Paula McLain talks "Skylark" at Copperfish Books

It was a delight to hear Paula McLain speak at Copperfish Books about her new novel "Skylark." Literally, that was the first thing I wrote in my notes about the event -- "delightful." McLain signed books before and after her talk, taking the time to engage with every reader. She was exuberant, despite being in the midst of seven events across the state over seven days. I had no sense that she was telling stories she's surely already shared dozens of times over the last few weeks. That is passion. 

McLain started off with a confession/humble brag. When she wrote her bestselling book "The Paris Wife," she had never been to Paris. How could she possibly have gone? She had three young kids, three part-time jobs and a full-time husband with a job of his own. She made up for this by visiting the City of Lights six times in connection with "Skylark." Some of those visits took place when she was looking for ideas for a new book. "It was like being on the cusp of a love affair," she said. "At any moment, I felt like I might meet the one." She eventually did. 

McLain had never wanted to write a WWII story. Other slices of history called to her. Until, that was, she learned about two doctors working at a psychiatric hospital during the War. While walking around the building one day, they discovered a locked gate that led to some underground tunnels. They picked the lock, began exploring and, eventually, mapped the area. Long story short but thanks to their maps, the Resistance was able to operate beneath the city, establishing not only secret ways to move around Paris but meeting spots and even a headquarters. Fun fact: One of the doctors -- Jean Talairach -- later became one of the first neuroscientists to map the brain. 

McLain credited an episode about Robert McFarlane's "Underland" on the "On Being" podcast with introducing her to this story. She also learned about cataphiles, urban explorers who illegally traverse portions of the catacombs that are not open to the public, sometimes with others in tow. "Hmm," she thought. "That sounds like something I should do." And so she did. This is a woman after my own heart.  

She met her guide -- code name "La Segal" -- on a street corner. She had been instructed to bring her passport "in case they got arrested." He looked like an aging pirate. (Sadly, I couldn't find a picture of them together.) They entered the tunnels through a manhole and climbed down four ladders, ending up 65 feet beneath the city. The floors were clay and the tunnels were dark and narrrow -- between five and eight feet wide. It was equal parts daunting and thrilling. 

As they explored, McLain saw writing on the tunnel walls -- messages and drawings from the past. She became captivated by thoughts of the Parisian people who used these tunnels in their fight against the Nazis. The idea for her next book had arrived, as had the cover art. The red Liberty Bird on the cover of "Skylark" comes from images of birds in the tunnels whose beaks pointed the way to safety. I love it. To dig into this subject a bit more, click here for a documentary on the tunnels. 

McLain and readers at Copperfish Books - "Now we're all friends," she declared.

And now a bit about the book. "Skylark" has a split timeline, shifting between the stories of Alouette and Kristof. Alouette lives in 17th century Paris and is the daughter of a master dye maker who is perfecting red dye. It was a time when sumptuary restrictions prohibited all but the highest class of Parisian from wearing the color red. Life for those in the lower classes was a colorless existence. Alouette pushes against these limitations. Beauty and survival are synonymous to the young woman.

Fast forward to WWII Paris where Kristof is a doctor in a psychiatric hospital navigating life under the Nazi regime. His home is in the same building Alouette and her family lived in centuries earlier. His neighbors are a Jewish family who have fled Poland in hopes of finding safety. When the Nazis descend upon Paris, they look to Kristof to help them survive. 

It's an interesting set up, and I'm eager to learn how the tunnels come into play in both stories. To see Paula talk about her book on Good Morning, America, click here. I consider myself fortunate to have heard from her in person. Thanks to Copperfish Books for providing the opportunity. 

For more on McLain and "Skylark," click here. Support your local indie bookstore!