Fighting to keep wine from Nazis
The Widows of Champagne by Renee Ryan, HQ Fiction, $29.99
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. The Widows of Champagne is the story of three widows bent on keeping their wine making business of over two centuries from falling into the hands of the Nazi occupiers.
Josephine is the grandmother, a widow, Helene, the mother a war widow and Gabrielle the grand daughter, who had married her childhood sweetheart only to lose him early in their marriage fighting against the Germans in World War I. Gabrielle’s marriage allowed the amalgamation of two famous vineyards.
In an effort to prevent the Nazis from plundering their special vintage wines, Josephine builds a wall in one of their further away cellars.
Their city of Reims has now been completely taken over. Their beautiful centuries old chateau has now being commandeered by a brute of a German. He allows the family to stay in their home but insists they move to the attic rooms. Helene, rather beautiful and more of a socialite than a wine maker, is commandeered to be his hostess for his dinners.
She is nursing a secret that would be disastrous for them all if discovered.
The German general requires more of Helene. To refuse would place others in immediate danger. Josephine realises she is losing her grasp on matters, but at times uses this to her advantage. It is a game of cat and mouse. Paulette, Helene’s much younger and flirty daughter falls for a German lieutenant, part of the German occupier’s entourage.
Gabrielle’s work in the resistance movement is discovered and all three, actually four are in trouble. Paulette hoping her friendly German lieutenant will help them divulges her mother’s secret.
It is a story of bravery and commitment to future generations of champagne makers, demonstrating their resilience and resistance to the German occupiers. It is a well told, very readable work of fiction and without doubt would have happened just as the author has related.
It is well known fact that it was not only works of arts and other treasures that the Germans looted, but that champagne was the much vaunted drink of the Nazis.thousands of crates were looted and sent to various Nazi headquarters. The three generations of Le Blanc women courageously fought for their freedom and their legacy. —