Hello Darlings, One of the greatest parts of any vacation is the extra time you have to yourself. For some it might be a beach-front massage, perhaps a shopping spree but for me it’s all about catching up on reading. Although I read a lot, mostly it is SEO and coding related books for the website. This week I finally had the time to finish Hal Vaughan’s Sleeping With The Enemy: Coco Chanel’s Secret War.
As an avid reader of Chanel biographies, this one is one of my favourite. The book is well written and meticulously researched. Sleeping With The Enemy focuses on the period 1941 to 1954. A time in Chanel’s life that has remained a myth for the longest time and one that is often overlooked by her biographers. Vaughan’s book discovers Chanel’s involvement with Hitler’s high-ranking officials during Paris’s occupation from 1940 to 1944.
More importantly it exposes her long time romance with Hans Günther von Dincklage also known as “Spatz”. Most often Spatz is described as playboy and diplomat serving his country and not a member of Nazi party. In truth, Dincklage was a Nazi master spy and German military intelligence agent who directly reported to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, right hand to Hitler. The book also follows Chanel to her exile in Switzerland with her lover and then her return to Paris. In fact, French court had a case open against Chanel and her espionage activities during the war. In true Chanel manner, Gabrielle escaped any punishment and went on to resurrect the House of Chanel.
I AM WEARING: H&M Top // Moschino Bathing Suit // Sergio Zelcer Teeny Sandals // Kate Spade Alda Sunglasses // Wide Brim Hat from Las Vegas
The book is fantastic, although it is heavily detailed in profiling Nazi activities and those of the Allies during World War II. The book is a war portrait that offers an inside look into the lives of Parisians and their elite during the occupation. I would not recommend this book for those who are not familiar with the details of WWII as it might be confusing.
Now, it’s your turn…What’s your summer read?
With Love…
Marta
This book is officially on my to-read list. I had heard about this part of Coco Chanel’s past via a post done a while back by Isabel of Hipster Musings. I have to say, in spite of the genius of Karl Lagerfeld whose designs for the house of Chanel are consistently amazing, I have a hard time falling all over a label founded by a known Nazi sympathizer. It just feels wrong.
I also just finished this book! I found it quite troubling, as a long-time lover of the Chanel brand. Even though she was never found guilty in court of collaboration, some of the direct quotes from her in the book, especially regarding Jewish people and homosexuals, were really terrible. I’m having a bit of trouble getting over it and buying back into the Chanel mystique.
I read about Chanel’s Nazi past in a magazine article a long time ago (when I was four yrs old?) and was very disappointed. Like Ashley, I had trouble ‘liking’ Chanel again. My dad went on to explain to me that that was why I should never set up any human being as an ideal role model — people make mistakes, some against your principles, and you are bound to be disappointed.
I like swedish women writers – espcially Liza Marklund, have read all she has written so I am now am reading Camilla Läckberg another swedish writer. Although i’m danish like the swedish women writers – they are just the best….
Your interest for the ww2 is interesting – the germans of today has nothing to do with it – which I thinkt is important in this matter.