Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
Kindle Price: $3.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $21.83

Save: $14.34 (66%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the author

Helen Fripp
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The French House: Gripping and heartbreaking French historical fiction Kindle Edition

by Helen Fripp (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 4,787 ratings
See all formats and editions
‘Wow! What a story… I was captivated… I found myself reading late into the night… extraordinary… so moving and totally enthralled me… will stay with me for a long time.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reims, France, 1805. Looking back at the crumbling house hidden away in the vineyards, the sound of her daughter’s laughter carrying on the breeze, Nicole plucks a perfect red grape and is reminded her life will never be the same. With her husband gone, her troubles are hers alone…

For grieving Nicole Clicquot, saving the vineyards her husband left behind is her one chance to keep a roof over her head and provide a future for her little girl. She ignores the gossips who insist the fields are no place for a woman: but one day, buying fresh croissants at the boulangerie, Nicole is shocked to hear a rumour about her husband. They say he died with a terrible secret. One that brings disgrace on Nicole and turns the whole town against her.

Heartbroken, her reputation in tatters, and full of questions no one can answer, Nicole turns to her husband’s oldest friend, travelling merchant Louis. His warm smile and kind advice seem to melt her troubles away. And as they taste her first golden wine of the season and look out over the endless rolling hills, Nicole starts to believe she can turn her fortunes around, and be welcomed back into the local community.

But when Louis avoids her after a long trip abroad, Nicole sees he has secrets of his own… and just as she doubts if he’s on her side, she realises how her feelings for him had grown. Desperately torn between her head and her heart, Nicole works day and night on a plan for her future: but to save her home and her little daughter from ruin, she must risk everything…

Fans of Chocolat, Carnegie’s Maid, Dinah Jeffries and anyone longing to sip champagne under the stars will adore this stunning historical read, inspired by the true story of how Nicole Clicquot blazed her own path to build the world’s greatest champagne house: Veuve Clicquot.

Read what everyone’s saying about The French House:


'Extraordinary. Outstanding... absolutely amazing... just wow!... this book is exquisite. Absolute perfection. A masterpiece. One of my favourite reads ever... one of the finest books out this year and one of the best historical fiction reads ever.’ Renita D’Silva, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘One of the best books I’ve read… stunning… it grabbed me and pulled me right in to Nicole Clicquot‘s story… unforgettable… addictive… you feel really caught up in the twists and turns… has to be experienced to truly realise how special it is… I was totally immersed.’ On the Shelf Reviews

‘A fascinating book… very heart-warming… I found this book very hard to put down and I thoroughly enjoyed every page.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Beautifully written, fascinating novel… comes alive on the pages… wonderful… extra special.’ Angela Petch, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘What a treat… emotional… An excellent read.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Instantly and completely immersed me in a beautiful romance, heartbreak and the passion of Madame Clicquot…. The author’s ability to whisk me away… is extraordinary.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow! An incredible historical novel… All the feels.’ Chaos Happiness Book Mama, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book transported me to another world… fascinating… I found it difficult to put the book down!’ Corinne Rodrigues Booknista, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I was utterly charmed… the vineyards of France come alive. I can’t wait to read more.’ Fireflies & Free Kicks
Previous page
  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    March 4, 2021
  5. File size
    2637 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
Next page
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Helen Fripp is fascinated by history and by women who have achieved greatness against all the odds. Her female characters rail against the social constraints of their day and the place and times are sumptuously and lyrically evoked. Most of all, it’s the motivations, flaws, loves and everyday lives of her characters that Helen loves to create, against sweeping historical backdrops.

Helen lives in the Bath, England, but will find any excuse to take off and research a captivating location or person for her next story. She has worked in Paris and lived with her family in a fishing village in Southern France.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08QW8HBP5
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bookouture (March 4, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 4, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2637 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 4,787 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Helen Fripp

Helen Fripp

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Best-selling author of The Girl From Provence, The French House and The Painter's Girl. I love delving into the past to uncover new stories, and in my writing, the tiniest historical detail can spark an idea for a whole chapter. My female characters rail against the social constraints of their time, and often achieve great success, but they are of course flawed and human, like the rest of us. It’s the motivations, flaws, loves and every-day lives of my characters that I love to bring life, against sweeping historical backdrops - and I will find any excuse to take off and research a captivating location or person for my next story.

I spent a lot of time in France as a child, have lived in Paris, and spent a year with my family in a fishing village in South West France, so that’s where my books have ended up being set so far. Who knows where next!

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
4,787 global ratings
A faultless book - a marvellous read
5 Stars
A faultless book - a marvellous read
'The French House' I chose simply for the title! - but very quickly realized I had bought an absolute gem. I was engrossed in Helen's story from the beginning. It revealed a time in French history which I was ignorant about. There were several layers to the story and these were beautifully woven together. I learned many new things - the champagne story in particular - and after finishing the story I reflected on how our present times are not unlike the era the book was describing - a time when leaders pursued their own selfish greed to rule the world, reducing their country to its knees.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024
Verified Purchase
Nicole Cliquot must have been axremarkable woman, because she makes delightful reading. I was fascinated by the intricate details of wine making and distribution in addition to the trials and tribulations of the period. What an intriguing subject. I am not a big fan of the ending, but I suppose if you are writing historically accurate fiction, you can't manipulate the facts. I cried over Nicole and Francois' enduring love story. Great reading.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Jen
4.0 out of 5 stars For lovers of Follett with a feminist heroine
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2022
Verified Purchase
Wonderful story of a woman who doesn’t want to follow the advice of others, the traditions and norms but wants to follow her heart. It is a love story of sorts, but not a trashy romance (no detailed live scenes), and there’s more than one love. Beautifully written, lacking the errors in grammar so many books seem to have now. Bits of French woven in but no to many that you’ll need to translate. Historic events provide setting and explain the times, but aren’t the focus.
Downsides: The beginning felt a bit rushed, I’d have loved to fall in love along with the characters. The end was a teensy bit disappointing, and I would love a final chapter even though it would probably ruin everything.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Diva Denise
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Historical Book about Champagne Making, the Widow Cliquot and the Love of Terroir
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2022
Verified Purchase
I read this book completely captivated. Perhaps my love of wine and champagne making. Or the fact when I visited Reims I also toured the Veuve Clicquot Cellars and learned so much about the widow and her perserverance to make one of the most valued champagnes in history. I enjoyed this book so much I am going to buy Helen's next book to read as well. But back to The French House. It's a love story. In fact many of them. It's a historial novel set during the French Revolution and the destructive years of Napoleon's war. Its a dark story about misunderstood mental illness. But mostly its the true story of the Widow Clicquot who would never give up to be one of the only woman brazen enough to make champagnes in the all mens world. She had set back after set back. Anyone else would have given up. The parts of the book that are historical are all blended together beautifully with fiction, but it is all based on truth. I love this book. I was fascinated and it so well described the smell of life in the vineyard and in those cellars (of course as I said I actually was) and saw the love affairs she had with men and women. It's just a wonderful book. I highly recommend.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
mFd
3.0 out of 5 stars A well-imagined account
Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2021
Verified Purchase
The book may not move at a nail-biting pace, but what a pleasure and inspiration to read about this fascinating and formidable woman and all the obstacles she overcame with impressive grace and strength of spirit.
Helpful
 Report
Susan M. Carter
4.0 out of 5 stars Powerful Book
Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is a wonderful historical novel about the life of Nicole Cliquot and her work to make Veuve Cliquot a great champagne. The book is well researched and full of likeable (and a few not so much) characters based on those who were involved in helping Nicole become a force to be reckoned with in the world of winemakers. I enjoyed this book very much and am now even more anxious to visit Reims and the champagne houses, especially Veuve Cliquot.
8 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
RoloPoloBookBlog
5.0 out of 5 stars The French House by Helen Fripp
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2021
Verified Purchase
The French House by Helen Fripp
Source: Purchase, NetGalley, and Bookouture
Rating: 5 stars

As a young girl with her whole life ahead of her, the headstrong Nicole Clicquot agrees to marry the man of her dreams. With the world at their feet and beautiful and bountiful vineyards as their future, there is nothing the Clicquot’s cannot accomplish. Unfortunately, Fate always has her hand in the lives of mere mortals and this time, she takes Nicole’s husband far too soon. With a small child and employees to care for, Nicole decides, against all the odds and conventions of her time and place, she will run the vineyards and make them the success she and her beloved once dreamed they could be.

Though Nicole knows the mechanics of running a vineyard, her job is made doubly hard given the fact she is a woman. In her time and place, single, even widowed women, simply don’t own and run a successful business. At nearly every turn, Nicole is faced with yet another man hellbent on hindering her success. What’s more, the men willing to work with her either have to grudgingly admit to her knowledge and expertise and work with her as well as becoming to next focus of the town’s gossip.

Over the years, Nicole, her vineyards, and her employees see hundreds of ups and downs, not the least of which is Napoleon’s march across Europe. With each new victory, Napoleon shuts down more and more of Europe making is nearly impossible and certainly illegal to export goods. On more than one occasion, Nicole risks her own life and the lives of some of her dearest friends in order to get her wares to the countries clamoring for them. Sometimes, the deliveries go according to plan and others are epic disasters. The disasters threaten the very existence of Nicole’s livelihood and she will do whatever she must to ensure its existence.

The Bottom Line: This was a long, saga-esque read that I enjoyed every minute and every page of. I am always a fan of strong women who are far, far ahead of their time and place. In Nicole’s case, she doesn’t bow to the whims of others, but expects others to come around to her way of thinking. Nicole expects those who are with her to work as she does, defy convention as she does, and reap the benefits of their hard work and determination. What I found particularly interesting about this read is the descriptions of the vineyards and the lengths Nicole is willing to go to in order to ensure her continued success. Make no mistake, this isn’t a terribly happy read, but it is one of knowledge, determination, sheer stubbornness, and cleverness beyond anyone’s reckoning. Nicole defies all the odds and comes out all the better for it in the end.
5 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
M. Nungesser
5.0 out of 5 stars Nice
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2024
Verified Purchase
Great read
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
JHoseb
4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific story…..would like to know the true part of the history!
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2022
Verified Purchase
What a wonderful tale of struggle and love and wine! I loved Nicole and her fierceness, strength and determination. The backdrop of Champagne and the history of the champagne industry is a bonus. The Year of the Comet wine was magical.
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Gregory P. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful!!!
Reviewed in Canada on April 18, 2022
Verified Purchase
A delightful tale, full of historical data, fictional intrigue and page-turning scenes. Through this novel, Helen Fripp is educating the world about the little known Veuve Clicquot, not the drink as much as the person herself. Its wonderful and fulfilling to now know the story.
Report
C.J.
5.0 out of 5 stars Well researched and beautifully written
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 11, 2022
Verified Purchase
Fascinating, well researched and well written. I really enjoyed this retelling of the life of Barbe- Nicole Clinquot-Ponsardin, who carried on her husbands business after she was widowed at age 27. The story begins when the young tomboy Nicole witnesses the arrival of the French Revolution in her home town of Reims, although the majority of the story is set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic wars. Whilst Europe is ravaged by war she refuses to give up her business - the vineyards, wine production and cellars - and against the odds eventually earns herself a position of respect in a male dominated industry. To this day Veuve Clinquot is a recognised name and one of the best sparkling wines in the world. I loved finding out about the history of this iconic brand and the amazing woman whose inspiration and passion revolutionised the production of Champagne in the 19th century. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.
2 people found this helpful
 Report
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely book
Reviewed in Australia on February 11, 2023
Verified Purchase
To read this fiction interspersed with historical facts is a delight. I savored over several weeks Nicole's story, her bravery and courage, her knowledge and tenacity and her joy and heartbreak so evident in every page. I almost felt I was there, a rare feeling when I read and how I wished I was! Beautifully written, I look forward to more from this author.
Report
Maureen Horton
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 2, 2021
Verified Purchase
A wonderful story, with such vivid imagery that it almost felt as if I was there. The attention to detail about the growing of the vines, to the bottling and storing of the wines was remarkable. I can thoroughly recommend it.
Report
Margaret Shumack
4.0 out of 5 stars Triumph through adversity
Reviewed in Australia on April 20, 2023
Verified Purchase
To have succeeded in a market wrought with corruption, and against the odds of the chaos caused by the ambitions of Napoleon, is testimony to one woman’s belief in the quality of her product, and the uncompromising quest for excellence.
Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report