during a very violent and unstable time, and the story of the strength of one woman who helped to save many from the madness that swept France in the late 18th century. I also learned a little bit more about poetry and Wordsworth along the way.It was a pleasure to read and I am looking forward to reading another novel by Tipton, if he should produce one. Having checked it out from the library, I had to purchase my own copy as soon as possible, and look forward to reading it again.

James Tipton's fine writing brings to life the harrowing years of the French Revolution and the triumphs of the human spirit that are often revealed in such difficult times . What a messy and horrific time was this French Revolution! How often have political revolutions gone awry and cause unintended misery to those the revolution was suppose to benefit?Annette Vallon's story of courage and honor during that time deserved to be told. But this book is much more than an historical account of her amazing life. We see glimpses of the great poet William Wordsworth and read some of his best writing in the context of Annette's story. . My favorite passages in the book, though, were not about Annette or William specifically. They were the beautiful, evocative descriptions of the natural world and the small but significant moments of everyday life which we often overlook but that give meaning to all the rest.Many thanks to the author for writing Annette's little-known but important story and sharing it with the world.

I am reluctant to review this book because I do not like historical fiction,,,,and I especially dislike historical fiction wth a focal point of romance. I read this for book club. When I reconciled myself to reading this type book I got with it and found it interesting. I liked Annette Vallon. Although the beginning time period was 1821, Annette was a "today girl". She was unashamedly a single mom, educated, intelligent, and reckless . She expertly rode her beloved horse, could shoot , and hunt with the best. These traits did not endear her to mom who was interested in living only for the judgements of society. Annette's lover was William Wordsworth, a poet and an Englishman who was in France at the beginning of the French Revolution.Tipton does a fine job of writing the French Revolution and the brutality of the war years. Annette is an underground terrorist and is a folk hero of this period. I became a bit frustrated with the love between Annette and Wordsworth. Due to war the lovers rarely saw each other, Annette remained true to Wordsworth, however his love diminished with time. The narrative was informative about the French Revolution. Tipton writes well and tells a good story.

If you think the French revolution is just about the rich and off with their heads you're mistaken. The French revolution was really ugly and affected everyone. This book portrays it accurately down to what happened to the Butcher the baker the candlestick maker all were affected with prison and death and the guillotine. Well written and will appeal to history buffs an avid readers alike

James Tipton’s Annette Vallon must be savored sentence by sentence. The novel is founded on history, but extra-literary: a tale recounting events in William Wordsworth’s life as recorded in the letters of the poet and his lover Vallon. A poet himself, Tipton instills poetry in a tale that seems to follow faithfully the events of those lives. His prose is appropriately and constantly lyrical; the force of the poetic line appears throughout, a fact that propels a long, complex story without slackening for nearly five hundred pages.

Livre très bien écrit, documenté, et remarquablement intéressant