The Blue by Nancy Bilyeau
This “spy story is set amid the rivalry of eighteenth century porcelain factories.” Bringing the story of the Meissen porcelain - where it all started in Europe, through Derby Porcelain in England, to Sevres - the French factory sponsored by Madame de Pompadour, mistress of King Louis XV. “The atmosphere of high stakes and stolen formulas depicted in The Blue is factual. (…) Discoveries in pigment of color have a long and fascinating history, and none more so than in blue. A scientist named Georg Brandt was the first person to discover a new metal after he realized that the color of a blue pigment came from cobalt.” Set at a time when England is at war with France. In London, William Hogarth is a successful leading artist. He is a great inspiration for young Genevieve Planche, who dreams about becoming an artist herself in a time when men are only meant to be artists. But she is a groundbreaking woman and she is about to ask the great artist to sponsor her. Meanwhile, arrangement...