The Romance of Madame Tussaud's

"The Romance of Madame Tussaud's" by John Theodore Tussaud is a historical story that tells of Madame Marie Tussaud's remarkable journey, from her youth in Switzerland to the chaos of the French Revolution and the eventual creation of her wax museum empire in London. The narrative starts with the author's reflections on growing up surrounded by wax figures of famous historical figures, like Napoleon and Louis XVI, that inspired him. From here the author transitions to Madame Tussaud's early life and artistic training under her uncle, Christopher Curtius, a skilled wax sculptor. As she moves to Paris, the story is set against the backdrop of a society on the brink of revolution, shaping her into the artist and businesswoman she would become.