Two talented women more than three centuries apart, rising to the challenges of putting brush to canvas: Sara de Vos, a Dutch painter of the Golden Age and Ellie Shipley, an Australian art history student starving in a garret in 1950s New York. Persuaded to emulate Sara's only known work, 'At the Edge of the Woods', Ellie sets in play a series of events, drawing in Marty De Groot, owner of the painting, and culminating in a Sydney exhibition Ellie will curate decades later.
As multi-layered as the painting at its heart, this meticulously researched story celebrates the creation of art and its magnetic pull on those within its orbit, underpinned by realistic characters and an attention to detail, down to the last brushstroke. [Larger font]
WELL 213
20-10-2023
The majority of our group loved this book, even describing it as a "masterpiece". The technicalities of painting or forging artworks, the descriptions of places and paintings, all appealed. They thought it well-written and coped happily with the time changes.
ROTO 003
22-05-2023
Enjoyable read. Certainly didn't realise how many art forgeries of famous paintings there were.
QUEEN 015
26-04-2023
Probably our favourite of all the BDS books so far. Well-written and engaging at micro and macro levels.
NELS 076
07-01-2022
Beautifully written, loved it.
CHCH 319
05-11-2021
We loved this book. The group would like to read more by this author. the writing was exquisite. While the subject was a painting, the author seemed to be painting with words. It all rang true to us (even the art historian). Generated much discussion. Multi-layered.
WHAKA 011
20-10-2021
All thoroughly enjoyed this book - interesting linking the times via a painting.
MANGWK 001
25-06-2021
Everyone loved this read. Lush, believable characters and a seamless transition between time periods. A rich read enjoyed by all.
MTMA 002
21-04-2021
Thoroughly enjoyed, an interesting read.
COROM 002
21-04-2021
Enjoyable as a change from our usual non-fiction picks. We were interested to read of the lives of the two women involved with the painting of the same picture; especially about the early Dutch women painters and the guilds. Intriguing, well researched and written, and thence discussed.
ASHB 001
17-06-2019
Differing opinions on the book and characters, but most enjoyed it. We enjoyed the historic details, but some felt it was a little laboured. All want to read other books by the same author.
AUCK 207
17-06-2019
Enjoyed by all. Thank you.
WINT 002
17-06-2019
Great book, a lovely way to tell a story - we enjoyed flicking back to the 1600s. Enjoyed by all.
TAUP 012
17-06-2019
Our group enjoyed the detail and layers of the story. We found it a little slow but it is well worth persisting, as the layers unfold and the storyline falls into place so that it is hard to put down. We all enjoyed it very much.
NORTH 007
17-06-2019
Great read. Beautiful construction. The construction's layers of imagery was like a painting in itself, and the plot also was wonderful in its layering and build. Top notch! A gripping read, with flawless flashbacks.
DUNED 033
06-03-2019
Most people enjoyed this book and felt it gave a really good idea of what the painting might have been like.
AUCK 116
06-03-2019
The whole group enjoyed the book, and the way it moved through the generations. Great information regarding women artists, forgery and the Art Guilds of the 17th century.
CHCH 086
06-03-2019
We had a good discussion of some complex questions. Well-written, and an interesting representation of several historical periods.
