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The Red Widow: The Scandal That Shook Paris and the Woman Behind It All
"A rollicking historical account of Marguerite Steinheil ('the Red Widow"), a real-life French femme fatale who used her influence to arrange governmental appointments, blackmailed her opponents, and may have even attempted to poison those who got in the way of her agenda--and also mysteriously survived a home invasion that left her husband and mother dead, leaving the police with more questions than answers. For readers of The Radium Girls and Sin in the Second City, THE RED WIDOW delivers intrigue and suspense like no other historical biography on the market"--
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
November 16, 2022
The first parts until her imprisonment were 4 stars and super enjoyable to read. She truly had talent plus grift.
But the remaining was 2 to 2.5 stars at the most.
Short reaction soon. This author slants politico for all of this era and also for this particular situation immensely. For both then and now in every interpretation. Be aware.
Later: This is embedded within the decadence and hedonism French style. As it was born/ developed in layers during the period of 1890-1910. Most primarily in Paris but also culturally, politically etc. on a wider scale in French cities. Very much a foretaste to the female mores changes of the 1920's elsewhere.
It's told through the life of the Red Widow, a grifter supreme. And her entire life is detailed until her death in 1954. She outlived her child and her 3 grandchildren and was still in "society" photos.
The narration is HUGELY slanted by eyes and values of the author. Not only politically either. Regardless of who suffers or is left bereft, everything that can go, should. And it isn't only the sexual habits of immense female "liberations" either.
This probably deserved a dissertation or a long magazine inquiry but not an entire book.
"Comrades" all together now, and if a few (innocents or unneeded any longer etc.) get murdered along the way? (Even a husband and your mother.) Oh well! It's only feelings that matter.
But the remaining was 2 to 2.5 stars at the most.
Short reaction soon. This author slants politico for all of this era and also for this particular situation immensely. For both then and now in every interpretation. Be aware.
Later: This is embedded within the decadence and hedonism French style. As it was born/ developed in layers during the period of 1890-1910. Most primarily in Paris but also culturally, politically etc. on a wider scale in French cities. Very much a foretaste to the female mores changes of the 1920's elsewhere.
It's told through the life of the Red Widow, a grifter supreme. And her entire life is detailed until her death in 1954. She outlived her child and her 3 grandchildren and was still in "society" photos.
The narration is HUGELY slanted by eyes and values of the author. Not only politically either. Regardless of who suffers or is left bereft, everything that can go, should. And it isn't only the sexual habits of immense female "liberations" either.
This probably deserved a dissertation or a long magazine inquiry but not an entire book.
"Comrades" all together now, and if a few (innocents or unneeded any longer etc.) get murdered along the way? (Even a husband and your mother.) Oh well! It's only feelings that matter.
May 19, 2022
Told chronologically beginning with Meg’s childhood, this story details the fascinating events of a woman who took Parisian society by storm. Upending bourgeois traditions and becoming a tabloid sensation, this book covers it all.
Clearly a much researched book, the author tells Meg’s story with limited tangents or personal beliefs slipping through.
The author does a great job at walking the reader through the confusion Meg caused while trying to maintain her image in the press at the height of her popularity.
Clearly a much researched book, the author tells Meg’s story with limited tangents or personal beliefs slipping through.
The author does a great job at walking the reader through the confusion Meg caused while trying to maintain her image in the press at the height of her popularity.
October 30, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A well researched and highly entertaining read about a woman (Meg) who took Parisian society by storm. Told chronologically from Meg's childhood through blackmail, affairs, scandals, and even murders. This was truly a gripping and provocative read! 👍🏻
**ARC Via NetGalley**
A well researched and highly entertaining read about a woman (Meg) who took Parisian society by storm. Told chronologically from Meg's childhood through blackmail, affairs, scandals, and even murders. This was truly a gripping and provocative read! 👍🏻
**ARC Via NetGalley**
September 7, 2022
Interesting, informative, and memorable!
The Red Widow is the compelling story detailing the life, actions, and scandals of Margeurite Steinheil, a woman whose desire, determination, and sexual prowess had her carousing with and engaging in some intimate relationships with some of the most influential people in Paris at the turn of the twentieth century but whose ultimate inability to tell the truth also led to her becoming the prime suspect in the unsolved double murder of her husband and mother.
The writing is crisp and precise. And the novel is a fascinating, well-researched tale of a crime with no quick, straightforward conclusion and a woman whose incredible ability to effortlessly lie and manipulate men, the system, and society may have even allowed her to get away with murder.
Overall, The Red Widow is a true crime novel that includes valuable, insightful data into a time and place plagued by elitist mentalities, inequality, prejudices, overindulgence, and a murder investigation riddled with inconsistent behaviours, retracted statements, and little to no concrete evidence.
Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Red Widow is the compelling story detailing the life, actions, and scandals of Margeurite Steinheil, a woman whose desire, determination, and sexual prowess had her carousing with and engaging in some intimate relationships with some of the most influential people in Paris at the turn of the twentieth century but whose ultimate inability to tell the truth also led to her becoming the prime suspect in the unsolved double murder of her husband and mother.
The writing is crisp and precise. And the novel is a fascinating, well-researched tale of a crime with no quick, straightforward conclusion and a woman whose incredible ability to effortlessly lie and manipulate men, the system, and society may have even allowed her to get away with murder.
Overall, The Red Widow is a true crime novel that includes valuable, insightful data into a time and place plagued by elitist mentalities, inequality, prejudices, overindulgence, and a murder investigation riddled with inconsistent behaviours, retracted statements, and little to no concrete evidence.
Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2022
1889 Belle Epoque Paris
There lived a woman who wanted to be the queen of Parisian society, loved by all especially the powerful and rich men. She had learned how to use her sex appeal early in life taking lessons from her father who she had more than a close relationship with. Marguerite Steinheil would marry out of necessity and flaunt her charms to live the life she really craved. Meg had a range of lovers from the president of France to the richest and most powerful men in government but that almost didn't save her from a double murder scandal. After her mother and husband are found murdered and Meg tied up but unharmed, her accounts of what happened became more absurd and the police failed to turn up any suspects. Eventually Meg was tried for the murders. A fascinating and strange story of sex, politics and ambition in a time of great abandon in the city of light awash in sin. True crime lovers will be all in as will those who appreciate the lengths that women had to go to in order to enjoy the same freedom as men. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
There lived a woman who wanted to be the queen of Parisian society, loved by all especially the powerful and rich men. She had learned how to use her sex appeal early in life taking lessons from her father who she had more than a close relationship with. Marguerite Steinheil would marry out of necessity and flaunt her charms to live the life she really craved. Meg had a range of lovers from the president of France to the richest and most powerful men in government but that almost didn't save her from a double murder scandal. After her mother and husband are found murdered and Meg tied up but unharmed, her accounts of what happened became more absurd and the police failed to turn up any suspects. Eventually Meg was tried for the murders. A fascinating and strange story of sex, politics and ambition in a time of great abandon in the city of light awash in sin. True crime lovers will be all in as will those who appreciate the lengths that women had to go to in order to enjoy the same freedom as men. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
July 3, 2022
This is a true story of a "femme fatale" who lead quite a life at the turn of the century in France. While her story is widely known in France, I had never heard of Meg but will now never forget this story. It was told chronologically, which worked well for me. The author also has a depth of knowledge around French history which helped her tell about Meg's life in the context of French cultural norms from the time period. While I wouldn't go so far as to say the book read like fiction, I do think it's a very accessible, narrative non-fiction book. I would recommend this book to those who like true crime and historical fiction. I read it alongside watching "The Staircase" on Netflix and they worked well together, in a morbid way.
May 19, 2022
Told chronologically beginning with Meg’s childhood, this story details the fascinating events of a woman who took Parisian society by storm. Upending bourgeois traditions and becoming a tabloid sensation, this book covers it all.
Clearly a much researched book, the author tells Meg’s story with limited tangents or personal beliefs slipping through.
The author does a great job at walking the reader through the confusion Meg caused while trying to maintain her image in the press at the height of her popularity.
Clearly a much researched book, the author tells Meg’s story with limited tangents or personal beliefs slipping through.
The author does a great job at walking the reader through the confusion Meg caused while trying to maintain her image in the press at the height of her popularity.
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July 9, 2022It was really fun to meet and talk with the author. It's an interesting book--it slowed down for me in the middle a bit--but I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot of history.
October 24, 2022
I’d rate this at 1.5 stars. Solid research and attempts to create an honest narrative, but it reads more like a college dissertation rather than a novel. I struggled to finish this book in spite of the fantastic potential of its core plot.
January 4, 2023
Summary: This delivered the drama I expected plus thoughtful analysis that made this a book I'll keep thinking about.
In Belle Époque Paris, Marguerite Steinheil ambitiously strives for acceptance into high society, despite the limited finances of her artist husband. She manages a careful balancing act, sleeping with elite men while maintaining a sophisticated reputation in order to become part of the elite. Her strategy falls apart when she becomes a murder suspect after surviving a home invasion in which both her mother and husband were killed. Her escapades quickly become public gossip as she is put on trial.
This delivered the fun, soapy drama that I expected and more. It was well written and well researched. The author includes endnote references for specific sentences. She also gives a helpful description of how she interpreted contradictory or biased sources to arrive at her best guess for what happened. Within the story, it's clear when she's certain what happened and when she's speculating or working from contradictory accounts.
The previous historical drama I read, The Scandalous Hamiltons, became dry and full of filler when we reached the court trial. That wasn't a problem here. The trial was fascinating to read about and at about 270 widely-spaced pages, the length was just right for this story. I also appreciated that the author uses this story to highlight social mores of the time. She thoughtfully considers Marguerite as well, showing both her bravery in defying social norms and her ruthless willingness to harm less powerful people to get what she wanted.This review was originally posted on Doing Dewey
In Belle Époque Paris, Marguerite Steinheil ambitiously strives for acceptance into high society, despite the limited finances of her artist husband. She manages a careful balancing act, sleeping with elite men while maintaining a sophisticated reputation in order to become part of the elite. Her strategy falls apart when she becomes a murder suspect after surviving a home invasion in which both her mother and husband were killed. Her escapades quickly become public gossip as she is put on trial.
This delivered the fun, soapy drama that I expected and more. It was well written and well researched. The author includes endnote references for specific sentences. She also gives a helpful description of how she interpreted contradictory or biased sources to arrive at her best guess for what happened. Within the story, it's clear when she's certain what happened and when she's speculating or working from contradictory accounts.
The previous historical drama I read, The Scandalous Hamiltons, became dry and full of filler when we reached the court trial. That wasn't a problem here. The trial was fascinating to read about and at about 270 widely-spaced pages, the length was just right for this story. I also appreciated that the author uses this story to highlight social mores of the time. She thoughtfully considers Marguerite as well, showing both her bravery in defying social norms and her ruthless willingness to harm less powerful people to get what she wanted.This review was originally posted on Doing Dewey
May 11, 2022
Not one for historical biographies? Well, this is the book for you. The story of the life of Meg, a French upper class woman in the 1800s, who used her wits and the tools at her disposal (her body)to pull her self from the an outcast in a countryside family to the in crowd in The Who’s Who of Paris culture.
Oh did we mention that she might’ve killed two people… Justin’s leaving that there!
Horowitz doesn’t an excellent job of bringing to life a woman who influenced French culture economics and political power but who is so lost, lost at least to me.
This is not a spoiler, but the court scene is probably my favorite. The sheer humor and grit behind Meg made me both laugh and tip my hat to the woman who talked her way out of prison or worse the guillotine.
Overall, the book was a breeze to read because the story was so entertaining.
Oh did we mention that she might’ve killed two people… Justin’s leaving that there!
Horowitz doesn’t an excellent job of bringing to life a woman who influenced French culture economics and political power but who is so lost, lost at least to me.
This is not a spoiler, but the court scene is probably my favorite. The sheer humor and grit behind Meg made me both laugh and tip my hat to the woman who talked her way out of prison or worse the guillotine.
Overall, the book was a breeze to read because the story was so entertaining.
August 25, 2022
Many try to elevate their station in life and Meg is no different. Coming from a middle-class French family who so wants to be part of Parisian society. She uses the only tool available to her, her body. I was looking forward to not only the story but learning more about the Belle Époque. The story follows Meg's life chronologically, which is fine and good. About a third of the way through the book, it became extremely redundant and repetitive. One chapter (17, I believe) was so bad that I sped read it. This would have been a better New Yorker story/article than a full book. It needs quite a bit of editing. I have rounded up my 2.5. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.
September 12, 2023
It was very interesting and insightful. I never realized it was tied into so many other things from this time.
August 7, 2023
Paris: 1890
Sex, Power, and Corruption - a novel based on the life of Meg, "The Red Widow," and her rise and fall from fame.
This is a brilliantly written novel regarding the seductive and bewitching life of Margeurite Steinheil, better known as Meg or The Red Widow of Paris. I was enraptured by the real life of this femme fatale and the many influences she had over men, government officials, high-class society, and even royalty!
I was entranced by the way she was able to maneuver her way around the responsibility of her actions and the way she was able to engross men and women alike. Her life was fascinating at best, and she was a woman of means. Physically and mentally speaking and quite literally used both for her own enhancements throughout her life.
Lessons to be learned: Are the upper class of society held responsible for their actions or are deaf ears turned to the criminal, unprofessional, or unethical behavior?
The Red Widow reveals the trial of the century for this time period and sent tremendous shock waves throughout not only the high society but the low class or "poor" of the time period. A poignant tale of love, greed, seduction, immorality, and murder The Red Widow is sure to give the reader much to wonder and ponder regarding the life in this unforgettable true account of Margeurite Steinheil, her husband's, her daughter, and the many men and women who had the pleasure or unfortunate opportunity to grace her presence.
Sex, Power, and Corruption - a novel based on the life of Meg, "The Red Widow," and her rise and fall from fame.
This is a brilliantly written novel regarding the seductive and bewitching life of Margeurite Steinheil, better known as Meg or The Red Widow of Paris. I was enraptured by the real life of this femme fatale and the many influences she had over men, government officials, high-class society, and even royalty!
I was entranced by the way she was able to maneuver her way around the responsibility of her actions and the way she was able to engross men and women alike. Her life was fascinating at best, and she was a woman of means. Physically and mentally speaking and quite literally used both for her own enhancements throughout her life.
Lessons to be learned: Are the upper class of society held responsible for their actions or are deaf ears turned to the criminal, unprofessional, or unethical behavior?
The Red Widow reveals the trial of the century for this time period and sent tremendous shock waves throughout not only the high society but the low class or "poor" of the time period. A poignant tale of love, greed, seduction, immorality, and murder The Red Widow is sure to give the reader much to wonder and ponder regarding the life in this unforgettable true account of Margeurite Steinheil, her husband's, her daughter, and the many men and women who had the pleasure or unfortunate opportunity to grace her presence.
September 5, 2022
A colorful book about a woman who was tawdry, tenacious, and fabricator.
A double murder in 1908 would tarnish her reputation for life. However, she already was notoriously taking lovers before her husband’s and mother’s murders.
It’s an interesting examination of a woman’s life, social conventions, and the high price for a girl having fun.
Thanks to Sourcebook, Edelweiss, and NetGalley for the early copy.
A double murder in 1908 would tarnish her reputation for life. However, she already was notoriously taking lovers before her husband’s and mother’s murders.
It’s an interesting examination of a woman’s life, social conventions, and the high price for a girl having fun.
Thanks to Sourcebook, Edelweiss, and NetGalley for the early copy.
January 3, 2023
This is a non-fiction book that reads like a novel. It is jaw-droppingly salacious and a fun read. For a historian like me, its also a window into policing, the law, politics, gender, sexuality, and the media. Above all, its a great story of an interesting life.
September 6, 2022
Meg is 38 and she is looking for her next husband the only problem is her current husband is still alive. They live in the higher asked alarms of society but they have no money. She sees rich men to help pay their bills that sometimes her husband even accompanies her but must sit up front with the coachman to give her and her“Date “privacy. She isn’t a lady of the night she doesn’t charge men to sleep with her, but she does charge them for the food, her rent and anything else she can grift from her generous benefactors. Now that she’s older and her daughter is a grown she wants a more permanent seat with the upper class and while waiting for her knight in shining armor to show himself her husband and mother get murdered they are found with ropes around their neck and both are dead. She also has a rope around her neck but is totally alive without a bruise on her body. She is taken to trial accuse of their murder, but did she do it? That is the million dollar question. This book was so good I love historical True Crime and gossip and this one has both. There isn’t a dull moment in this book I totally loved it and read it all the way through in two days it was so freaking good! There is nothing better than a scandal amongst the rich and that is exactly what this book is. Everything was so documented that I don’t believe a detail was left out from her affairs to her marriage it seems like they head commentary on everything and I loved it this is a total five story it was amazing and if you love historical True Crime in scandal you love the red widow it is truly amazing! I received this book from netGally and the publisher but I am leaving this review totally voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind to dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own.
November 6, 2022
Not every book contains a hero. This one certainly doesn't.
The Red Widow follows the life of Margeurite "Meg" Steinheil. Meg was a very popular topic in the late 1800s/early 1900s. She flaunts certain rules while abiding by many others of the era. She does have a habit of people dying around her and some are definitely not natural. I will not reveal any more due to spoilers. However, there is certainly enough material for the book to cover.
What makes this a very good read is that the author, Sarah Horowitz, is one of the few people who does not fall for Meg's charms. Yes, there are many things Meg had to face that we object to nowadays. However, Meg is also a narcissistic, anti-Semitic opportunist. I have read many historical true crime books which fall in love with their subjects and bend the narrative to portray them in the best light. Horowitz avoids this and gives a clear eyed picture of the events as they are known or unknown.
You will not like Meg, but that doesn't mean her story isn't fascinating. It is.
(This book was provided to me as an advance reader copy bu Netgalley and Sourcebooks.)
The Red Widow follows the life of Margeurite "Meg" Steinheil. Meg was a very popular topic in the late 1800s/early 1900s. She flaunts certain rules while abiding by many others of the era. She does have a habit of people dying around her and some are definitely not natural. I will not reveal any more due to spoilers. However, there is certainly enough material for the book to cover.
What makes this a very good read is that the author, Sarah Horowitz, is one of the few people who does not fall for Meg's charms. Yes, there are many things Meg had to face that we object to nowadays. However, Meg is also a narcissistic, anti-Semitic opportunist. I have read many historical true crime books which fall in love with their subjects and bend the narrative to portray them in the best light. Horowitz avoids this and gives a clear eyed picture of the events as they are known or unknown.
You will not like Meg, but that doesn't mean her story isn't fascinating. It is.
(This book was provided to me as an advance reader copy bu Netgalley and Sourcebooks.)
February 5, 2024
Marguerite “Meg” Steinheil (née Japy) (1869-1954) is a difficult character to sympathize with. If this were a novel, she would be portrayed as scrappy and indomitable for her ability to use her beauty and charm to make her way in Belle Epoque Parisian society, and the reader would find themselves drawn into the melodrama of poor beautiful Meg, surviving the trauma of her husband’s and mother’s violent deaths only to be unjustly put on trial for their murders. The reader would cheer as justice was served and our girl Meg was acquitted of the charges. But this isn’t a novel, and the real Meg Steinheil is portrayed as being far from admirable. She was acquitted of the charges, but the killer or killers were never found. Could she actually have orchestrated her husband’s death in order to upgrade to a better husband? That certainly seems like it could have been a possibility, given her history of having sexual relationships with many wealthy and powerful men and for using those relationships both to better her position in society and to financially benefit by convincing her lovers to commission portraits from her unsuccessful artist husband.
What really makes Meg’s character stand out as reprehensible are the aspects of her character that embody the worst of the zeitgeist of the Belle Epoque. When the police arrive to investigate the murders she invents a series of scenarios, first blaming the crime on three mysterious Jews, then shifting the blame first to her valet, and then to the son of her loyal maid, who has done her bidding without question for many years. Her antisemitism, classism, and hypocrisy are repugnant, but they are not hers alone. She capitalizes on these prejudices within her society, along with the corruption of the police and the courts (many of whom had been her lovers) in order to save her skin.
The author has done extensive research for this book, and the aspects of it that I most enjoyed reading were the historical material, the account of the trial, and the insights into the culture, corruption, and hypocrisy of the era’s wealthy and powerful. I confess that I love a good scandal and so found the account of the death of French President Félix Faure, and the scandalous rumors of Meg’s involvement in it, especially interesting. The two were lovers, and according to some accounts at the time, Faure died of either a heart attack or stroke while engaged in a sexual act with Meg. How have I never heard THAT story before?
Ultimately, The Red Widow is interesting, informative, and full of juicy hundred-year-old French gossip. Despite the unsympathetic main character I found it to be a worthwhile read.
What really makes Meg’s character stand out as reprehensible are the aspects of her character that embody the worst of the zeitgeist of the Belle Epoque. When the police arrive to investigate the murders she invents a series of scenarios, first blaming the crime on three mysterious Jews, then shifting the blame first to her valet, and then to the son of her loyal maid, who has done her bidding without question for many years. Her antisemitism, classism, and hypocrisy are repugnant, but they are not hers alone. She capitalizes on these prejudices within her society, along with the corruption of the police and the courts (many of whom had been her lovers) in order to save her skin.
The author has done extensive research for this book, and the aspects of it that I most enjoyed reading were the historical material, the account of the trial, and the insights into the culture, corruption, and hypocrisy of the era’s wealthy and powerful. I confess that I love a good scandal and so found the account of the death of French President Félix Faure, and the scandalous rumors of Meg’s involvement in it, especially interesting. The two were lovers, and according to some accounts at the time, Faure died of either a heart attack or stroke while engaged in a sexual act with Meg. How have I never heard THAT story before?
Ultimately, The Red Widow is interesting, informative, and full of juicy hundred-year-old French gossip. Despite the unsympathetic main character I found it to be a worthwhile read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2024
Taken from the book. "An unforgettable portrait of a woman who became one of the most notorious figures of her day and whose scandalous story sheds fascinating light not only on her own tumultuous time but ours as well." ― Harold Schechter, author of Hell's The Mystery of Belle Guinness, Butcher of Men Sex, corruption, and the rise and fall of the Red Widow of Paris Paris, 1889: Margeurite Steinheil is a woman with ambition. But having been born into a middle-class family and trapped in a marriage to a failed artist twenty years her senior, she knows her options are limited. Determined to fashion herself into a new woman, Meg orchestrates a scandalous plan with her most powerful her body. Amid the dazzling glamor, art, and romance of bourgeois Paris, she takes elite men as her lovers, charming her way into the good graces of the rich and powerful. Her ambitions, though, go far beyond becoming the most desirable woman in Paris; at her core, she is a woman determined to conquer French high society. But the game she plays is a perilous navigating misogynistic double-standards, public scrutiny, and political intrigue, she is soon vaulted into infamy in the most dangerous way possible. A real-life femme fatale, Meg influences government positions and resorts to blackmail―and maybe even poisoning―to get her way. Leaving a trail of death and disaster in her wake, she earns the name the "Red Widow" for mysteriously surviving a home invasion that leaves both her husband and mother dead. With the police baffled and the public enraged, Meg breaks every rule in the bourgeois handbook and becomes the most notorious woman in Paris. An unforgettable true account of sex, scandal, and murder, The Red Widow is the story of a woman determined to rise―at any cost."
I finished the book because it did hold my interest, but I found it to be repetitive and here and there
Author relied on speculation about why a little too much. The murder was gruesome and personal, and Horowitz did a good job of not going into the nasty details. As far as Meg, who the book is about, she made her choices and had her goals in life and did anything to achieve them, I can't help but wonder, was it all worth it.
I finished the book because it did hold my interest, but I found it to be repetitive and here and there
Author relied on speculation about why a little too much. The murder was gruesome and personal, and Horowitz did a good job of not going into the nasty details. As far as Meg, who the book is about, she made her choices and had her goals in life and did anything to achieve them, I can't help but wonder, was it all worth it.
February 27, 2023
Margeurite Steinheil now there is a femme formidable indeed fatale. Trod a fine line between prostitution and being a courtesan but she falls into the latter category. Her adventures with male admirers she would then ask for a return favour in them buying or commissioning a painting by her husband Adolphe -- uninspiring both as a person and as an artist. Margeurite was a force of nature -- she might have remained anonymous but at least happy had her domineering and somewhat sinister father (who she worshipped) permitted her to marry the love of her life an army officer. However, the move to Paris changed her life and she is one of the more notorious women of French history. Not only that one of her lovers then President Felix Faure died whilst they were locked together in the Elysee Palace -- a veritable Faure Requiem without the musical accompaniment -- earning her the nickname 'la pompe funebre' which "meant either the 'undertaker' or 'the deadly fellator.'" The times being politically febrile particularly due to the Dreyfus case -- Faure was anti Dreyfus -- conspiracy theorists had a field day. Worse is to come when the insipid Adolphe and Margeurite's mother are murdered in the house in Paris whilst Margeurite is left alive though tied to a bed. She makes all sorts of claims -- one madder and less credible than the other which eventually exhausts the patience of a sympathetic detective and investigating judge. Ergo to trial she goes. Enough said. This is a cracking read and written with verve (dare one say Veuve Clicquot...) detailling not only Margeurite's rise and then fall from grace but also the high octane atmosphere in France at the time and how the mores of the bourgeoisie and establishment came to be exposed as rank hypocrisy. Highly recommend this tome.
September 5, 2022
This was a harrowing read based on a true story of a woman who was called THE RED WIDOW OF PARIS.
It was an intense read with how a life that can begin so normally but can go awry and become morally bankrupt after the loss of a beloved father; leaving Meg Steinhall to become a caretaker for her mother, in her young years.
When her father died, she lost her biggest enabler and fan that led her to become the woman she was; with confidence, ambition and a drive to not stop until she got what she wanted. Her losing her first true love due to her dad’s non-approval was devastating and the two losses combined, taught her to love men for only what they could provide. She wanted to be a socialite and live the life of the elite. So despite marrying an artist with neither prestige or money, she used her charms along with her body to climb the ladders to achieve French High Society Status.
She uses her influence to blackmail and corrupt anyone in her path and even murder if needed. She becomes the talk of the people and builds a notoriety that goes from respected to scorned. Her downfall to disgrace comes when she is accused of killing her husband and mother and arrested for their murder. But the Red Widow always has a way to manipulate those who surround her and trying to deflect the suspicion onto someone else may just be the come back she needs to rise again.
It was an intense read with how a life that can begin so normally but can go awry and become morally bankrupt after the loss of a beloved father; leaving Meg Steinhall to become a caretaker for her mother, in her young years.
When her father died, she lost her biggest enabler and fan that led her to become the woman she was; with confidence, ambition and a drive to not stop until she got what she wanted. Her losing her first true love due to her dad’s non-approval was devastating and the two losses combined, taught her to love men for only what they could provide. She wanted to be a socialite and live the life of the elite. So despite marrying an artist with neither prestige or money, she used her charms along with her body to climb the ladders to achieve French High Society Status.
She uses her influence to blackmail and corrupt anyone in her path and even murder if needed. She becomes the talk of the people and builds a notoriety that goes from respected to scorned. Her downfall to disgrace comes when she is accused of killing her husband and mother and arrested for their murder. But the Red Widow always has a way to manipulate those who surround her and trying to deflect the suspicion onto someone else may just be the come back she needs to rise again.
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 27, 2023DNFed at page 155.
I wanna first preface this by saying this DNF had nothing to do with how the biography was written. Sarah Horowitz does a great job at providing not only a well researched story on an unreliable character, but also providing the reader context about the societal norms for the time period.
That being said, I really hated Meg. It'd be one thing if she had done a bunch of dumb and reckless shit when she was young; but it's the complete opposite for me. I had more respect for Meg when she was a teen than I did for her as an adult. Teenage Meg just wanted to fall in love and not be confined to the strict societal norms of the bourgeoisie (also more than likely groomed by her father and possibly sexually abused by him); adult Meg was a homophobic, xenophobic, "I'm not like other girls" pain in the ass who was desperate to climb the social ladder. Honestly, based off the start of the book (where we're introduced with the murder of her husband and mother), I figured that was the icing on the cake, but it just seems to keep going and honestly I don't really care about Meg trying to blame every minority for her husband's death.
There's a good chance I will finish this book (because I'm over halfway done and quite a lot of the pages seem to be credits and Horowitz citing her sources) on audio rather than reading the ebook.
I wanna first preface this by saying this DNF had nothing to do with how the biography was written. Sarah Horowitz does a great job at providing not only a well researched story on an unreliable character, but also providing the reader context about the societal norms for the time period.
That being said, I really hated Meg. It'd be one thing if she had done a bunch of dumb and reckless shit when she was young; but it's the complete opposite for me. I had more respect for Meg when she was a teen than I did for her as an adult. Teenage Meg just wanted to fall in love and not be confined to the strict societal norms of the bourgeoisie (also more than likely groomed by her father and possibly sexually abused by him); adult Meg was a homophobic, xenophobic, "I'm not like other girls" pain in the ass who was desperate to climb the social ladder. Honestly, based off the start of the book (where we're introduced with the murder of her husband and mother), I figured that was the icing on the cake, but it just seems to keep going and honestly I don't really care about Meg trying to blame every minority for her husband's death.
There's a good chance I will finish this book (because I'm over halfway done and quite a lot of the pages seem to be credits and Horowitz citing her sources) on audio rather than reading the ebook.
August 29, 2022
The Red Widow is the story of Meg Steinheil during the early 1900's in Paris. Meg wanted to be part of upper society. She did this by having affairs with rich men in high society. She had them buy her husband's painting so she did not accept the money. When her husband and mother were found murdered, this upset her world. Did she murder them or have them murdered or was she innocent? This was the trial of the century in Paris.
I had never heard of Meg and found the story compelling. Women did not have many choices in this time period and had to find ways to make money without having a job. This could prove very difficult.
Also, if you were in the upper echelons of society life was much easier for you; even in the court system. You wonder how much after all these years has changed. It is a very interesting book and I would recommend it.
Thank you to #earlyreads, #SarahHorowitz, and #Sourcebooks for a copy of this book.
I had never heard of Meg and found the story compelling. Women did not have many choices in this time period and had to find ways to make money without having a job. This could prove very difficult.
Also, if you were in the upper echelons of society life was much easier for you; even in the court system. You wonder how much after all these years has changed. It is a very interesting book and I would recommend it.
Thank you to #earlyreads, #SarahHorowitz, and #Sourcebooks for a copy of this book.
September 23, 2022
To quote the author in her note, "This is a book about a woman who lied her entire life." it's an interesting book about Meg Steinheil who I had never heard of before but apparently was quite the focus in Paris in the Belle Epoque. Having come from a family situation that was out a tad off kilter, she entered a marriage that was contentious. Throughout her marriage, she wielded her sexuality to climb the social ladder of the day in many interesting ways. Eventually she became a celebrity though her goal in life was to be a lady in the higher echelons of society. It's an interesting book about a fascinating woman though it shows show distinctly different social classes were, how people were marginalized, and how the inequalities of that era aren't vastly different from those of today. The writing was a bit dry in places but I'll grant 4 stars because I think overall this book demonstrated a lot of research and effort to bring Meg to life.
April 6, 2023
Picked this one up without having any knowledge about the main character, Marguerite Japy/Meg Steinheil which is probably true for most readers. Meg came from a French family on the lowest rungs of the well-to-do ladder, and was groomed for a high society lifestyle by her father which included developing a charm with men. After a thwarted relationship, Meg finds herself in a bad marriage to a man who offers no financial stability. In turn, Meg begins offering sexual favors to men who make investments in her husband's art. In all, its a story involving murder which is sadly overshadowed by the main character's liaisons with high profile men of the time (circa 1900). In my opinion, it was clear that Meg was involved somehow whether she orchestrated the murders all herself or was covering for one of her lovers. The author ends with conclusions about how social norms and injustices parallel and differ from those of today which felt a bit forced. Nothing much more is mentioned about the lack of justice for the murder victims which is really a shame.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2023
I regret reaching for this book at the library. If I were a fan of Belle Epoque Paris, then this might have given a glimpse of the culture usually not depicted in general histories. Given it a splash of color and a blush of naughtiness. As a reader with broad interests, I found myself in for a 260-page ride with a rather unappealing woman, or more specifically, a spoiled, oversexed adolescent who never grew up, who never changed despite any of the challenges or successes of her long life. There are a couple threads that run through this story about the culture and zeitgeist of the age, but the subject of the book, M. Steinheil, just divas her way through life without a fresh idea or lasting contribution.
Sarah Horowitz has clearly done her homework, but because her "heroine" is steadfastly two-dimensional, she has to resort to repeating a couple of lines of cultural critique to make Meg seem worthy of this many words. In my estimation, she wasn't.
Sarah Horowitz has clearly done her homework, but because her "heroine" is steadfastly two-dimensional, she has to resort to repeating a couple of lines of cultural critique to make Meg seem worthy of this many words. In my estimation, she wasn't.
November 7, 2022
I do not remember where I heard about this book - but my interest was peeked. It is a true story and most of it happened in the 1890 thru 1909. She lived till 1954.
A true story about Margeurite Steinheil, a woman in France who was raised in a poor home and she wanted more. She married and it was not as she thought it would be, her husband refuses to divorce her but they agree that they can each live their life as they wanted. She had many male friends and could be considered a courtesan - well almost.
There is a murder - her husband and mother and interesting how the French court system worked.
An interesting book - the Afterword and the Authors Note are very interesting - aligning the happening in the book to present day -do read them.
A true story about Margeurite Steinheil, a woman in France who was raised in a poor home and she wanted more. She married and it was not as she thought it would be, her husband refuses to divorce her but they agree that they can each live their life as they wanted. She had many male friends and could be considered a courtesan - well almost.
There is a murder - her husband and mother and interesting how the French court system worked.
An interesting book - the Afterword and the Authors Note are very interesting - aligning the happening in the book to present day -do read them.
February 4, 2024
On Saturday at approximately 1:00pm I learned I needed to read this book by Tuesday morning. I then dove headlong into Meg’s twisted and complex life.
The story takes you through events leading up to Meg’s trial for the murder of her mother and husband and her life after she is released. It’s honestly an amazing story and I’m shocked I haven’t heard about Meg sooner! Much like how Meg’s life was sensationalized in 1908, Horowitz’s account is full of suspense, mystery, love, and, of course, sex. I would definitely recommend to any history lover or non-history lover—it was just that good!
“The Parisian life, brilliant and exhausting, strenuous and artificial, was above all intoxicating, and I needed such intoxication.”
The story takes you through events leading up to Meg’s trial for the murder of her mother and husband and her life after she is released. It’s honestly an amazing story and I’m shocked I haven’t heard about Meg sooner! Much like how Meg’s life was sensationalized in 1908, Horowitz’s account is full of suspense, mystery, love, and, of course, sex. I would definitely recommend to any history lover or non-history lover—it was just that good!
“The Parisian life, brilliant and exhausting, strenuous and artificial, was above all intoxicating, and I needed such intoxication.”
July 23, 2023
Highly engaging account of a woman and a scandal that seems very of their time but also very relatable to our own. The author clearly wants the reader to take away a number of points about gender, class, sex work, and how political/social elites can distort the institutions of a republic which proclaims equality in order to protect its own. However, unlike so many history professors who attempt to write popular history she trusts her readers to draw those conclusions for themselves without getting preachy or polemical. This kept the book entertaining while also highlighting the important issues raised by the case.
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