Miss Dior A Story of Courage and Couture (from the Acclaimed Author of Coco Chanel)

**__Miss Dior__ is a wartime story of freedom and fascism, beauty and betrayal and** **'a gripping story' (Antonia Fraser).** 'Exceptional . . . __Miss Dior__ is so much more than a biography. It's about how necessity can drive people to either terrible deeds or acts of great courage, and how beauty can grow from the worst kinds of horror.' **__DAILY TELEGRAPH__** __Miss Dior__ explores the relationship between the visionary designer Christian Dior and his beloved younger sister Catherine, who inspired his most famous perfume and shaped his vision of femininity. Justine Picardie's journey takes her to wartime Paris, where Christian honed his couture skills while Catherine dedicated herself to the French Resistance and the battle against the Nazis, until she was captured by the Gestapo and deported to the German concentration camp of Ravensbrück. Tracing the wartime paths of the Dior siblings leads Picardie deep into other hidden histories, and different forms of resistance and sisterhood. She discovers what it means to believe in beauty and hope, despite our knowledge of darkness and despair, and reveals the timeless solace of the natural world in the aftermath of devastation and destruction. 'Extraordinary . . . Picardie uses her investigative reporting skills . . . the result is Netflix-worthy and the pace page-turning . . . Catherine's story shines - the quiet Dior who preferred flowers to fashion, the unsung heroine who survived the abuse of the Third Reich to help liberate France.' **__SUNDAY TIMES__** 'a Gripping Story In Which Justine Picardie Brilliantly Contrasts The Cruel Old World Of Wartime France With The Hopeful New World Epitomised By Christian Dior's New Look.' Antonia Fraser 'catherine's Story Is Beautifully, Hauntingly Told In Spare And Elegant Prose By Picardie . . . Moving And Evocative.' The Times 'picardie's Book Is Of The Moment, Celebrating An Unsung Hero At A Time When Female Influences Are Earning New Acclaim.' Vogue Miss Dior Is A Story Of Freedom And Fascism, Beauty And Betrayal, Roses And Repression, And How The Polished Surface Of Fashion Conceals Hidden Depths. It Paints A Portrait Of The Enigmatic Woman Behind The Designer Christian Dior: His Beloved Younger Sister Catherine, Who Inspired His Most Famous Perfume And Shaped His Vision Of Femininity. Justine Picardie's Journey Takes Her To Occupied Paris, Where Christian Honed His Couture Skills While Catherine Dedicated Herself To The French Resistance, Until She Was Captured By The Gestapo And Deported To The German Concentration Camp Of Ravensbrück. With Unparalleled Access To The Dior Family Homes And Archives, Picardie's Research Into Catherine's Courageous Life Shines A New Light On Christian Dior's Legendary Work, And Reveals How His Enchanting 'new Look' Emerged Out Of The Shadows Of His Sister's Suffering. Tracing The Wartime Paths Of The Dior Siblings Leads Picardie Deep Into Other Hidden Histories, And Different Forms Of Resistance And Sisterhood. She Explores What It Means To Believe In Beauty And Hope, Despite Our Knowledge Of Darkness And Despair, And Discovers The Timeless Solace Of The Natural World In The Aftermath Of Devastation And Destruction. The Result Is An Exquisite And Unforgettably Moving Book. *a Beautiful, Full Colour Illustrated Book Featuring Exclusive Images From The Dior Archives* Miss Dior is a wartime story of freedom and fascism, beauty and betrayal and 'a gripping story' (Antonia Fraser). *The New Look, a new Apple TV drama series starring Maisie Williams as Catherine Dior - in a role inspired by Justine Picardie's Miss Dior - is out now* 'Exceptional . . . Miss Dior is so much more than a biography. It's about how necessity can drive people to either terrible deeds or acts of great courage, and how beauty can grow from the worst kinds of horror.' DAILY TELEGRAPH Miss Dior explores the relationship between the visionary designer Christian Dior and his beloved younger sister Catherine, who inspired his most famous perfume and shaped his vision of femininity. Justine Picardie's journey takes her to wartime Paris, where Christian honed his couture skills while Catherine dedicated herself to the French Resistance and the battle against the Nazis, until she was captured by the Gestapo and deported to the German concentration camp of Ravensbrück. Tracing the wartime paths of the Dior siblings leads Picardie deep into other hidden histories, and different forms of resistance and sisterhood. She discovers what it means to believe in beauty and hope, despite our knowledge of darkness and despair, and reveals the timeless solace of the natural world in the aftermath of devastation and destruction. *A beautiful, full colour package featuring over 200 archival images.* 'Extraordinary . . . Picardie uses her investigative reporting skills . . . the result is Netflix-worthy and the pace page-turning . . . Catherine's story shines - the quiet Dior who preferred flowers to fashion, the unsung heroine who survived the abuse of the Third Reich to help liberate France.' SUNDAY TIMES Justine Picardie paints a portrait of the enigmatic woman behind the designer Christian Dior: his beloved younger sister Catherine, who inspired his most famous perfume and shaped his vision of femininity. With unparalleled access to the Dior family homes and archives, Picardie's research into Catherine Dior's courageous life shines a new light on Christian Dior's legendary work, and reveals how his enchanting "New Look" emerged out of the shadows of his sister's suffering