The Crimson Portrait

Shields, Jody

ISBN 10: 1400133386 ISBN 13: 9781400133383

Publisher: Tantor Audio, 2007

Synopsis

This haunting love story-the magnificent new historical novel by the author of the national bestseller The Fig Eater-makes unforgettably real the ravages of love and war. 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 abruptly shattered as her home is transformed into a bustling military hospital. Recoiling from the chaos, unhinged by grief, the young widow finds unexpected refuge in a tender young soldier whose face, concealed by bandages, she cannot see. Their affair takes a fateful turn when she confronts-and seizes upon-the opportunity to remake her lover in the image of her lost husband.

The Crimson Portrait is a novel of glittering surfaces that belie dark truths. Its rich cast comes into focus as the novel peels back layers of suspense and intrigue to illuminate the abiding mysteries of affinity and desire.

"Shields's writing weaves dark mythical symbolism with matter-of-fact medical nitty-gritty to reveal what happens when class, ignorance, hopefulness and despair coalesce."-Publishers Weekly

"Lovely writing..."-Kirkus

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 is a former design editor of the New York Times Magazine and the author of All That Glitters and A Stylish History, as well as several screenplays.

About this edition

• Publisher: Tantor Audio
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1400133386
• ISBN 13: 9781400133383
• Binding: Audio CD