Rotary Book Club

The Rotary Book Club will meet on Monday, November 9, 2026, 6:30 PM, for the discussion of the book I Am Madame X by Gioia Siliberto.  The book is available at Rainy Day Books and all Rotarians and guests are welcome

I Am Madame X tells the story of Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau, a strikingly beautiful American woman who became a sensation in Belle Époque Paris. Born in New Orleans and raised on a lush plantation, Virginie fled to France during the Civil War with her mother and sister, seeking social acceptance and leveraging her French heritage to enter high society. The novel centers on the creation and aftermath of Sargent’s 1884 portrait, Madame X, which shocked Parisian society due to Virginie’s provocative pose and attire. The painting caused a scandal that damaged Sargent’s career in Paris and made Virginie both infamous and fascinating. Diliberto imagines Virginie’s perspective, portraying her as a complex, ambitious, and self-aware woman, navigating societal expectations, gossip, and her own desires