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A Letter from Paris

A True Story of Hidden Art, Lost Romance, and Family Reclaimed

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A Letter from Paris

Written by: Louisa Deasey
Narrated by: Anthea Greco
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About this listen

When Louisa Deasey receives a message from a Frenchwoman called Coralie, who has found a cache of letters in an attic, written about Louisa’s father, neither woman can imagine the events it will set in motion.

The letters, dated 1949, detail a passionate affair between Louisa’s father, Denison, and Coralie’s grandmother, Michelle, in post-war London. They spark Louisa to find out more about her father, who died when she was six. From the seemingly simple question “Who was Denison Deasey?” follows a trail of discovery that leads Louisa to the streets of London, to the cafés and restaurants of Paris, and a poet’s villa in the south of France. From her father’s secret service in World War II to his relationships with some of the most famous bohemian artists in post-war Europe, Louisa unearths a portrait of a fascinating man, both at the epicenter and the mercy of the social and political currents of his time.

A Letter from Paris is about the stories we tell ourselves and the secrets the past can uncover, showing the power of the written word to cross the bridges of time.

©2018 Louisa Deasey (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing 20th Century Historical Modern Travel Writing & Commentary Nonfiction Middle Ages Thought-Provoking
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This is the story of a women looking to know her father who died when she was 6 years old. It’s a very personal journey through his memoirs, writings and others who had known and loved him. For me, although I can appreciate her quest, I felt with all the great stories in this world to tell, this one was too myopic and did not rise to the level of universal greatness or inspiration. I might add that it’s very Australia-centric with many of the cultural and artistic references unknown to me or possibly anyone who is not familiar with Australia.

Very personal memoir

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I’ve enjoyed many books about people’s quests to untangle family roots. I was initially disappointed in this one, as I found it slow to grab me, and uneven audio editing distracting. But, alas, as the history emerged, and connections were made, the story became intriguing. I felt I was in France with her on her trip too.

Slow to start but worth it

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Performance was good. The accents were well done. At one point in the story I had to push through waiting for the next part, but it was definitely worth it. Overall it’s a good book with a sweet ending.

Lovely story..

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This book is overwritten and constantly circles back to the same thoughts. It needed a good editor, more about Dennison and less about Louisa. It could have been a 2 page article in a magazine instead of a book.

Overwritten and dull

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