This intimate and compelling novel deftly interweaves three periods in the life of 17th-century painter Nathaniel Deller: in 1650, just after Charles I's execution, the young Deller joins a political group too radical even for the Roundheads; ten years later, on the night of Charles II's return from exile, Deller is accused by his former friend Thomas Digby of betraying their ideals; and in 1680, the increasingly blind painter commissions his former pupil William Stroud to finish the portrait of his late wife, knowing this could reignite the romance between Stroud and the daughter he tyrannises. Offering a vivid picture of England during a period of great turmoil, "Ghost Portrait" explores the conflict between public duty and private desire, idealism and ambition.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
'A fascinating insight into an England torn apart by war.' -- Western Mail 'An intimate drama that wears its learning lightly, written with great clarity and the minimum of narrative fuss ... a timeless story of professional compromise and personal betrayal ... With delicate, economical strokes, Norminton has created characters who strain against their historical circumstance without ever jarring into anachronism. Each is drawn with a skilful sympathy that resonates beyond the page ... Suffused with desire and regret, this beautiful, understated novel is a moving meditiation on change and compromise' -- Justine Jordan, Guardian 'Norminton's prose is as lyrical as ever, at its best in his wonderfully bucolic realisation of the Diggers' doomed utopian community ... Deller's daughter and his erstwhile apprentice make a tantalising couple ... Anything by Gregory Norminton is a pleasure to read - the pages skip by in his light, cadenced style' -- Paul Fairclough, Time Out 'An elegant, convincing historical novel whose setting complements rather than engulfs the human drama' -- David Horspool, Times Literary Supplement
About the Author
Gregory Norminton was born in 1976. He studied at Oxford and trained as an actor. His first novel, THE SHIP OF FOOLS, was published by Sceptre in 2002 and was followed in 2004 by ARTS AND WONDERS, for which he won an Arts Council Writers' Award
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4.0 out of 5 stars
How do you paint a portrait for a blind man?,
By bookczuk (Charleston, SC) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Ghost Portrait (Hardcover)
I'd not heard of this book before a friend from UK sent it to me. It takes place in 17th century England and spans the Civil War, Cromwell's reign and the Restoration. In a sense it is like getting three tales in one because of the three stories told, all involving painter Nathaniel Deller. The story starts out with Nathaniel, now blind, summoning his former pupil William Stroud, to finish a portrait Nathaniel started of his long-dead wife. If William finishes it, Nathaniel indicates that William may once again look with love and win Nathaniel's daughter Cynthia (who lives with and cares for her father, trapped in the dark and stern household.) Interwoven are stories from two other time periods of Deller's life-- The night of Charles ll's return from exile in 1660, when Deller is accused by his former friend Thomas Digby of betraying their ideals and 10 years earlier just after Charles l's execution when the young Deller had joined a political group too radical even for the Roundheads.
It is a small book and a rapid read, but as I started it late at night, I was glad for the dates at the headings of the chapters to help guide my brain through the time periods. I admit that the concept most fascinating was of Deller guiding Stroud how to complete the painting of a subject he could see so clearly in his head that Stroud had never seen. And how to judge the complete work, when there was no one alive who had seen the deceased Belinda alive. I'd actually rate it about 3.5 stars, and am totally delighted I get to review it before Harriet!
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