The Flames
A story about four strong women and the artist who sets their lives on fire
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
BEHIND EVERY PAINTING, THERE IS A STORY....
'Fascinating & compelling' Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf Den
'Magnificent' Katie Lowe, author of The Furies
'Utterly compelling' Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Mercies
'Confident...urgent...illuminating' Sunday Times
'Full of scandal, love, betrayal, and heartache' Cosmopolitan
'Mesmerising' Good Housekeeping
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In Vienna, a new century is dawning. The beautiful city is teeming with art, music and radical ideas. In this new world, anything seems possible...
This is the story of four women and the elusive artist who changed their lives.
Daughters of a prominent Viennese family, Edith and Adele are expected to follow the rules - to marry well, and produce children. Gertrude is in thrall to her flamboyant older brother. Marked by a traumatic childhood, she envies the freedom so readily granted to him. Vally was born into poverty but is making her way in the world as a model for the eminent artist Gustav Klimt.
Fierce, passionate and determined, none of these women is quite what they seem. But their lives are set on a collision course when they become entangled with the controversial young artist Egon Schiele whose work - and private life - are sending shockwaves through society. All it will take is a single act of betrayal to set their world on fire.
DISCOVER MADAME MATISSE - THE BRILLIANT NEW NOVEL FROM SOPHIE HAYDOCK
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Readers say:
'A riveting captivating read that had me caught up in the time and the place, the life of Schiele and the muses that inspired his art, the tangled mess of passions, the love, loss, grief, the lies, poison and betrayal.'
'One of my favourite books of the year!'
'I just cannot get enough of these fresh, feminist narratives... I found myself in awe of the women who loved [Schiele]...An exquisite read.'
'I adored it. A work of art that will burn bright and stay close to my heart for a very long time'
'A fascinating story loosely based on an eccentric artist who I knew nothing about...Poignant and emotional'
'A vivid, gorgeous book... Vienna is real to the reader, and the fates of the characters will take you out of your everyday life into theirs.'
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Haydock's stunning debut captures the ecstatic shock of erotic art during the bohemian period of the Vienna Secession, dialing in on the brief life of Egon Schiele (1890–1918) and the four women who influenced the painter. They are his voyeuristic neighbors, sisters Adele and Edith Harms; his possessive younger sister, Gertrude; and the model Vally Neuzil, who was his lover and muse. Sections devoted to each woman explore the jealousy, guilt, and grief that swirl around their relationships with the artist. Adele takes to spying on Egon from across the street, deluded by the belief that they'll marry, and survives a bout of the flu; Gertrude recounts the Schieles' difficult childhoods with their abusive, syphilitic stationmaster father; Edith vies for Egon's attention, which leads to a tumultuous romance; and Vally remains independent. After Vally and Egon shelter a girl who's being abused by her father, the father presses charges of kidnapping and corrupting a minor (Egon is also charged with pornography). By the end, not all of the characters escape WWI or the Spanish flu pandemic, and Haydock's superb research captures the era's rich atmosphere. This assured effort will leave readers eager to see more from Haydock.
Customer Reviews
I don’t know much about art, but…
4.5 stars
Early 20th century Viennese artist Egon Schiele had four muses. These are their stories (cue theme music from the TV show Law and Order), or at least Ms H’s re-imagining of them.
Our boy Egon was a protege of Gustav Klimt and a big name in his own right. He had an eye for the ladies. Many of his works feature what would now be described, by some at least, as adult human females in the nuddy. This book is a series of narratives centred on the four most important of those, although there is considerable interplay. The opening and closing sections set in late 1960s, show what has happened to the only surviving muse. Gertrude is Egon’s his sister, and a life long influence. Vally is a poor young woman turned professional art model/courtesan. Edith and Adele Harms, upper middle class sisters who live next door to Egon. One is obsessed by him, the other marries him. The city of Vienna, First World War and the Spanish flu pandemic feature prominently.
Well-paced, evocative of the time and place, excellent character development and exploration of interpersonal dynamics. An impressive debut.