Coco Chanel: An Intimate Life

Chaney explores the glamorous life and fashion empire of one of the most influential women of the 20th century, investigating the humble origins of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, demonstrating how she changed the world around her, and scrutinizing her often controversial and provocative private life: rumored drug use, lesbian affairs, etc. Chaney offers up fascinating, new historical evidence—some taken from recently discovered letters—so the audio edition of her book should be compelling. Unfortunately, it is not. Carole Boyd’s narration is precise and clear, but her pace is painfully slow and her intonation flat—and this takes the fizz out of Chanel’s bubbly life. And while Boyd lends Chanel a fine French accent, it’s not enough to restore vitality to the audiobook. A Viking hardcover. (May)