It looks as though Elaine and I have been picking up our Easter holiday reading from the same table in Waterstone's, and - happily - that we had a similarly rewarding experience with our choice of Margaret Forster's Keeping the World Away.
I read her impressive Lady's Maid (an account of the Elizabeth Barrett/Robert Browning love affair as given by Elizabeth's maid, Wilson) some time ago, and I expected the same degree of skill in this book where she adopts the similar approach of melding carefully researched historical fact with fiction.
In "Keeping the World Away" the main character is not a person but a picture. The story stems from Gwen John's years in Paris. Driven first by her passion for art and a desire to express herself very intimately through her painting, and then by her ill-fated affair and obsession with Rodin, she creates a work which represents her life. "A corner of the artist's room" depicts longing, solitude, self-possession and contented containment, and comes to represent all these things and more for the succession of women who later own it.
The premise is an interesting one: do we chose objects, finding in them something which has a particular resonance for us, or do they somehow find their way to us to fufill a need or fit a certain space in our lives? Either way, the uncontrived and very neatly chain-linked plot features artists and art-lovers, each to some extent trying to 'keep the world away' and create their own inviolate place, while discovering their true selves.
I found this book profoundly satisfying on many levels. It represents Forster at her best - careful, sensitive, perceptive, detailed and yet with a clear overview of her subject. It survived the distractions inherent in being read on planes, trains, and beside a stunning view, and it is still making me think.
I also read Lady's Maid a few years ago and enjoyed it. Sounds like I would enjoy this too, and will have to see if this is published here in the US.
Posted by: tara | 11 April 2007 at 02:17 PM
I have also read Lady's Maid, and really enjoyed it, so I will put Keeping the World Away on my "to read" list. Thanks for the review.
Posted by: Donna | 11 April 2007 at 03:35 PM
I read Travels of Maudie Tipstaff years ago, and thought it was very good. I keep meaning to read it again, and read more of her books.
Posted by: Nan | 11 April 2007 at 06:25 PM
Karen - how lovely to find that you loved this book too. I thought it was one of her best for a long time and I was so glad I could read it over the Easter break and give it the attention it deserved without interruption.
Posted by: Elaine | 11 April 2007 at 10:59 PM
I've been meandering here for a while, but don't think I've ever got around to actually COMMENTING. And, such is the world of blog-names, I'm not even sure if I know you from dovegreybooks yahoo group, or not!?
Anyway. Love your site so much - for the beautiful photographs, of course, but also because of the huge crossovers we have in reading. I was very happy to see you mention some of my favourites - The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, The Diary of a Provincial Lady, Mapp & Lucia, The Summer Book (you looked at p.69 and didn't go on... but please do! It's wonderful!). Have also recently read Letters from 10, Curzon Street, and AS Byatt's Matisse Stories - and have most of the books you mention on my tbr pile... All in all, very glad I followed the link from dovegreyreader, and shall bookmark you to make sure I visit often...
Spiel over!
Simon
Posted by: Simon | 11 April 2007 at 11:27 PM
I lent this book to my sister just a few days ago; now I must re-read it when she returns it. Gwen John's life is fascinating, and her paintings are lovely, just so evocative. Her brother Augustus is fascinating too, but in a quite different way! Did you see the TV production about her a few years ago?
Posted by: Elizabeth | 12 April 2007 at 08:42 AM