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Club in Montmartre

Name: Club in Montmartre
Author: Mike Resnick
ISBN: 9780823004201

by Mike Resnick

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Overview

• Mike Resnick’s first story outside the science-fiction genre

• Compelling story of overcoming obstacles

• Toulouse-Lautrec’s lively posters and art are popular with young adults

At the cabarets and brothels of Montmartre, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is a well-known visitor. Brilliant, rich, and deformed, Toulouse-Lautrec carries on flirtations and relationships with many women—prostitutes as well as famous singers and dancers. In A Club in Montmartre, renowned writer Mike Resnick imagines the lonely artist meeting a starving waif, Dany, at the famous Moulin Rouge. Dany, like so many before her, falls under the spell of the dissolute can-can dancer known as La Goulue. Toulouse-Lautrec wages a Faustian battle with La Goulue for the young girl’s soul even as he is losing the battle for his own, slipping deeper and deeper into alcoholism and bitterness. This deeply felt story, Resnick’s first in a genre other than science fiction, captures the intensity of a genius caught between his limitations and his aspirations.

About the Author, Mike Resnick

Mike Resnick is the author of many award-winning books, including Kirinyaga and Seven Views of Olduvai Gorge. His writing career spans more than thirty years, and he has received many international awards for science fiction, including four Hugo Awards, a Nebula Award, a Clarke nomination, and five Seiun-shos. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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Editorials

Children's Literature - Kathleen Karr

Usually known for his award-winning science fiction, Mike Resnick makes his second foray into fictional snippets of biography for the "Art Encounters" series. Henri Toulouse-Lautrec is a fascinating figure, but the problem remains: how to make his exceptionally bohemian lifestyle palatable for young readers? Resnick's answer is to insert thirteen-year-old Dany into the mix. The recently orphaned girl is saved from the mean streets by the artist, and from that point everything can be described through innocent eyes. Alcoholism, prostitution, bordellos? Toutes c'est rien. The demi-monde of Paris's Montmartre in the 1890s and the Moulin Rouge itself come to life as Dany spends her nights at the club as dresser to its most famous dancer, La Goulue. Meanwhile, she spends her days with Henri, learning about art as he designs his most famous poster. A fortuitous accident allows Dany to escape this environment, while also allowing poor Henri to continue his descent into the depths. It's all an amusing conceit. Better yet, Resnick manages to pull it off.