Author Gioria Diliberto will present about her latest novel, Coco at the Ritz, at the the JCC's February Literary Luncheon on Wednesday, February 14 at 12:30 PM.
Though her name is synonymous with elegance and chic, the iconic Coco Chanel had a complicated dark side, and in late August 1944, as World War II drew to a close, she was arrested and interrogated on charges of treason to France. What transpired during her interrogation, who was present, and why she was set free when so many other women who’d been involved with German men (willingly or otherwise) had their heads shaved or were imprisoned remains a mystery.
In this brilliantly insightful and compulsively enjoyable novel from the author of I Am Madame X, Gioia Diliberto explores the motivations of this complex woman and portrays the gripping battle of wits that could have been her interrogation. Was Chanel truly a collaborator?
Gioia Diliberto is the author of seven books and a play. Her writing, which focuses on women’s lives, has been praised for combining rich storytelling, deep research, and literary grace. Her books have been translated into several languages, and she has written for many publications. She also teaches in the writing program at Northwestern University’s School of Professional Studies.