Black Venus

'Beautifully capturing bohemian Paris in the late nineteenth century ... MacManus ... creates a gritty and engrossing world in this beautifully crafted narrative, which will leave readers swooning - and reaching for their favourite recording of La Boheme' Booklist (starred review)
Black Venus captures the artistic scene in the great French capital city, at a time when the likes of Dumas and Balzac argued literature in the cafes of the Left Bank. Among the bohemians, the young Charles Baudelaire stood out - dressed impeccably thanks to an inheritance that was quickly vanishing. Still at work on the poems that he hoped would make his name, he spent his nights enjoying the alcohol, opium and women who filled the seedy streets of the city.
One woman would catch his eye - a beautiful Haitian cabaret singer named Jeanne Duval. Their lives would remain forever intertwined thereafter, and their romance would inspire his most infamous poems - leading to the banning of his masterwork, Les Fleurs du Mal, and a scandalous public trial for obscenity. James MacManus's Black Venus re-creates the classic Parisian literary world in vivid detail, complete with not just an affecting portrait of the famous poet but also his often misunderstood, much-maligned muse.
'A captivating novel that shed light on more than just what we already knew on Baudelaire ... James MacManus brought forth a side of Jeanne [Duval] that was easier to understand and even have compassion for. Black Venus is an exquisite read' Examiner

“James MacManus's Black Venus is a vivid re-creation of bohemian Paris in the middle of the 19th century... an engrossing, moving portrait of doomed love and genius”

'James MacManus’s Black Venus is a vivid re-creation of bohemian Paris in the middle of the 19th century... an engrossing, moving portrait of doomed love and genius' Sunday Times

'A vivid portrait of Paris during a turbulent period in its history, as well as an insightful exploration of the often self-destructive nature of genius' Mail Online

'This novel is a vivid recreation of a lost world; the Paris of La Bohème and George Du Maurier’s Trilby, all cafés, ateliers and wild romance' The Times

'Black Venus is atmospheric and dramatic, with vivid period detail and, at its heart, doomed lovers who can neither live together nor be apart' TLS

'Poet Charles Baudelaire falls in love with cabaret singer Jeanne Duval, inspiring him to write Les Fleurs du Mal, for which he is tried for obscenity. The ensuing drama is vividly recreated' Vogue

‘Although Jeanne disdained Baudelaire’s work, she would be his muse throughout their complex and tempestuous affair. The novel explores their relationship and casts an interesting light on his much-maligned muse’ Choice Magazine

'Beautifully capturing bohemian Paris in the late nineteenth century… MacManus… creates a gritty and engrossing world in this beautifully crafted narrative, which will leave readers swooning – and reaching for their favourite recording of La Bohème' Booklist (Starred Review)

'A beautiful and gripping novel. A world that will entice you in and keep you reading until the end' Kate Williams author of The Pleasures of Men

‘Mixing fact and fiction, MacManus takes us on an exhilarating journey through the political, artistic and social changes of 19th century Paris whilst delivering a compelling and sympathetic re-telling of one of history’s most notorious love affairs' Lancashire Evening Post

James MacManus is the managing director of The Times Literary Supplement. He is the author of Ocean Devil: The Life and Legend of George Hogg, which was made into a film starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and The Language of the Sea. He lives in London.

'Beautifully capturing bohemian Paris in the late nineteenth century . MacManus . creates a gritty and engrossing world in this beautifully crafted narrative, which will leave readers swooning - and reaching for their favourite recording of La Boheme' Booklist (starred review).. Black Venus captures the artistic scene in the great French capital city, at a time when the likes of Dumas and Balzac argued literature in the cafes of the Left Bank. Among the bohemians, the young Charles Baudelaire stood out - dressed impeccably thanks to an inheritance that was quickly vanishing. Still at work on the poems that he hoped would make his name, he spent his nights enjoying the alcohol, opium and women who filled the seedy streets of the city...One woman would catch his eye - a beautiful Haitian cabaret singer named Jeanne Duval. Their lives would remain forever intertwined thereafter, and their romance would inspire his most infamous poems - leading to the banning of his masterwork, Les Fleurs du Mal, and a scandalous public trial for obscenity. James MacManus's Black Venus re-creates the classic Parisian literary world in vivid detail, complete with not just an affecting portrait of the famous poet but also his often misunderstood, much-maligned muse...'A captivating novel that shed light on more than just what we already knew on Baudelaire . James MacManus brought forth a side of Jeanne [Duval] that was easier to understand and even have compassion for. Black Venus is an exquisite read' Examiner..

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