READ THIS: The Widow Clicquot by Tilar J. Mazzeo

In these times of economic challenge and adversity, there could not be a more inspirational story than The Widow Clicquot by Tilar J. Mazzeo to provide us with a positive outlook today and an appreciation of her triumph over all kinds of adversity. And it is about a Champagne Empire! We at Whom You Know just love champagne.

In about 200 pages, Mazzeo paints a picture that has a palette Mazzeo needs to assemble herself, which in itself is an admirable task because the Widow Clicquot did not leave many personal traces behind. The notes section and the bibliography at the end of the book are testament to the vast amount of work that must have gone into this history.

In a time when women businessmen were unheard of, Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin lived with a style and an audacity that made her successful. Her personal conviction through difficult challenges and her optimistic persistence, along with aligning herself with the right mentors early and taking on the right people to mentor after helped to win her success. The tenacity of the Widow Clicquot and her dedication to her brand that she began to build when she a young bride with her husband, and then of course a young widow, was uncommon then and hopefully she has not only popped the cork but also hit the glass ceiling with a champagne bottle for the rest of the world, just by being herself.

Many points along the way will surprise the reader, such as the evolution of how champagne came to be the drink of celebration, to who made it popular. Peachy Deegan read the entire work with fascination! It intoxicated us at Whom You Know and we were only drinking water while reading it! (Of course, on the last page, we drank champagne.) Whom You know highly recommends The Widow Clicquot.

We thank Liate of Literacy Partners and Harper Collins for her help.