Madame Thérèse Introduction and notes by Edward Manley

Set against the fevered backdrop of the French Revolution, the narrative follows a modest Parisian woman who finds her world upended as the nation tears itself apart. From the summer of 1793, when the guillotine looms over the streets, to the tentative thaw of the following spring, her daily life becomes a series of small acts of courage and quiet resistance. Through bustling markets, secret meetings, and the ever‑present threat of the revolutionary tribunals, the story paints a vivid portrait of ordinary people caught in extraordinary times.

Amid the clamor of crowds and the shifting allegiances of neighbors, she must decide where her loyalties lie—between family, friends, and the ideals that promise liberty. The novel weaves in the era’s customs, from assignats to the fall of the Bastille, giving listeners a rich sense of the period without requiring prior knowledge. As the first act unfolds, listeners are drawn into a world where hope and fear walk side by side, and every choice carries weight.