Book excerpt: A beautifully written and deeply sensitive biography of Alice Guy Blache, now regarded as the mother of cinema, and Gustave Eiffel, two compelling figures in Paris at the beginning of the 20th century.During a time when business was dominated by men, Alice Guy Blaché wrote and directed hundreds of films in Paris for the Gaumont film company, and then continued her career as the first female film director in New York and Fort Lee, New Jersey before the film industry moved to Hollywood. Gustave Eiffel, whose name is synonymous with his famous tower, advanced both the business and technology of motion pictures. He was a founding partner of Gaumont and president of the company from its inception in 1895 until 1907 when Alice left for the United States.Using clear, flowing language and a wealth of historically accurate detail, Janelle Dietrick draws on memoirs, autobiographical texts, correspondence, and interviews to create an intimate portrait of these two remarkable people. The result is a unique love story in another time and place--Alice and Eiffel in the context of Belle Époque Paris where they shared a glittering social life, family ties, work, and a deep bond. This double biography will be of great interest to those specializing in early cinema and anyone interested in the enigmas that are Alice Guy Blaché and Gustave Eiffel.