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The Portrait
The Portrait | Iain Pears
9 posts | 5 read | 8 to read
After the dazzling achievement of his bestsellers An Instance of the Fingerpost (May well be the best historical mystery ever written. The Boston Globe) and The Dream of Scipio (A virtuoso display of craftsmanship. Macleans), Iain Pears returns with a stunning novel of suspense and revenge. An influential art critic in the early years of the twentieth century journeys from London to the remote island of Houat, off Frances northwest coast, to sit for a portrait painted by an old friend, a gifted, once acclaimed artist living in self-imposed exile. Over the course of the sitting, the painter recalls their years of friendship, the double-edged gift of the critics patronage, the power he wielded over aspiring artists, and his apparent callousness in anointing the careers of some and devastating the lives of others. The balance of power between the two men shifts dramatically and ominously as the critic becomes a passive subject; and as the painter slowly captures the character of the man on canvas, we discover why he left London suddenly and mysteriously at the height of his success and why now, with dark determination, he has taken on this unusual commission. Set against the dramatic, untamed landscape of Brittany, during one of the most explosive periods in art history, The Portrait is rich with atmosphere and suggestion, and psychological complexity. With the marvellous detail of a miniature, it brings to the fore the great artistic figures of the late nineteenth century, and their ambitions and desires. And it is a novel you will want to begin again immediately after turning the last chilling page, to read once more with a watchful eye and appreciate the hand of an ingenious storyteller at work. From the Hardcover edition.
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rwmg
The Portrait | Iain Pears
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rwmg
The Portrait | Iain Pears
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Pickpick

An artist living on an isolated island off the coast of Brittany just before WWI is visited by an eminent art critic, who used to be his mentor and now wants his portrait painted.

A series of monologues from the artist to the sitter while he's painting explore what has brought them that point. Although the ending is fairly predictable early on it is only in the last 30 pages that we learn the motivation behind it. Something of a tour de force.

Bklover You‘ve made this sound fascinating! 6mo
tpixie Sounds intriguing 🤔 6mo
31 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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rwmg
The Portrait | Iain Pears
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rwmg
The Portrait | Iain Pears
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24 likes1 stack add
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jenniferw88
The Portrait | Iain Pears
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Whilst going through my 'read' books on GR to find an emotional book for today, I found this audiobook & now think I was a bit harsh with 4 🌟 - I would now make it 4 1/2 🌟, as it's still slow to begin with. I've chosen this one because I remember being stunned and shocked at the abrupt ending! @ljuliel

ljuliel Thank you for posting about an emotional book. I‘m not familiar with that author. I‘ve heard of him, but not read any books by him. I‘ll need to put it on my Someday list. So many books to get to ! Not a bad thing, as we always have something new to try. 💕 5y
Freespirit I've not heard of it either..will look it up. Thank you xx 5y
Crazeedi I've read 3 books by this author , this is one, it's part of a series, very good 5y
See All 7 Comments
Crazeedi And I have this one on my shelf to read 5y
EadieB @ljuliel I have about 6 of his books. I‘ll have to check them out! 5y
castanheira @ljuliel Tuesdays with Morrie. It's a small but powerful book. 5y
ljuliel @castanheira Yes that book was so good ! I also liked 5y
65 likes7 comments
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jenniferw88
The Portrait | Iain Pears
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Mehso-so

I appreciated that Peter Capaldi narrated this audiobook as he's Glaswegian & so was the MC, but the story is slow.

20 hours and 5 books completed for @24in48 #24in48

4 stars overall.

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jenniferw88
The Portrait | Iain Pears
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My current listen is tagged, but these are all purchases I've made on Audible last month! @24in48

@wanderinglynn #bfcr2 update
Books 26/6
Walks 3/2
Fruit 3

wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌🏻 A great week! 🎉 5y
jewright I‘m a huge fan of the Bronte sisters. 5y
65 likes3 comments
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jenniferw88
The Portrait | Iain Pears
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Decided last minute to sign up for #24in48readathon - here is my potential stack - 4 kindle, 3 physical & 1 audio. @24in48 #24in48

rabbitprincess The Margalit Fox book was really good, I thought! 5y
101 likes1 comment
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jenniferw88
The Portrait | Iain Pears
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@wanderinglynn #bfc I wouldn't be able to do the fitness part of my goal without my headphones & these 2 apps. Depending on the book & the time I do my walk, I switch between music & books.

Have tagged my next listen on Audible - I can't remember why I added it to my #tbr pile, but it's narrated by my favourite Doctor - Peter Capaldi, so I'm already looking forward to my next walk!

BookwormAHN It sounds good. I love it when the Doctors narrate 💙 6y
wanderinglynn Headphones are essential! 🙌🏻 Thanks for sharing! 6y
TheSpineView Love headphones! They are a must for exercising! 6y
MartinaLove I love the application name Libby. All you need is a library card and you can access all the books your library has through that app! 6y
Itchyfeetreader I am terrible at keeping earphones. Of all my items (except umbrellas) I tend to lose or break super quickly. My last set were pulled to pieces by the guy in the seat next to me I a plane who sat on them! 6y
60 likes5 comments