The Widows of Champagne
Josephine, Hélène, Gabrielle. Three generations of women of Château Fouché-Leblanc in Reims, France—matriarch, daughter-in-law, granddaughter—have the misfortune to be widows. They have banded together to continue their family’s centuries-old tradition of producing celebrated vintages of champagne, but France’s surrender to the Nazis in 1940, and the subsequent occupation, threatens their business and very lives. With Helmut von Schmidt, a German wine importer turned Wehrmacht captain, requisitioning their home and organizing mass theft of champagne for the Third Reich’s consumption, each woman takes separate, dangerous steps to save their legacy and family.
The story ably conveys the trio’s courageous acts amid the constant fear of discovery. Nervous but determined, Gabrielle constructs a false wall to conceal the most treasured champagne blends in their cellar and agrees to spy for the Resistance. Hélène, a sophisticated former Parisian whose paternal Jewish heritage is kept hidden, feigns affection for Von Schmidt, seeing no other choice. Her internal decision-making process, as she endures feelings of guilt and shame, is nuanced and emotionally shattering. Equally moving is the perspective of Josephine— still elegant at 77—as she tries to hold off encroaching dementia while formulating a daring plan. The chime of cathedral bells and intriguing details on champagne production establish credible atmosphere and serve as reminders of daily life around Reims in normal times.
The cruel, lecherous Von Schmidt seems a formulaic villain at first, but the story turns unexpectedly powerful when his superior arrives. Past the halfway point, it has the pacing of a thriller, where the pages can’t be turned fast enough. Aspects of the denouement, however, feel abrupt and fail to address the novel’s complex moral issues in adequate depth, especially since they were explored so realistically beforehand. While The Widows of Champagne has many strengths, the neat conclusion may not satisfy all readers.
