An OK historical, although it came across as rather modern in sensibilities. I also found the science a bit on the shaky side - aluminium was not discovered until 1825, I suspect the author actually meant alum or alumina which were known since antiquity.

Light but a reasonable holiday read.

I read this book in daily instalments via The Pigeonhole, it’s was such an enjoyable read. The descriptions really gave a sense of time and place and the characters were really interesting. Each day’s reading had me wanting more. Highly recommended if you like historical fiction. This is the second book I have read by this author and I intend to read her other books. ( )

This is a fun historical mystery set in the 1700s. The main character, Genevieve La Planché is a second generation Huegenot refugee living in London. She would like to be an artist, but finds most paths closed to women. Her grandfather is able to get her a job painting porcelain in Derby, but before she leaves a mysterious nobleman recruits her to spy for him. Her mission is to figure out the formula for a new blue paint color that Derby is working on.

While Genevieve finds out more about the porcelain industry she, of course, falls in love and has many adventures. Yes, it gets a bit unbelievable. But I was happy to go along for the ride. This is the kind of mystery I enjoy, with a fun setting, a little romance, light on the mystery elements, and a strong female lead character.

Perfect light and engaging reading for over the holidays, just don't read it expecting perfection. It's for fun! ( )

Historical romance focused on the 18th Century ceramic industry in England and the search for a new shade of blue color for it. The story has a beautiful heroine, a scientist, danger, intrigue, scoundrels, and an improbable meeting with the king of France and his mistress -- a rather satisfying adventure story. ( )

I enjoyed this historical novel, recommended to me by Emma from Words and Peace when she came across my review of Robyn Cadwallader's Book of Colours which features a 14th century family of limners who create exquisite illuminated bibles and devotional prayer books. The Blue is likewise an historical novel about art, but it's about 18th century porcelain, and the quest to create the colour blue.

The story features a lively young woman called Genevieve Planché, born in London after her parents fled the persecution of the Protestant Huguenots in Catholic France. Like many a contemporary heroine in commercial historical novels she is feisty, fearless and ambitious, and she accomplishes remarkable feats despite the constraints of her era. There have, of course, always been remarkable women, but still, the reader must often suspend disbelief, especially towards the end of the story when Genevieve is impudent towards people who might easily have sent her to the guillotine without a second thought. (If it had been invented by then. It wasn't, until 1789, and this novel takes place in 1759. But you get the idea).

Anyway...

Genevieve's grandfather was, like many of the Huguenot diaspora, a weaver, but in England he takes up art. That's what Genevieve wants to do too, but alas, it is not merely her gender which precludes this but also her foolish behaviour in falling for a local ne'er-do-well. When he, briefly endearing himself to the reader by undertaking activities vaguely reminiscent of early unionism, oversteps the mark by destroying a local business, Genevieve is thought to be in cahoots with him and promptly loses her apprenticeship drawing floral patterns for Anna Maria Garthwaite (who was a real life textile designer in Spitalfields, London).

Genevieve begins her narration by announcing her dubious status:

Amiability has never been counted more important in a woman's character than it is today. Which is why I'm twenty-four and unmarried and without friends or employer, only a grandfather for company. (p.1)

So it's off to Derby for Genevieve, where she is to take up painting porcelain.

Since this work seems a soul-destroying fate worse than death to Genevieve, she is easily tempted by a seductive offer from the suave Sir Gabriel Courtenay. He knows that the Derby porcelain works are on the brink of discovering the secret of the elusive blue pigment, and he promises her £5000 and passage to Italy where she can learn the art of history painting, if she can find out what he needs to know.

To read the rest of my review, (and see a slideshow of the porcelain that features in this novel), please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2019/12/21/the-blue-by-nancy-bilyeau/ ( )