Allure of Chanel

'Enchanting... the closest anyone can get to a face-to-face with Coco.' Spectator

The story of Coco Chanel's life, as told by her to Paul Morand

Coco Chanel invited Paul Morand to visit her in St Moritz at the end of the Second World War when he was given the opportunity to write her memoirs; his notes of their conversations were put away in a drawer and only came to light one year after Chanel's death.

Through Morand's transcription of their conversations, Chanel tells us about her friendship with Misia Sert, the men in her life - Boy Capel, the Duke of Westminster, artists such as Diaghilev, her philosophy of fashion and the story behind the legendary Number 5 perfume...

The memories of Chanel told in her own words provide vivid sketches and portray the strength of Coco's character, leaving us with an extraordinary insight into Chanel the woman and the woman who created Chanel.

Part of the Pushkin Press Classics series: timeless storytelling by icons of literature, hand-picked from around the globe.

Translated by Euan Cameron.

Paul Morand (1888-1976) was born in Paris. After studying at the École des Sciences Politiques, he joined the diplomatic corps and served in London, Rome, Berne and Bucharest. His first collection of stories, Tender Shoots, was introduced by Marcel Proust. In a long and busy life, he found time to write poetry, novels, short stories and travel books. Morand was made a member of the Académie Française and died in 1976, the same year that The Allure of Chanel was first published in Paris. His books The Man in a Hurry, Hecate and Her Dogs, Tender Shoots and Venices are also published by Pushkin Press.