THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS
A stunning debut novel of a young American woman who becomes a spy in Paris during World War II.
May 1940. Fleeing a glamorous Manhattan life built on lies, Claire Harris arrives in Paris with a romantic vision of starting anew. But she didn’t anticipate the sight of Nazi soldiers marching under the Arc de Triomphe. Her plans smashed by the German occupation, the once- privileged socialite’s only option is to take a job in a flower shop under the tutelage of a sophisticated Parisian florist.
In exchange for false identity papers, Claire agrees to aid the French Resistance.
A stunning debut novel of a young American woman who becomes a spy in Paris during World War II.
May 1940. Fleeing a glamorous Manhattan life built on lies, Claire Harris arrives in Paris with a romantic vision of starting anew. But she didn’t anticipate the sight of Nazi soldiers marching under the Arc de Triomphe. Her plans smashed by the German occupation, the once- privileged socialite’s only option is to take a job in a flower shop under the tutelage of a sophisticated Parisian florist.
In exchange for false identity papers, Claire agrees to aid the French Resistance. Despite the ever-present danger, she comes to love the enduring beauty of the City of Light, exploring it in the company of Thomas Grey, a mysterious Englishman working with the Resistance. Claire’s bravery and intelligence make her a valuable operative, and slowly her values shift as she witnesses the courageous spirit of the Parisians.
But deception and betrayal force her to flee once again-this time to fight for the man she loves and what she knows is right-praying she has the heart and determination to survive long enough to one day see Paris again.
- Berkley
- Paperback
- May 2011
- 368 Pages
- 9780425240847
Buy the Book
$15.00
About Lynn Sheene
Lynn Sheene is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, and lives with her husband in southern California. The Last Time I Saw Paris is her first novel.
Praise
“Well written… with excellent pacing and a heart-felt story, there is only one way to celebrate this wonderful book, and that is by giving it a Perfect 10.”—Romance Reviews Today
“Sheene gives readers a heroine who could give Scarlett O’Hara lessons in determination and a fascinating taste of life in the City of Light during the difficult days of World War II.”—The Chicago Tribune
“Set against the backdrop of Paris during the Second World War, The Last Time I Saw Paris is a breathtaking tale of love, courage, intrigue and betrayal. Beautifully written and heartfelt, it is a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable read.”—Pam Jenoff, International bestselling author of The Kommandant’s Girl
“In The Last Time I Saw Paris Lynn Sheene delivers more drama, romance and suspense than we’ve seen since the Paris occupation in Casablanca.”—Katherine Neville, best-selling author of The Eight and The Fire
Discussion Questions
Claire most prized possession when she left Manhattan was her Cartier jewelry. Do you have a piece of jewelry that holds meaning for you? Is its worth measured in monetary or sentimental value? Have you inherited an antique or valued treasure from a loved one that carries important memories for you?
The book describes the elaborate floral displays that Claire and Madame Palain created for the Nazi-occupied hotels, as well as the flowers tumbling down a garden wall and simple stems in a bucket that Claire loved. How do flowers take on different characters in the book? What do they mean personally to Claire? Do certain flowers hold meaning for you?
Did you find elegance in Claire’s expensive Manhattan brownstone or the simple wine and bread dinners Madame Palain served, or both? Give other examples of elegance from the book. How do these different examples each representelegance? In today’s society, do you believe people define elegance based more on material things, or in more recent times do you believe perceptions have changed?
Madame Palain told Claire that “Elegance is in the details” the first night they met. How did Madame demonstrate this belief in her daily life and in the way she ran La Vie en Fleur? Did Claire embrace this way of living? How did it shape her actions and beliefs? Have you had a similar mentor in your life?
Claire went to Paris to change her life. She did, but was it in the way she expected? Where in the story did you see a dramatic shift in Claire? How many people were touched by Claire’s change of character? Have you had an experience that transformed your life in unexpected ways?
How does Claire’s changing perception of Grey mirror her own shifting consciousness? Did your opinion of Grey change alongside Claire’s? How is he different from other men that Claire has known? What was it about Grey that drew her in?
Why did Claire assume that the Oberons would take in Marta and Anna? Would you risk your safety and open your home to children in peril?
Odette pressed Claire to put her life in danger to save the resistance leader, Kinsel, and justified it by saying, “We are in a war, Claire. I must sometimes act as a soldier, not as a friend.” Could you ask your friends to risk their lives in an attempt to fight a larger evil?
How did Claire’s opportunistic character make her uniquely qualified to spy for the Resistance. How did that same trait make her disadvantaged?
What historical details of life under the Occupation were you most surprising or moving for you? In what ways do novels provide a means for understanding history?