The hotel on Place Vendôme : life, death, and betrayal at the Hôtel Ritz in Paris

Set against the backdrop of the Nazi occupation of World War II, __The Hôtel on Place Vendôme__ is the captivating history of Paris’s world-famous Hôtel Ritz—a breathtaking tale of glamour, opulence, and celebrity; dangerous liaisons, espionage, and resistance—from Tilar J. Mazzeo, the __New York Times__ bestselling author of __The Widow Clicquot__ and __The Secret of Chanel No. 5__ When France fell to the Germans in June 1940, the legendary Hôtel Ritz on the Place Vendôme—an icon of Paris frequented by film stars and celebrity writers, American heiresses and risqué flappers, playboys, and princes—was the only luxury hotel of its kind allowed in the occupied city by order of Adolf Hitler. Tilar J. Mazzeo traces the history of this cultural landmark from its opening in fin de siècle Paris. At its center, __The Hotel on Place Vendôme__ is an extraordinary chronicle of life at the Ritz during wartime, when the Hôtel was simultaneously headquarters to the highest-ranking German officers, such as Reichsmarshal Hermann Göring, and home to exclusive patrons, including Coco Chanel. Mazzeo takes us into the grand palace’s suites, bars, dining rooms, and wine cellars, revealing a hotbed of illicit affairs and deadly intrigue, as well as stunning acts of defiance and treachery. Rich in detail, illustrated with black-and-white photos, __The Hotel on Place Vendôme__ is a remarkable look at this extraordinary crucible where the future of post-war France—and all of post-war Europe—was transformed. Set against the backdrop of the Nazi occupation of World War II, the captivating history of Paris's world-famous Htel Ritz-a breathtaking tale of glamour, opulence, and celebrity; dangerous liaisons, espionage, and resistance-from the New York Times bestselling author of The Widow Clicquot and The Secret of Chanel No. 5 Established in 1898 in the heart of Paris on Place Vendme, the Htel Ritz instantly became an icon of the city frequented by film stars and celebrity writers, American heiresses and risqu flappers, politicians, playboys, and princes. When France fell to the Germans in June 1940, it was the only luxury hotel of its kind allowed in the occupied city by order of Adolf Hitler. Tilar J. Mazzeo traces the history of this cultural landmark from its opening in fin de sicle Paris. At its center, The Hotel on Place Vendme is an extraordinary chronicle of life at the Ritz during wartime, when the Htel was simultaneously headquarters to the highest-ranking German officers, such as Reichsmarshal Hermann Gring, and home to exclusive patrons, including Coco Chanel. Mazzeo takes us into the grand palace's suites, bars, dining rooms, and wine cellars, revealing a hotbed of illicit affairs and deadly intrigue, as well as stunning acts of defiance and treachery, where refugees were hidden in secret rooms, a Jewish bartender passed coded messages for the German resistance, and Wehrmacht officers plotted to assassinate the Fhrer. Yet, as she makes clear, not everyone at the Ritz in the spring of 1940 would survive to the war's end. Rich in detail, illustrated with black-and-white photos, The Hotel on Place Vendme is a remarkable look at this extraordinary place and the people and events that made it legend; the crucible where the future of post-war France-and all of post-war Europe-was transformed. Set Against The Backdrop Of The Nazi Occupation Of World War Ii, [this Book Examines The] History Of Paris's World-famous Hôtel Ritz, A ... Tale Of Glamour, Opulence, And Celebrity; Dangerous Liaisons, Espionage, And Resistance--amazon.com. The Hôtel Ritz, The Mirror Of Paris -- This Switzerland In Paris : June 1940 -- All The Talk Of Paris : June 1, 1898 -- Dogfight Above The Place Vendôme : July 27, 1917 -- Diamonds As Big As The Ritz : September 1, 1940 -- The Americans Drifting To Paris : 1944 -- The French Actress And Her Nazi Lover -- The Jewish Bartender And The German Resistance -- The American Wife And The Swiss Director -- The German General And The Fate Of Paris -- The Press Corps And The Race To Paris -- Ernest Hemingway And The Ritz Liberated -- Those Dame Reporters : August 26, 1944 -- The Last Trains From Paris -- Coco's War And Other Dirty Linen -- The Blond Bombshell And The Nuclear Scientists -- From Berlin With Love And Last Battles In Paris : 1945 -- Waning Powers In Paris : June 1951 -- The War's Long Shadow : May 29, 169. Tilar J. Mazzeo. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Taking readers behind the doors of Paris's Hotel Ritz during the Nazi occupation of World War II, this extraordinary chronicle reveals a hotbed of illicit affairs, deadly intrigues, courageous acts of defiance and treachery and the people and events that made this opulent cultural landmark legendary