Content Warning: This section of the guide deals with themes related to the Nazi occupation of Paris during WWII, child loss, and war and its traumatic effects.

Elise LeClair is one of The Paris Daughter’s two protagonists, and many of the novel’s chapters focus on her experiences and perspective of events. She and Juliette Foulon are foils of each other; their similarities and differences shed light on their respective characters. At her core, Elise’s identity is that of an artist and a mother. Despite all of the hardships she endures through the course of the novel, Elise is unfailingly caring and maternal towards the children under her care, and even when she struggles with the creative process she remains an artist of significant talent and dedication. She is both a round and dynamic character.

Elise forms strong friendships with the people around her, with both Juliette and Ruth declaring her family in turn and even the stoic Bernard seeming to feel a comradely respect for her. Her relationship with her husband, however, was tumultuous and mutually unsupportive. Olivier did not support her artistic endeavors, seeming to feel threatened by her talent. Elise in turn objected to his communist politics and work with the French Resistance, fearing the potential repercussions of his capture.