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The Muse: A Novel Paperback – May 16, 2017
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“Love, war, desire, and art—it’s all here.” —Elle
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 harboring 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.
- Print length416 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherEcco
- Publication dateMay 16, 2017
- Dimensions5.31 x 0.94 x 8 inches
- ISBN-10006240993X
- ISBN-13978-0062409935
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“A complex, vividly drawn tale... The intricate way in which Burton pulls the two plots together is unexpected and impressive, a most original story about creative freedom, finding one’s voice, and the quest for artistic redemption.” — Publishers Weekly
“[A] smart blend of literary and commercial fiction with intriguing characters and a compelling mystery at its center... Burton creatively infuses historical fiction with mystery in her exploration of the far-reaching consequences of deception, the relationship between art and artist, and the complex trajectory of women’s desires. — Booklist
“A simmering historical love story” — Glamour UK
“Like its predecessor, this is a tale with a refreshingly feminist slant, interested in the slipperiness of meaning” — Daily Mail (UK)
“[A] rich palette of ideas and emotions… The novel excellently explores the writing process itself.” — Independent (UK)
The Muse is a brilliantly realised story, and the parallel narratives are perfectly balanced, propelling the story forward at break-neck speed... Jessie Burton can expect more awards to soon be coming her way. — Sunday Herald, Scotland
“If you read and loved The Miniaturist, Burton’s enchanting bestseller set in 17th-century Amsterdam, The Muse arrives just in time for the end of summer... Love, war, desire, and art―it’s all here.” — Elle
“The Muse... asks us to pay close attention, given the unexpected paths that wander variously through time, race, global politics and art history…[A] well crafted tale that draws you in, and in the end, respects you as a reader.” — Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Jessie Burton meticulously reconstructs two different worlds… and ruminates on the nature of truth in art.. Told with remarkable care and evident research… A serpentine tale about art, truth and artistic ambition… [A] beautifully constructed story of art, ambition and the sacrifices one makes in the pursuit of both.” — Bookreporter.com
From the Back Cover
It’s 1967 and Odelle Bastien is a Caribbean émigré trying to make her way in London. She takes a job at the prestigious Skelton Institute of Art and is taken under the wing of the mesmerizing and mysterious Marjorie Quick. When Odelle discovers a painting rumored to be the work of Isaac Robles—a Spanish artist whose mysterious death has confounded the art world for decades—she finds herself drawn into a complex web of secrets and deceptions.
The truth about the painting lies in rural Spain, 1936, where Olive Schloss, the daughter of a renowned art dealer, is harboring ambitions of her own. Olive grows close to Teresa, a young housekeeper, and Teresa’s half brother, Isaac Robles, a painter buoyed by the revolutionary fervor that will soon erupt into civil war. Insinuating themselves into the Schloss family’s lives, Teresa and Isaac help Olive conceal her artistic talents with devastating consequences that will echo into the decades to come.
In vividly rendered detail, acclaimed and bestselling author Jessie Burton spins a tale of desire, ambition, and how the tides of history inevitably shape and define our lives.
About the Author
Jessie Burton was born in London in 1982. She studied at Oxford University and the Central School of Speech and Drama. The Miniaturist is her first novel.
Product details
- Publisher : Ecco; Reprint edition (May 16, 2017)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 416 pages
- ISBN-10 : 006240993X
- ISBN-13 : 978-0062409935
- Item Weight : 10.8 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.94 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #239,091 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,280 in Historical British & Irish Literature
- #2,648 in Historical Thrillers (Books)
- #14,051 in Literary Fiction (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Jessie Burton is the author of four novels: The Miniaturist, The Muse, The Confession, and The House of Fortune.
The Miniaturist and The Muse were Sunday Times no.1 bestsellers in hardback and paperback, and New York Times bestsellers. The Miniaturist was UK Christmas no.1, National Book Awards Book of the Year, and Waterstones Book of the Year 2014, and sold more than 1 million copies in its first year. In 2017 it was adapted as a two-part BBC miniseries starring Anya Taylor-Joy. The Confession was a Sunday Times bestseller. The House of Fortune was a Sunday Times no.1 bestseller in hardback, with the paperback to come in July 2023.
Her novels have been published in 40 languages.
Her first book for children, The Restless Girls, was published in 2018, followed by Medusa in 2021. Medusa is shortlisted for the 2023 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing.
Visit her website at https://www.jessieburton.com, and follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jessieburton
Customer reviews
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Top reviews from the United States
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I really enjoyed traveling through time and space in this book, visiting a home in Trinidad, traveling with a Trinidadian immigrant to a shoe store and then the art scene in London, traveling back to a Spain on the brink of civil war, and allusions to Hitler's violence in Austria and France. The ties between these places and events were really interesting and well executed, and I enjoyed that the author didn't try to fill in every scene of the story, leaving the edges a little blurry but deepening the color of the central characters, their conflicts and bonds, their secrets.
There were a few plot points that felt unnecessary and that I didn't really understand the purpose of in the end.
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2022
I really enjoyed traveling through time and space in this book, visiting a home in Trinidad, traveling with a Trinidadian immigrant to a shoe store and then the art scene in London, traveling back to a Spain on the brink of civil war, and allusions to Hitler's violence in Austria and France. The ties between these places and events were really interesting and well executed, and I enjoyed that the author didn't try to fill in every scene of the story, leaving the edges a little blurry but deepening the color of the central characters, their conflicts and bonds, their secrets.
There were a few plot points that felt unnecessary and that I didn't really understand the purpose of in the end.
Top reviews from other countries
but the way The Muse ended, we've been told everything and it's almost as if there is nothing left to say. Odelle's perspective is totally unique and encouraged me to reflect on quite a few things about the '60s and beyond.
There were a couple of points I wondered about that weren't explained. I would have liked to know how Marjorie came up with the name Quick. Or did someone else pick it for her? Lots of possibilities there for an interesting story. And how did Olivia end up going down a corridor in the cabin? That's the problem with reading on the Kindle - going back to reread is next to impossible. So maybe I missed something.
This was a wonderfully written book and I've recommended it to several people. It's specially interesting for someone who likes art and discussing paintings. For me, it ticked all the boxes for an excellent book.