Madame Saqui: Revolutionary Rope Dancer

A stunning picture book biography about the tightrope walker who dazzled Paris as she danced across the sky with impeccable balance and unparalleled skill during the French Revolution.

In revolutionary France, a girl named Marguerite Lalanne longed to perform above large crowds on a tightrope, just like her acrobatic parents. Sneaking off to the fairgrounds for secret tightrope walking lessons, Marguerite finessed her performance skills, ultimately performing for crowds as a young rope dancer. And eventually, Marguerite would perform as Madame Saqui, waltzing and pirouetting across- and never falling off- countless ropes above adoring crowds. A nouvelle chérie de Paris, Madame Saqui cemented her place in circus history, winning the adoration of the French people and royalty alike, including Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

This remarkable biography unveils the inspiring story of a trailblazing woman who revolutionized the circus world-- without ever missing a step.

Praise for Madame Saqui

“An excursion into a long-ago era, but the iron determination of this story’s hero feels very modern.” - Publishers Weekly

"This celebration of an astonishing artist will fill readers with wonder..."  - Booklist

"This riveting picture book biography shines both for Robinson’s pitch-perfect readaloud text and Green’s mural-like artwork, rendered in an age-muted palette of Revolutionary France’s red, white, and blue.” - Bulletin