Synopses & Reviews
Camille Claudel, the famous sculptor, has come to work at Madeleines family inn, far from the distractions of Paris. Madeleine, who has secret aspirations as an artist herself, is fascinated by this remote and somewhat unfriendly guest. Slowly the persistent girl and the secretive sculptor form a bond that leads to beautiful surprises for both artist and child. In this uplifting story, with charming illustrations by Robert Dunn, Natalie Ziarnik imagines how Madeleine Boyer, a real girl, became the inspiration for La Petite Châtelaine (The Little Lady), one of Camille Claudels finest creations.
Review
"Ziarnik creates a fictionalized account of a friendship between sculptor Claudel (1864-1943) and a young girl. . . . A touching story of two kindred spirits and the often-solitary creative process." --Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Natalie Ziarnik, who edits the "By the Book" column for Public Libraries magazine, is head of the children's department at the Ela Area Public Library District in Lake Zurich, Illinois. During a year in France, she was introduced to the work of Camille Claudel and was fascinated by the friendship between Claudel and Madeleine Boyer. She lives in Barrington, Illinois.Robert Dunn studied illustration at Glasgow's College of Building and Printing. He lives in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.