Triangle

Danielle Steel, one of the world’s best-selling authors, is known for her narratives that delve into themes of love, resilience, and the intricacies of human relationships. Steel’s own life—marked by moments of love, loss, and reinvention—has deeply influenced her work, including her novel Triangle. Through the characters of Amanda, Olivier, and Stephanie, Steel explores personal transformation, forbidden love, and the weight of societal expectations, drawing from her own experiences and observations.

There are parallels between Steel and Amanda, the novel’s protagonist. Steel is the only child of John Schulein-Steel, heir to the German Löwenbräu beer dynasty, and Norma da Câmara Stone dos Reis, the daughter of a Portuguese diplomat (Ott, Tim. “Danielle Steel.” Biography, 10 Aug. 2020). She was raised in high society and spent her formative years in New York and Paris, reflecting Amanda’s bicultural upbringing and elite background. After her parents divorced, Steel lived primarily with her father in France, where she attended French schools before continuing her education at American colleges, specifically New York University and Parsons School of Design (Steel, Danielle. “About Me.” Danielle Steel). Like Amanda, Steel has a connection to the art world, having managed a contemporary art gallery early in her career (Steel). Steel’s passion for discovering and supporting emerging artists mirrors Amanda and Olivier’s enthusiasm for nurturing artistic talent in Triangle. Steel’s intimate knowledge of Paris, where Amanda lives and works, further enriches the novel’s setting. Steel’s personal and romantic experiences also inform the emotional depth of Triangle. Amanda’s struggles with trust and relationships—shaped by her parents’ tumultuous divorce, a damaging affair with a married man, and her multiple marriages—echo themes present in Steel’s life. 

Steel splits her time between Paris and California, and her intimate knowledge of Paris enriches her work. Amanda’s apartment is on the Left Bank of the Seine with a view of the Eiffel Tower. Similarly, Steel’s description of Pascal’s apartment reveals her familiarity with the quirks of Parisian architecture and the challenges of local landlords. Steel describes Pascal’s home as being in “a rickety, old-fashioned building on the Left Bank” (205), featuring distinctive œil-de-bœuf (“bull’s eye”) windows that, while visually striking, fail to keep out the elements. These windows allow both wind and rain to seep into the apartment, a detail that underscores the imperfect charm of such historic structures. Steel’s depiction of the character of Parisian homes adds depth and realism to the novel. Books such as The Little Paris Bookshop (2013) and The Paris Wife (2011) are also vivid in their descriptions of Paris.

By 2024, Steel has published over 210 works, including novels, children’s books, and nonfiction. Her stories have been translated into 43 languages and sold over a billion copies worldwide. Though often dismissed by critics, her ability to connect with readers through relatable themes and characters has cemented her legacy. Her experiences as a mother of nine and her five marriages have undoubtedly influenced her depictions of family and relationships. Through Triangle, Steel continues her tradition of crafting stories that resonate with readers while drawing from her own life.