1962 Editions Trévise FRANCE

In Juliette's 2nd book « Aventuriers du Passé » Éditons Trévise announces Catherine !



Years ago I bought « Aventuriers du Passé » on Ebay,  Juliette Benzoni’s second book which was published before Catherine in 1963. When I opened it I held my breath for a second.

What is so special about buying an old book you might ask? Everything for a passionate collector like I am – because it mentions that next, a book called Il suffit d’un amour shall be published! I count myself more than happy to have now in my “magic box” the first announcement of Catherine by the French publisher Editions Trévise – who already knew the value of the story, it was published in the special Stendhal Edition. The Artist was well-known Belgian Artist Jef de Wulf (1926 - 1994) who designed hundreds of books. covers.

Note: on one of my visit to Saint-Mandé, my dearest friend Juliette had been very kind to sign this souvenir for me.
 

1963 Der Spiegel GERMANY

Lothar Blanvalet Verlag



I stumbled upon this Der Spiegel Magazine from 1963 on the Net, which featured a long article about French Author Anne Golon and her success with the Angélique Novels. The final paragraph caught my attention because it introduced a certain French newcomer called Juliette Benzoni and her book Eine Liebe ist genug (translation: One Love is Enough). In the new Angélique Novel was a gift coupon. Each reader who sent back this coupon would receive Anne Golon's Autograph and a Brochure with an extract from Eine Liebe ist genug !

This shows us how well aware Herr Lothar Blanvalet was of the worth of this new writer called Juliette Benzoni... As I have already mentioned on the Book series pages the German publisher designed beautiful book covers for the 'Catherine Series' (which was much appreciated by Juliette Benzoni as she told me on one of my many visits) which I have the great pleasure to own myself.

Note: the German first edition of Cathérine was simply called: Cathérine, and not, Eine Liebe ist genug, as was announced in the Spiegel article. 

Unpleasant detail: The first two Catherine books by Verlag Blanvalet 1964 were joined into one edition and abridged...! And not just a bit...

Verlag Blanvalet 1963 Booklet/Brochure

The fairies were with me, after many years I found  that free first chapter of Catherine which was sent to Angélique readers by Blanvalet Verlag in 1964.
The quality of the booklet is awesome. I suppose it was in a box and never touched again since 1963 - waiting for me ☺What makes it even more precious, Juliette has done me the great honour and wrote a very lovely dedication in that booklet.

ICI PARIS - Article by Henri de Montfort on 10 July 1964

 

The Books of the Week - Il suffit d'un amour II
Excellent article by the late Henri de Montfort Journalist, historian, author, French Resistance worker and co-founder of  ICI PARIS on 10 July 1964.

I have translated the first section from Monsieur de Montfort's article about Juliette Benzoni's  « Catherine, Il suffit d'un amour 2 » which was published in two parts after it appeared in FRANCE SOIR  in form of a Cliffhanger.



« This is a very enthralling novel of which one can say that it deserves well the term "Romanesque" which is the best guarantee to keep a reader spellbound with pleasure and emotion during reading. Worth mentioning are the excellent treasury of words and of style »
Henri de MONTFORT

Extract from a French article in 1964
translated by Linda Compagnoni Walther

Undoubtedly, the success of Juliette Benzoni's great historical novel Catherine, which is now available in book form, of which the readers of the « Provençal » have at present the exclusivity to read, does not stop increasing. Translated into several languages, published in nine European countries (Scandinavia was enthusiastic about the adventures of Catherine and Arnaud de Montsalvy), the thrilling and heroic love story will now be the delight of British readers.
The great London publisher William Heinemann has just celebrated during a brilliant Cocktail party, in the presence of author Juliette Benzoni, the release of the novel, which received in its English translation the title of « One Love is enough ».
We can reveal to our readers that… if One Love is enough; it is not enough for one book to exhaust all the dramas and all the enjoyments.

Juliette Benzoni was accompanied by Gérald Gauthier, General Secretary of the Press Agency of Opéra Mundi.

Only original English article so far discovered by this webmaster here (Linda) about ONE LOVE IS ENOUGH in England. We learn from the small little article in the 'Tatler' above how many attempts the Artist tried out until they believed to have found the perfect image for Catherine. The Cover Artist was Pino Dell'Orco

London August 1964 :
Juliette Benzoni, Countess di Conza with a copy of ONE LOVE IS ENOUGH in London at the Cocktail Parity Heinemann had given for the French Author. The small article to be seen on the Poster above (created by webmaster, Linda) appeared in the EVENING STANDARD on 13 August 1964. It tells us of the great care taken by publisher Heinemann Ltd to get an excellent cover for Juliette's first ever published book in Great Britain.





16 February 2020
On the inside of the original Dust Jacket the name of the Artist is given as DELL'ORCO. I could not resist and did some research about the Artist. He was Italian and his full name PINO DELL'ORCO, a brilliant Artist and quite famous. I was lucky and found The Bagley Brief website ( about the English Author Desmond Bagley (1923 - 1983) where the webmaster informs us that Pino Dell'Orco (born ? - 2013) was a renowned book cover Artist. Thanks to the webmaster Philip Eastwood we are able to read and admirer other Works by Dell'Orco. I am very much delighted that the Book cover of ONE LOVE IS ENOUGH is now also immortalised there thanks to Phil Eastwood.



On the photo above we see the Author interviewed by well-known BBC Reporter Leigh Crutchley. It is my dream to find one day that Interview so we can all listen to what Juliette Benzoni had to say about the publication of her Catherine book in England.
 

A Countess who wants to catch a Ghost



Newspaper clipping from a Scottish article in the Scotsman dated 14th August 1964. Indeed a precious souvenir... The journalist mentions that Juliette was longing to visit Scotland to do some researches into the linked history of the Stuarts and France. That in her free time the Countess Benzoni loves painting Landscapes, living in Paris and of course ghost-hunting. Though she let's the readers know that she never met one so far - except in the Archives.

Do not miss my admiration for everything antique, she declares - it deeply smells of history. My specialty are the historical novels. Her Barcelona editor, Jaime Aymà Mayol, nods.

Juliette Benzoni di Conza, born in Paris and married to a colonel of the French Army, born in Corsica and even related to the Napoleons, dedicates herself to the historical novels like many excellent cultivators in France. In her first book, she explained to us the tragic destiny of queens: Balkis, Ildico, Eleonore of Aquitaine, Ingeborg of Denmark, Inés de Merania, Draga, Queen of Serbia, Christine of Sweden, and her erudition did not allow her to leave out Blanche de Bourbon, Queen of Castile, or Joan, the mad Queen of Spain.

Her latest work Basta con amor (translation: One love is enough) also runs in a historical setting, in the middle of the Hundred Years' War. The success has been so resounding that shortly after the original French edition was published; it has been translated into nine languages.



In Britain, in one day 10 000 copies were sold.

―But nowhere in the world do I see buying books for so many people ... "Do they give them away?"

As the Countess Benzoni is a very intelligent woman - perhaps one of the most intelligent writers who have passed through our country - it does not cost much to convince her that nothing is given here, much less books and, alas! This incessant parade of buyers only happens once a year, but we do not come to disillusion her at all, because St. George kept a chain of surprises.

Her friends made her visit the palace of the Diputación. The author of "One Love is enough ..." did show her amazement. Laying on the railing of the Gothic gallery, she saw in the courtyard the market of roses. An official of the house handed her a magnificent rose.

―Thank you. I owe you a book. I will send it to you as soon as I get to Paris.

She was attracted by another of the graces of our old quarter: the church of San Severo, where candles burned, perfumed by the flowers. It was agreed. Juliette Benzoni was perplexed by the unexpected splendour. "The end of a romantic novel," someone said to her. „Oh no! Replied the lady. In any case, the beginning. »

The visit began in the excavations of the King's Square, guided by a subtle expert and a spiritual commentator; José Maria Garrut Romà, the director of the Museum of History of the City, and finished in the Tides Museum.

Worn-out? If I were here tomorrow, I would make the same visit again. Nevertheless, tomorrow I will be in my house in Vincennes, preparing my screenplays for TV or studying my historical characters.

What is your next character? The constable of Castile, Don Alvaro de Luna, arbiter of the kingdom and favourite of John II. - ... which did not stop him from dying on the scaffold.

She smiles. She knows this story like so many others. We asked her if within the literary genre she cultivates any maestro.

Yes; Alexandre Dumas. Moreover, I still believe that his masterpiece is « The Three Musketeers »

To our question: Which is the best novelist of France? She answers:

Balzac. He is still an example of how to do things to make it go well.

We said goodbye. Her friends here put into her hands something that she will like very much: the Venus of Barcelona.
 

1965 NORWAY  CATHERINE OG HERTUGEN

 Original Norwegian Newspaper clipping 1965



In this original newspaper extract from Summer 1965, the headline said :

« Three Summer books with suspense and intensive love »

It says of Juliette Benzoni, author with a University degree in history and medieval expert. We see the same early portrait, as in the Italian book covers. It so happens to be, showing her the very first time signing her Catherine books !  I adore the Norwegian word « Parispiken » (Parisian girl ! )

Het hunkerend hart
Catherine en de gebroeders de Montsalvy (Catherine and the Montsalvy Brothers)

 

I always try to stay neutral and not comment on any covers of Catherine, but just this once I like to say the first cover of the Swedish Catherine books is a very beautiful image of Catherine Legoix. The Artist of the four original book covers is called EVE.

On the reverse side of the book Juliette is introduced as : Juliette Benzoni di Conza and it says that her book about Catherine Legoix, was in the international Press compared with the irresistible Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind !

Original French newspaper clipping 1965 in the Newspaper La Montagne

 
The Return of Garin
 

Newspaper clipping from a German Newspaper in 1965



Information about the publishing of Unbezwingliche Catherine 1965 in Germany, which would be the third in the Series (Note: Belle Catherine)
 

Original Cliffhanger paperclip in Italy 1964 or 1965 ?



March 4, 2020
A great discovery for my researches concerning the Italian Catherine books...
We see in the orginial Garzanti.it hardcover book that CATHERINE was first published in 1967. Yet we learn from Juliette Benzoni's own souvenirs and the Italian Magazine called STOP, (that I was able to buy on Ebay) that Catherine was first introduced to their readers in Italy in 1965 in Cliffhanger format ! I have in my possession some paperclips concerning the third and the fifth book. The magazine is proof, I have it in black & white with the exact date ! Also interesting fact, they call the first book in the Italian magazine STOP, with the original French title: SOLO UN AMORE (One Love is Enough)  

What I love on this rare document is the Artwork. It is this time not our heroine Catherine, but her sister LOYSE and that aweful CABOCHE.
I believe this could be a drawing from the French newspaper 'France-soir' who also published the story first in the daily newspaper France-soir.

Publisher Garzanti.it assigned Graphic designer Fulvio Bianconi to draw for them the Italian covers for the Catherine books (and years later also for the Marianne Novels)
 
 



For the other Cliffhanger CATHERINE (Belle Catherine), the Italians took the image of the second Edition from France: Il suffit d'un amour II. For the fifth in the Series, Catherine and a time to love, the cover of the Spanish first hardcover edition BASTA CON AMOUR. I am sure Garzanti.it waited for Artist Fulvio Bianconi to finish the covers.




 

Original TELEGRAM by William Heinemann Ltd. to Juliette Benzoni !
 

On March 15, 2017 Telos Publishing had continued to re-issue The Catherine novels with BELLE CATHERINE, the 3rd in the Catherine Series.

With this creation we look back to the year 1966 when HEINEMANN Ltd. sent Juliette BENZONI a telegram to her home at Saint-Mandé, to inform the Author that Belle Catherine was having a huge success in the English reading world !

This original telegram is one of those precious souvenirs found in the long-forgotten-magic-box of Juliette Benzoni... it was not just the French or English publishers who rejoiced for the number of books sold ---- stay tuned to learn what other Countries confirmed about the incredible sales figures

ENGLAND
Original flyer concerning BELLE CATHERINE by William Heinemann Ltd.,



Published by William Heinemann Ltd.,  First UK Edition London 1966.
UK edition hard back binding in publishers original French blue paper covered boards, gilt title and author lettering to the spine.  Publisher's flyer regarding the book and Author. I am thrilled to announce that I stumbled by chance on this rare treasure ! Webmaster, Linda

Newspaper clipping, Cliffhanger from Catherine des grands chemins.
 

My sister had spotted in 2008 on Ebay a rare occasion to bid for an Autograph of our Juliette Benzoni. In Spring 2009 I had no idea that I would, six months later get the marvellous chance to meet in person my favourite author Juliette.

Evelyne is the specialist for bidding, and was able to get hold of the photograph. When I received the letter from France, with the signature of Juliette Benzoni - I saw to my astonishment that not only did we have this famous photo which we had seen so often on the book covers - no - with the photo came an old yellowish newspaper clip! Great was my delight to find out that I had in my hands a rare piece of document.

As some of us remember - way back in the Sixties - newspapers used to print popular books as "Cliffhanger" - that is - everyday you read a short piece of a story - which was continued day after day. I assume that the person who sold the Autograph, had read in the newspaper back in February 1967 (see above on the second image on the bottom)

« You can receive a free photo, dedicated by Juliette Benzoni, if you write to Editions de Trévise, 34 rue de Trévise, Paris »

So I put two and two together and figured out, that the owner of the photo did exactly that - when the fourth book of the Catherine-series Catherine  and Arnaud had been first published. I have added on the clipping the Autograph photo with the dedication of the Author to that Lady in 1967.

English translation by Philip Eastwood

Burning Hot Love
By Juliette Benzoni
A sensitive and dramatic novel about the love and fate of Catherine, a goldsmith’s daughter. An eventful and exciting ending in the style of Désirée and Angélique, the world's greatest books.



See the International Book cover page → here
I still hope that one day I shall find the cover of the first Icelandic Catherine Book in colour...!
 

First editions of the Catherine Series available in Italy



Copertina di Fulvio Bianconi©Archivio Fulvio Bianconi

What we see above are the very first book covers for the Catherine books in Italy. The Artwork for all five Italian covers was done by Maestro FULVIO BIANCONI (1915 - 1996) (Italian Glass designer) who was  famous for his works. I invite you to see my Italian book cover page here to see the wonderful works by Signor Bianconi. Following some links online I see with pleasure that there are each year some Exhibitions with Maestro Fulvio Bianconi's work.

I am very honoured to have the exceptional permission by the « Fulvio Bianconi©Archivio Fulvio Bianconi », to show some of the Cover Artwork by distinguished 'Maestro Fulvio Bianconi' – in this case his illustrations for the Catherine and Marianne Novels, published by Garzanti.it  

I like to give my sincere thank you to 'Signora Daniela Andreoli' (staff Archive Fulvio Bianconi) for her generous support. Linda, webmaster

The brilliant Artist Fulvio Bianconi was born 1915 in Ponte di Brenta, (province of Padova), near Venice. At a very young age, he showed a predilection towards drawing. After the War, he continued his work as a graphic designer with various publishers, such as Garzanti with whom he was to work continuously until 1975. He is best known as an Italian Murano glass artist. His designs made him famous all over the World.
(source ©official website Fulvio Bianconi)

I have scanned the inside of my personal Italian copy and found it fascinating and indeed wonderful that Garzanti.it had added a Timeline and also the principal real historic characters at the time the Catherine story unfolds.




While talking about the Italian Catherine's in Italy, I showed Juliette my copy and she did me the great favour to sign the book under the name of Contessa Benzoni. We also remarked that her name was not written correctly on the inside. It is not Juliette Benzoni di Couza, but Juliette Benzoni di Conza. It was the Author herself who noticed that writing mistake ;-)
 

Announcement of the forthcoming 4th book Catherine and Arnaud



Above text, for which I am sorry it is so small, but beggars can't be choosers... I am already thrilled that it had been sent to me by a friend from England.

Catherine and Arnaud, by Juliette Benzoni (Heinemann Ltd.) writing with all the dramatic brilliance which makes her "Belle Catherine" so exciting, Juliette Benzoni now traces the fortunes of the Countess of Montsalvy as she struggles to restore her husband's name to its former glory. Set against the backgrounds of the squalor of a gypsy-camp, the splendour of Charles VII's court and of a France devastated by The Hundred Years' War, this is a story of powerful emotion and tempestuous adventure.  
 

Catherine et le temps d'aimer / Catherine and a time to love

Weekly journal Le Livre Magazine
 

Juliette Benzoni signing her Catherine and Marianne Novels.

How to film a serial of sixty daily episodes (Marianne, a Star for Napoleon) directed by Marion Sarraut. In the leading role Corinne Touzet.
 

For us Catherine fans, this is a very exciting document. During the shooting of Marianne, the director Marion Sarraut, was already in search of a young beautiful girl between  18 - 25  to play CATHERINE in the upcoming TV-Series Catherine, il suffit d'un amour.

CATHERINE, THE LONGEST SOAP OPERA EVER PRODUCED

Director Dame Marion Sarraut, in the role of Catherine CLAUDINE ANCELOT
and Pierre-Marie Escourrou alias Arnaud de Montsalvy.

Translated from the original French article by Linda, webmaster

Enjoy my very first original article about the launching of the Catherine de Montsalvy TV-Series.

This treasure was given to me in person on my first meeting in October 2009 with  Juliette Benzoni. I cannot express my joy to be in possession of this original article which belonged to my favourite author Juliette.
 

FRANCE 1 19 MARS 1986
Text translated from French by Linda and Frédérique.



Original article of the launching of the TV series CATHERINE, il suffit d'un amour



« I don't want another director than Marion »

extract form an article in  TELE STAR 15 March 1986
Thank you again dear Dame Marion for offering me your material concerning the Catherine series.
 


On this article above we see Director Marion Sarraut and Romancière Juliette Benzoni on the day they met with two of the heroines in Paris. Corinne Touzet (Marianne, a Star for Napoléon and Claudine Ancelot as Catherine de Montsalvy.

For more about that most successful television series in France, see my extra pages HERE