The Memory of Scent

By Lisa Burkitt

Set against the backdrop of Paris in 1883, The Memory of Scent is the story of two French women, Fleur and Babette, and of how their lives diverge when the artist they both model for is found dead. For Fleur, hers is a life lived on the fringes of the Impressionist movement in a world of colour and music; Babette is not so lucky, and following the death of the artist, her life begins to quickly unravel on the streets of France. This is a novel of the senses, in which memory, love and loss are explored and examined, and where it appears the ties which hold us together can also pull us apart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The History Press
• Release date: Nov 30, 2011
• ISBN: 9780752480732

Reviews for The Memory of Scent

[greathistoricals · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Paris in the 1880’s was a decadent place to be filled with elegance, art, passion, and wonderful food. Author, Lisa Burkitt, writes a novel about the great impressionist artists of the time – Renois, Monet, Degas, and the famous Toulouse Lautrec.At the heart of the story are two women. Fleur and Babette who are models for Toulouse Latrec. The paths of their lives take drastic turns as one falls into poverty and prostitution and the other flirts in the elegant salons of artists and society.This is an intriguing story of contrasts, rich and poor, fortunate and unfortunate, love and hate, friendship and enmity. There is a murder mystery as well as madness, decadence, and illicit sexual trauma. Most of all, the novels truly brings to life the rich period with its cafes, artists, social encounters, and descriptions. A rich, multi-layered story indeed!