A piece Angel Taormina wrote called Beautiful Lives is the preface to this book and gives everyone the past of the two lead characters and of Paris at the time. The historical details are incredible. Once you get into the book which is actually called Erik and Christine-The Beautiful Earthly Lives and Heavenly Eternal Love of Monsieur and Madame Charpentier you discover a historical tale of two people in love who the world didn't want to be together but who found a way regardless. It is an insightful look at the marriage customs at the time and of the seemingly arbitrary standards of what different social classes can and can't do and what is allowed of a girl who comes from nothing, becomes great in spite of everyone, reluctantly joins high society and then rejects it in favor of what she truly loves. There is a very beautiful moment in Erik and Christine (for short) where Erik and Christine are discussing whether or not to run away and make a new life somewhere other than Paris and Erik finds it amusing that she thought he was the richest man in the city and must explain to her that money needs to come from somewhere and Christine knows he's been out of work for months. He is determined to get medicines for her and is in denail about her illness as much as she is in denail about the possibility of him dying from old age. A few chapters later when they both accept that they have no control over what may or may not happen to them Christine tells Erik that she wants them to stay in Paris because she likes it there and running away would only mean defeat. It is the moment that by admitting their lives are out of their hands they then gain the most sense and control over their lives and are finally able to fight back. I think the story is based on a true story and I know that a lot of the characters are based on or have the names of real historical figures. The book shows the few bumps in the road for everyone but throughout it shows every character/person in their best light and really gives Paris and its citizens a good name, a good persona, and a good legacy. 5 stars for Erik and Christine. ( )