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jcbmathcat 's review for:
The Portrait
by Iain Pears
Scottish painter Henry MacAlpine lives on a remote island off of Brittany. He accepts a commission from an old friend/adversary, art critic William Nasmyth, to paint Nasmyth's portrait. Nasmyth sits for several days and does not utter a word as MacAlpine recounts his life as he paints the portrait.
MacAlpine retreated to his island of exile because of Nasmyth's criticisms; he holds Nasmyth accountable for a double crime. His portrait is to be a triptych -- his view of Nasmyth as he was, as he is now, and as he will be.
The novel is written as a dramatic monologue, so we only come to know MacAlpine and his point of view. Even though the reader knows what is coming, the why and wherefore makes this story worth the read.
MacAlpine retreated to his island of exile because of Nasmyth's criticisms; he holds Nasmyth accountable for a double crime. His portrait is to be a triptych -- his view of Nasmyth as he was, as he is now, and as he will be.
The novel is written as a dramatic monologue, so we only come to know MacAlpine and his point of view. Even though the reader knows what is coming, the why and wherefore makes this story worth the read.