I am excited to finally share one of the books from my 2022 Historical Fiction to Read post! Eva Stachniak is one of my favourite historical fiction authors. Not only is she Canadian, she writes some of the richest novels, and goes above and beyond in her research. She has tackled several different figures and episodes in history, and now turns her eye to the monolith that is Versailles. If you have ever been interested in life at Versailles, you need to read The School of Mirrors by Eva Stachniak!
The School of Mirrors, Eva Stachniak
During the reign of Louis XV, impoverished but lovely teenage girls from all over France are sent to a discreet villa in the town of Versailles. Overseen by the King’s favorite mistress, Madame de Pompadour, they will be trained as potential courtesans for the King. When the time is right, each girl is smuggled into the palace of Versailles, with its legendary Hall of Mirrors. There they meet a mysterious but splendidly dressed man who they’re told is merely a Polish count, a cousin of the Queen. Living an indulgent life of silk gowns, delicious meals, and soft beds, the students at this “school of mirrors” rarely ask questions, and when Louis tires of them, they are married off to minor aristocrats or allowed to retire to one of the more luxurious nunneries.
Beautiful and canny Veronique arrives at the school of mirrors and quickly becomes a favorite of the King. But when she discovers her lover’s true identity, she is whisked away, sent to give birth to a daughter in secret, and then to marry a wealthy Breton merchant. There is no return to the School of Mirrors.
This is also the story of the King’s daughter by Veronique—Marie-Louise. Well-provided for in a comfortable home, Marie-Louise has never known her mother, let alone her father. Capable and intelligent, she discovers a passion for healing and science, and becomes an accredited midwife, one of the few reputable careers for women like her. But eventually Veronique comes back into her daughter’s life, bringing with her the secret of Marie-Louise’s birth. But the new King—Louis XVI—is teetering on his throne and it’s a volatile time in France…and those with royal relatives must mind their step very carefully.
Why You Should Read This…
Set against the backdrop of Versailles during Louis XV’s reign, The School of Mirrors is a complex and heartrending novel. The two protagonists, Veronique and Marie-Louise are mother and daughter but have very little in common. Their stories contrast beautifully, and lead us through very different periods in French history. I love that she has centred the story on women who so often are invisible in stories of the court, and that the story extends far past court.
Stachniak has done an incredible job of setting a novel at Versailles but not letting Versailles take over the story, no small feat. She has clearly done her historical research, as she did with her Catherine the Great novels, and it makes a big difference- it feels like you are there in eighteenth century France. This is the perfect novel for anyone interested in women’s history!
Is The School of Mirrors on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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