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 and 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.

Author Biography

Paul Morand was born in Paris in 1888. After studying at the Ecole des Sciences Politiques he joined the diplomatic corps, serving in London, Rome, Berne and Bucharest. Tender Shoots, his first collection of stories, 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 Academie Francaise in 1963 and died in 1976, the year the first edition of The Allure of Chanel was published in Paris. His books The Man in a Hurry, Hecate and Her Dogs, Tender Shoots and Venices are also published by Pushkin Press.