Review: A History In Paris

A History In Paris by Hanleigh Bradley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A History in Paris is not your typical love story. Bradley introduces us to Kenneth Delos a 20-something-year-old who escapes to Paris. He is running away from his parents who have dreams of Kenneth becoming a politician. However, it's not what he wants. While he is there trying to sort himself out, Kenneth meets Michelle. A woman studying French literature. They start off as strangers, then friends, and eventually lovers. Kenneth decides that he will stay in Paris because of Michelle. But Michelle feels that she might be holding him back from his future.

As the two get closer, both Kenneth and Michelle refuse to tell their parents about their relationship. The book transitions from the past to the present. The story is told by both Kenneth and Michelle's perspectives. Kenneth and Michelle settle into their lives in Paris, but never tell their parents about their relationship and the pregnancy of their first child.

Eventually, the burden becomes too much and they leave the city where they elope. But once they come back to Paris, the weight of the lie is too much and it tests the marriage.

Once their first son is born, things seem normal. However, when Michelle's parents write about her coming home (by this time they have three children). Michelle's fear of being disowned by her parents causes the rift between her and Kenneth which ultimately makes her leave for home and never return.

Michelle divorces Kenneth, leaving him to raise the three children on his own (with the help of his parents).

Analysis:

What I found interesting about the book was the fact that despite Michelle's fears of Kenneth going back to England and becoming a politician, she was right. Michelle wanted to keep her life and her family she created with Kenneth in Paris in private. The decision to not tell her parents and never sending the letter made it a little bit easier for her. On the other hand, I believe that it was her choice to leave coupled with Kenneth’s inability to take care of the children which ultimately causes Kenneth to become Mayor.

Hanleigh does a great job of showing the complexity of the relationship between Kenneth and Michelle. It was a relationship made of good and bad decisions, some worse than others. These two were never meant to last. But at least they will always have Paris.



View all my reviews