The Crimson Portrait: A Novel - Softcover

Shields, Jody

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0316067180 ISBN 13: 9780316067188

Publisher: Back Bay Books, 2008

Synopsis

Spring 1915. On a sprawling country estate not far from London a young woman mourns her husband, fallen on the battlefields of what has been declared the first World War...
But the isolated and eerie stillness in which she grieves is shattered when her home is transformed into a bustling military hospital to serve the war's most irreparably injured. Disturbed by the intrusion of the suffering men and their caretakers, the young widow finds unexpected solace in the company of a wounded soldier whose face, concealed by bandages, she cannot see. Their affair takes an unexpected turn when fate presents her with an opportunity: to remake her lover -- with the unwitting help of a visionary surgeon and an American woman artist -- in the image of her lost husband.
Inspired by the little-known but extraordinary collaboration between artists and surgeons in the treatment of wounded men in the First World War, The Crimson Portrait peels back layers of suspense and intrigue to illuminate the abiding mysteries of identity and desire.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Spring 1915. On a sprawling country estate not far from London a young woman mourns her husband, fallen on a distant battlefield…

The eerie stillness in which she grieves is shattered as her home is transformed into a bustling military hospital. Unsettled by the intrusion of the suffering soldiers, the increasingly fragile widow finds unexpected solace in the company of a wounded officer whose mutilated face, concealed by bandages, she cannot see. But then their affair takes an unexpected turn. Fate presents her with an opportunity: to remake her lover – with the unwitting help of a visionary surgeon and a woman artist – in the image of her lost husband...

Inspired by the extraordinary collaboration between surgeons and artists in the treatment of the wounded during the First World War, The Crimson Portrait is a compelling read – as stylish and darkly erotic as Jody Shields’ acclaimed début, The Fig Eater.

‘As full of emotional detail as The English Patient’ Los Angeles Times ‘Dark and atmospheric…wonderfully descriptive and poetic’ USA Today

‘Compelling…exquisitely written…without a false line’ Washington Post

About the Author:

Jody Shields's debut novel, The Fig Eater, was hailed as "an atmospheric thriller" (Los Angeles Times), "stylish and compelling" (Chicgao Tribune), and "a bewitching visit to late-imperial Vienna... enjoyable and intelligent" (Times Literary Supplement). She lives in New York City.

About this edition

• Publisher: Back Bay Books
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0316067180
• ISBN 13: 9780316067188
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320