The Muse

by Jessie Burton

The Sunday Times Number One Bestseller

A picture hides a thousand words . . .

On a hot July day in 1967, Odelle Bastien climbs the stone steps of the Skelton gallery in London, knowing that her life is about to change forever. Having struggled to find her place in the city since she arrived from Trinidad five years ago, she has been offered a job as a typist under the tutelage of the glamorous and enigmatic Marjorie Quick. But though Quick takes Odelle into her confidence, and unlocks a potential she didn't know she had, she remains a mystery - no more so than when a lost masterpiece with a secret history is delivered to the gallery.

The truth about the painting lies in 1936 and a large house in rural Spain, where Olive Schloss, the daughter of a renowned art dealer, is harbouring ambitions of her own. Into this fragile paradise come artist and revolutionary Isaac Robles and his half-sister Teresa, who immediately insinuate themselves into the Schloss family, with explosive and devastating consequences . . .

Seductive, exhilarating and suspenseful, The Muse is an unforgettable novel about aspiration and identity, love and obsession, authenticity and deception - a masterpiece from Jessie Burton, the million-copy bestselling author of The Miniaturist.

• ISBN10: 144725094X
• ISBN13: 9781447250944
• Publish Date: 30 June 2016
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 26 January 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Imprint: Picador
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 464
• Language: English

Reviews

[clementine]

I mean, it was probably a given that I was going to love this book because it's made up of two intersecting narratives and it's about art-related intrigue. I actually figured out both big twists ahead of time, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment at all - the plot was great, the writing was lovely, the characters were very interesting. I loved Olive especially; her resignation at her art only being recognized if passed off as a man's was heartbreaking. The backdrop of the Spanish Civil War and the rise of fascism in Europe was also great and totally enriched the book. Overall, a fascinating and readable novel. Definitely going to pick up The Miniaturist one of these days, too.

[MurderByDeath]

This book was initially all about the cover love for me - I could not stop looking at the cover whenever I saw it.  I also liked that the story line was about a lost painting, but I wasn't sure it was really my thing.  So I checked it out of the library, read the first bit, and bought the book for myself.  Then it went to the back burner during Halloween Book Bingo.   Last night I devoured the last 75%.  I was right, it's not quite my kind of jam, but it was so good.  The narrative is divided between two time-lines, the 1930's Spain, and the 1960's, London, but the author broke these up by sections, rather than chapters, which kept the transitions more seamless.   For me, at the beginning of the book, the predominant timeline was the 60's, but as the book progressed it rapidly became all about what happened in the 30's.  What an ungodly mess it was, too.   This is one of those books that stayed with me when I finished it and my thoughts are scattered all over the place about it, so I'll just say this:  the writing was gorgeous, the story was tragic, and oh I love that cover!