For nearly five years, we have explored the lives of the figures who shaped the Paris we adore—its cobbled streets, grand monuments, and hidden corners. From the smallest details of Notre Dame to the treasures of the Musée du Louvre, each story has revealed the magic of history.
For this monumental 250th episode, I wanted to choose a topic that truly honored this milestone. After much reflection, I painstakingly narrowed down a list of ten extraordinary women—figures of resilience, resistance, reinvention, and rebellion—who redefined what it meant to be a woman in their time.
Join me as we celebrate these incredible women and the legacy they left behind in Paris and beyond.
🎙️ Listen here: Paris History Avec a Hemingway
Here’s to many more episodes and the remarkable stories yet to be told!
Julia Child and Veuve Clicquot: Reinvention and Legacy
Julia Child: Bringing French Cuisine to America
Julia McWilliams Child, the woman who introduced French cooking to America, fell in love with France as deeply as generations have fallen in love with her.
Born on August 15, 1912, in Pasadena into a wealthy family, Julia stood out—both for her personality and her 6’2” frame. At Smith College, she excelled in basketball, golf, tennis, and acting. Graduating with a history degree in 1934, she dreamed of becoming a writer but instead landed in advertising at W & J Sloane.
When World War II broke out, Julia attempted to join the Women’s Army Corps but was rejected for her height. Instead, she joined the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)—the precursor to the CIA—where she helped develop shark repellent(yes, really) to prevent sharks from triggering underwater explosives.
Her OSS work took her to Sri Lanka, where she met Paul Child in 1944. He was ten years older, worldly, and sophisticated. They married in 1946, and in 1948, a new assignment took them to Paris—a move that changed her life forever.
In her late 30s, Julia discovered her true passion: French cuisine. By 49, she published Mastering the Art of French Cooking, a book that transformed American kitchens. Unlike many women of her time, she had a husband who championed her success. Paul Child believed in her brilliance, helping Julia become the icon who inspired generations to embrace French gastronomy.
🔗 Listen here: Paris History Avec a Hemingway - Julia Child
Veuve Clicquot: The Woman Who Revolutionized Champagne
Born Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin on December 16, 1777, in Reims, she married François Clicquot, heir to a textile and champagne empire, at 21. Together, they expanded production to 60,000 bottles a year and shipped throughout Europe. But when François died suddenly in 1805, Barbe was left widowed at 27.
Instead of stepping aside, she took control of the business—a rarity for women at the time. Her father-in-law wanted out, but she fought to keep the company afloat, earning her the name Veuve Clicquot ("The Widow Clicquot").
With the help of her trusted employee Louis Bohne, she discovered a key market: Russian royalty loved her champagne. Even when naval blockades threatened trade, she found creative ways to get her bottles to them, securing Veuve Clicquot’s place in history. The anchor logo on every bottle today symbolizes her resilience on the waterways of France.
Beyond business, she revolutionized champagne-making. At her kitchen table, she invented riddling, a process that removed yeast and sediment from bottles—creating the crystal-clear champagne we know today.
She died in 1866 at 89 years old, leaving behind a global empire and a legacy that still sparkles. The next time you raise a glass of Veuve Clicquot, toast to the brilliant woman who defied the odds.
🔗 Listen here: Paris History Avec a Hemingway - Veuve Clicquot
Both Julia Child and Veuve Clicquot reinvented themselves later in life, proving that ambition has no expiration date. Whether in the kitchen or the vineyards, their stories continue to inspire
Victorine Meurent and Suzanne Valadon: From Muse to Master
Victorine Meurent: Manet’s Muse and Forgotten Artist
Born on February 18, 1844, Victorine Meurent was drawn to art from a young age. At 16, she met Édouard Manet in Thomas Couture’s studio, becoming one of his most famous models. With her striking red hair, she appeared in at least eight of his works, including The Street Singer and the groundbreaking Olympia (1863), which scandalized the Salon with its unapologetic portrayal of a nude courtesan.
Though often remembered as Manet’s muse, Victorine was far more than just a model. She was an artist in her own right, exhibiting at the Salon of 1870, where her painting hung just feet from Manet’s. Unlike him, she embraced academic realism, a style that ultimately led them to part ways. Today, only two of her works survive in the museum of Colombes, a small fraction of the talent she left behind.
🔗 Listen here: Paris History Avec a Hemingway - Victorine Meurent
Suzanne Valadon: The Model Who Became a Master
Like Victorine, Suzanne Valadon began as a model but left an even greater mark as a painter. Growing up in Montmartre, she sat for artists like Henner, Steinlen, Toulouse-Lautrec, and most famously, Renoir, appearing in Danse à la Ville and Danse à Bougival (1883). But while modeling, she was also learning, absorbing techniques that would shape her own artistry.
At 30, she finally picked up a brush, encouraged by Edgar Degas, who became a mentor and collector of her work. Valadon’s art defied convention, featuring bold lines, intimate female nudes, and vibrant compositions that challenged traditional depictions of women.
Despite personal struggles—including a turbulent love life, a son (Maurice Utrillo) who battled alcoholism, and a falling-out with Degas—she forged a career in a male-dominated world. Her paintings can be seen today in the Musée d’Orsay and the Centre Pompidou, but for a deeper look into her life, visit the Musée de Montmartre, where her former studio and apartment are preserved.
🔗 Listen here: Paris History Avec a Hemingway - Suzanne Valadon
Both Victorine and Suzanne challenged expectations, proving that muses could be masters in their own right. Though their work was overshadowed in their time, their legacy endures, etched onto the walls of Paris’s greatest museums.
Valtesse de la Bigne & Ninon de Lenclos: Women Who Defied Convention
Valtesse de la Bigne: The Courtesan Who Became a Legend
Born in 1848, Valtesse de la Bigne knew early on that she would have to forge her own path. With an alcoholic father and a laundress-prostitute mother, she worked long hours as a seamstress before discovering the bal musettes of Paris, where she caught the eye of wealthy men. She changed her birth name, Émilie-Louise Delabigne, to "Valtesse," a play on Votre Altesse (Your Highness), setting the tone for her future.
Her striking red hair and magnetic presence won her admirers, including composer Jacques Offenbach and a Russian banker, both of whom showered her with wealth. The Prince de Sagan later gifted her a lavish home at 98 Boulevard Malesherbes, cementing her status as one of Paris’s most sought-after courtesans.
Unlike many courtesans of her era, Valtesse built a life of independence and cultivated an air of mystery. She inspired Émile Zola’s infamous courtesan Nana, a character both admired and feared in Parisian society.
Today, one of the most striking reminders of Valtesse’s legacy is her ornate bed, displayed at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs—a symbol of the empire she built on her own terms.
🔗 Listen here: Paris History Avec a Hemingway - Valtesse de la Bigne
Ninon de Lenclos: The Intellectual Courtesan Who Shaped Parisian Society
Born on November 10, 1620, Ninon de Lenclos was raised by a liberal father who encouraged her love of philosophy, science, and languages—unusual pursuits for a girl of the 17th century. When her father was exiled, her traditional mother tried to marry her off, but Ninon refused. To escape the fate of an arranged marriage, she took control of her own destiny, defying expectations and becoming one of Paris’s most celebrated courtesans.
Unlike many women of her time, Ninon blended intelligence, independence, and seduction, hosting salons where Paris’s greatest minds gathered. She empowered women to embrace their voices and sexuality, while advising men on love and intellect. Her lovers included some of France’s literary giants—Molière, Jean de La Fontaine, and Charles Perrault.
A passionate affair with Louis de Mornay, Marquis de Villarceaux, resulted in the birth of a son, Louis-François, but Ninon refused to conform to societal norms. She left him behind, severing ties in dramatic fashion by cutting off her hair and gifting it to Mornay—creating the "Ninon bob" hairstyle.
Her influence extended to the court of Louis XIV, though his devout mother had her imprisoned in a convent. She was later freed by Queen Christina of Sweden, who admired her radical thinking. Even in her final years, she remained a beacon of intellectual and personal freedom. Upon her death in 1705, she left money to a young François-Marie Arouet, better known as Voltaire, ensuring that her legacy of free thought lived on.
🔗 Listen here: Paris History Avec a Hemingway - Ninon de Lenclos
Both Valtesse de la Bigne and Ninon de Lenclos shattered societal norms, using wit, charm, and intelligence to carve out places of power. Their influence still lingers in the salons, literature, and culture of Paris today.
Madame de Sévigné & George Sand: Women Who Wrote Their Own Rules
Madame de Sévigné: The Letter-Writing Legend
Madame de Sévigné never wrote a book, yet her letters made her one of the greatest writers of the 17th century.
Born Marie de Rabutin-Chantal on February 5, 1626, she was orphaned young and raised by her scholarly uncle, who gave her a rare classical education. At 18, she married Henri de Sévigné, but by 25, she was widowed when he died in a duel over a mistress. Rather than remarry, she embraced independence, immersing herself in Parisian salons.
Her most famous legacy began in 1671, when her beloved daughter Françoise married and moved to Provence. Over the years, Madame de Sévigné penned over 1,000 letters, filled with gossip, wit, and historical insight, documenting everything from the Poison Affair to Louis XIV’s court life. Her letters were copied and widely circulated, even catching the eye of the king himself.
After her death on April 17, 1696, her letters were published and remain a priceless window into 17th-century France. Today, her legacy endures at the Château de Grignan and Musée Carnavalet, where her letters and portrait are on display.
🔗 Listen here: Paris History Avec a Hemingway - Madame de Sévigné
George Sand: The Rebel of French Literature
Born Amantine Lucille Aurore Dupin on July 1, 1804, George Sand refused to let society define her. Raised at Château de Nohant by her aristocratic grandmother, she grew up caught between privilege and rebellion.
Married off at 16 to François Casimir Dudevant, she found herself trapped in an unhappy marriage. In 1831, she escaped to Paris, reinventing herself as a writer. After co-authoring with Jules Sandeau, she claimed a name of her own—George Sand—and debuted with Indiana (1832). Her works, championing female independence, outsold Hugo and Balzac, making her one of the few women to live off her writing.
Her personal life was as unconventional as her work. She had passionate relationships with actress Marie Dorval and poet Alfred de Musset, followed by a turbulent romance with Frédéric Chopin. Their years together in Mallorca and Paris were a mix of love, music, and conflict. Later, she found stability with Alexandre Manceau, who remained by her side for 15 years until his death.
Returning to Nohant, she spent her final years writing and reconciling with her daughter before passing away on June 8, 1876. Today, her statues in the Jardin du Luxembourg and exhibits at the Musée de la Vie Romantique keep her legacy alive.
🔗 Listen here: Paris History Avec a Hemingway - George Sand
Both Madame de Sévigné and George Sand challenged expectations, proving that women’s voices could shape literature, influence society, and leave a lasting mark on history.
Josephine Baker & Rose Valland: Resistance Over Evil
Josephine Baker: The American Who Became a French Icon
Josephine Baker arrived in Paris in the 1920s and transformed the stage, becoming a symbol of freedom, resilience, and rebellion.
Born on June 3, 1906, in St. Louis, she endured a difficult childhood, working as a maid and dancing on the streets for survival. At 15, she joined the Harlem Renaissance, and by 19, she seized an opportunity to travel to Paris. Her 1925 debut at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées was a sensation, but it was her Danse Sauvage at the Folies Bergère, wearing little more than a banana skirt, that cemented her fame. Embracing Parisian life, she rejected America’s racism and became a French citizen in 1937.
A Spy, an Activist, and a Mother
During World War II, Baker became a spy for the French Resistance, using her international fame to smuggle intelligence—hiding notes in sheet music and even in her underwear. For her bravery, she was awarded the Croix de Guerre, Rosette de la Résistance, and the Légion d’Honneur.
Her activism extended beyond the war. In 1951, she refused to perform in segregated venues in the U.S. When she was denied service at New York’s Stork Club, Princess Grace of Monaco walked out in solidarity, sparking a lifelong friendship. She later stood alongside Martin Luther King Jr. at the 1963 March on Washington but declined to lead the Civil Rights Movement after his assassination.
Beyond her career, Baker formed a "Rainbow Tribe", adopting 12 children from different backgrounds to promote racial harmony. Yet, financial struggles plagued her, and despite support from friends like Brigitte Bardot and Princess Grace, she lost her beloved Château des Milandes.
A Lasting Legacy
In 1975, France celebrated her 50-year career with a grand performance at Bobino. Just days later, she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and passed away at 68. She was the first American woman to receive a full French military funeral and, in 2021, became the first Black woman inducted into the Panthéon. Her château remains a museum, and her spirit still dances through Paris, where she reigned as the Black Venus.
🔗 Listen here: Paris History Avec a Hemingway - Josephine Baker
Rose Valland: The Woman Who Saved the Art of France
If ever a woman deserved a monument, a parade, and her face on a euro, it is Rose Valland. Largely unknown to the public, she was one of the greatest art spies of World War II, secretly documenting Nazi art looting and ensuring thousands of stolen works were recovered.
Born in 1898 in the Auvergne region, Valland’s mother secured scholarships that allowed her to attend university, an uncommon achievement for women at the time. She excelled in the arts, studying at the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyon and Paris, the University of Paris, and the École du Louvre.
The Spy Who Saved Art
In 1932, she became a volunteer curator at the Jeu de Paume—a position that would change history. When the Nazis occupied France in 1940, they turned the museum into a storeroom for looted art, stolen from Jewish families, galleries, and museums.
Valland, unassuming with her glasses and neat hair, was easily overlooked. But she had two invaluable skills—she spoke German and had a photographic memory. Each night, she secretly recorded every stolen artwork, its origin, Nazi-coded inventory number, crate details, train schedules, and destinations.
Her intelligence became critical for the French Resistance and the Allies—helping them intercept trains and recover looted art. If she had been caught, she would have been executed.
A Lasting Legacy
After the war, Valland joined the Monuments Men, aiding in the recovery of over 60,000 artworks. She was awarded honors from France, Italy, Germany, and the United States, but remained humble. Her records are still used today in restitution efforts, as thousands of pieces remain missing.
She chronicled her experiences in Le Front de l’Art, ensuring that her heroic work was not forgotten.
🔗 Listen here: Paris History Avec a Hemingway - Rose Valland
Both Josephine Baker and Rose Valland fought against oppression—one with song, espionage, and activism, the other with silent, meticulous bravery. Their resistance against evil changed history, and their courage still inspires today.