Adapted from "The Once Upon a Time World – the Dark and Sparkling Story of the French Riviera," by Jonathan Miles. Published by Pegasus Books, 2023. Used with permission.
The French Riviera was discovered in the 1800s by those British who were seeking a climate to cure tuberculosis. During the following century, the rich and royalty – British, Russian and pan-European – turned this region into a pleasure haven with luxury hotels and casinos. In the early 20th century, the dollar was king. American tycoons and bohemians came – among them, novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald and musical composer Cole Porter. The British maintained their presence with figures like Edward VIII, the King who abdicated for love, and songwriters like Noël Coward. Aristocratic scandals bubbled over from London drawing rooms and nightspots.
