The Last Love of George Sand: A Literary Biography
“Delightful reconstruction of the deeply fulfilling, late-life romance of the French novelist with a devoted, younger engraver. Obviously a labor of love, this work by the accomplished French biographer Bloch-Dano (Vegetables: A Biography, 2012, etc.) is highly entertaining and original. The author sees her job as reassembling the life of her subject from scattered pieces and “the ravages of time” and then, if all else fails, using her imagination to fill in the details much like a novelist. The result is a series of pointed assertions like light bulbs going off in her head, questions and switching to the present tense, all while sticking to the courageous, romantic spirit of her subject. Bloch-Dano’s portrait is poignant and beautifully researched. A love story probably suppressed by Sand’s resentful son, brought here to vivid life in the hands of her capable biographer. (Starred Review)” (Kirkus Reviews)