Customer Reviews

Ghost Portrait

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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!