The Girl in the Green Glass Mirror [Import] [Hardcover]

Elizabeth McGregor (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 445 pages
• Publisher: Magna Large Print Books; Large Print Ed edition (November 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750524618
• ISBN-13: 978-0750524612
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars life imitates art imitates life, February 24, 2006

By 

lisatheratgirl "lisatheratgirl" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Girl in the Green Glass Mirror (Hardcover)

Oh, wow, I was impressed with this book. Two stories which turn out to be related, alternate. We open in a London insane asylum, 1844. In the middle of a scene remeniscent of the beginning of Amadeus, the artist Richard Dadd is painting the details of an insect's wing. Probably most Americans and people without an art history background have not heard of Dadd, but he was real and his work was fascinating. It's worth taking a look at some of his pictures on the web. He was put away for life after killing his father in the middle of a delusion (he was schizophrenic). Much of his best work was done while confined in mental hospitals. In present day London, art appraiser Catherine has been left by her husband Robert. In the course of her work, she meets John, who has a house full of art and collectibles and antiques. They begin a relationship that eventually leads back to Richard Dadd. The stories are well told, the descriptions are exquisite, and the author treats characters having major mental illnesses with sensitivity, although she also makes them realistic. One remarkable scene has Dadd being transferred from a hospital where he's been for 20 years to another institution outside London. It's his first time out and his first trip on a train. It's a Rip van Winkle kind of sensation; yet Dadd carefully notes every detail for future works because he knows he wont get the chance to see it again. This book is just so interesting and really a pleasure to read. I felt I learned quite a bit, and that's something for a novel. Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Good, April 15, 2008

By 

Heather L. Hurd "Bibliophile Extraordinaire" (North Beach, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Girl in the Green Glass Mirror (Paperback)

A great book by an author I knew nothing about previously. Wonderful characterization, beautiful descriptive detail, and a great story line. I loved the inclusion of some art historical elements as well.

4.0 out of 5 stars Novel inspired by Art, March 30, 2009

By 

Yolanda S. Bean (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Girl in the Green Glass Mirror (Paperback)

This was a very interesting book. And I would certainly like to see more of Richard Dadd's paintings! I just love books inspired by art. They are so fascinating! I enjoyed the rather horrific parts about Dadd's time in Bedlam as well. It was just such a fascinating book! And a very fast read. All in all, sad, but very good. Its only real flaw was that there was something... missing... from the characters. I did like the rather mythical romance though.