The Paris Muse
by Louisa Treger
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Pub Date 4 Jul 2024 | Archive Date 4 Jul 2024
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) | Bloomsbury Publishing
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Description
'Living with him was like living at the centre of the universe. It was electrifying and humbling, blissful and destructive, all at the same time.'
Paris, 1936. When Dora Maar, a talented French photographer, painter and poet, is introduced to Pablo Picasso, she is mesmerized by his dark and intense stare. Drawn to his volcanic creativity, it isn't long before she embarks on a passionate relationship with the Spanish artist that sometimes includes sadism and masochism, and ultimately pushes her to the edge.
The Paris Muse is the fictionalized retelling of this disturbing love story, as we follow Dora on her journey of self-discovery and expression. Set in Paris and the French Riviera, where Dora and Pablo spent their holidays with their glamorous artist friends, it provides a fascinating insight into how Picasso was a genius who side-stepped the rules in his human relationships as he did in his art. Much to Dora's torment, he refused to divorce his wife and conducted affairs with Dora's friends. The Spanish Civil War made him depressed and violent, an angst that culminated in his acclaimed painting 'Guernica', which Dora documented as he painted.
As the encroaching darkness suffocates their relationship - a darkness that escalates once the Second World War begins and the Nazis invade the country - Dora has a nervous breakdown and is hospitalised.
Atmospheric, intense and moving, The Paris Muse is an astonishing read that ensures that this talented, often overlooked woman who gave her life to Picasso is no longer a footnote.
Advance Praise
An accomplished literary novel, and also an absolute page turner. Raw sexual charisma and its descent into toxic cruelty which is set – and artfully echoed – in times of peace and war.’ Essie Fox, author of the Sunday Times bestseller The Fascination
‘Dora Maar, “The Weeping Woman" of Picasso's famous paintings, steps out of the canvas in Louisa Treger's unforgettable new novel. Dora's passionate, obsessive relationship with the artist came close to destroying her, and Treger's beautifully written first-person narrative takes us deep inside her grief and torment. Picasso emerges as a controlling, sadistic man, who is single-minded in pursuit of his art first, his pleasure second. This is a powerful, absorbing read about a woman who was a talented artist in her own right, and it illustrates very graphically who was responsible for making the 'Weeping Woman' weep.’ Gill Paul, internationally bestselling author of A Beautiful Rival
'Gifted photographer and painter - and muse of Picasso - Dora Marr comes vibrantly to life in Treger's new novel, THE PARIS MUSE. A fascinating and heartfelt portrait of a female artist striving to succeed in the male-dominated Parisian art world, readers won't be able to resist rooting for Dora, or relishing every page until The End. A compelling and absorbing read!' Heather Webb, USA Today and International bestselling author of Queens of London
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781526639295 |
| PRICE | £16.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 256 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Chantelle H, Reviewer
I was kindly gifted a copy of this novel via Netgalley thanks to the author herself.
I loved her previous book Madwoman so I was looking forward to seeing what Louisa had conjured up next.
This is a historical novel like no other.
Based on yet another remarkable woman in history, I found it absolutely fascinating.
Mixed in with the events of the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War, we follow Dora Maar as she navigates her way through a truly turbulent journey of love and life.
Dora's not so typical romance with Pablo Picasso was one that I found to be both passionate and disturbing all at the same time. This was a man that commanded attention and knew just how to manipulate both men and women to get what he wanted.
There were times throughout this tale that I simply wanted to shake Dora and make her see sense.
Her relationship with Pablo was volatile but strangely also necessary at times.
Emotional.
It was clear throughout that Dora was on a long journey of self discovery both for herself personally and for her career. If mental health was recognised back then like it is now then I'm sure Dora's path would have been completely different.
An intense read, I'm glad yet another woman in history that was overshadowed by a man gets another chance to be seen.
Caroline L, Book Trade Professional
Historical fiction, based on the relationship between Dora Maar and Pablo Picasso.
It's been a few weeks since I finished this novel, and it's really stayed with me. I knew little about Picasso's personal life, and even less about Dora Maar, and so this was a fascinating read. It touches briefly on Dora's childhood, and an early sadistic relationship with Georges Bataille. But the biggest influence on her life was Picasso, and it was shocking to discover how he was involved in multiple relationships, selfishly taking what he needed from each woman before discarding them.
Dora was an artist in her own right, and it was also fascinating to learn about her pioneering work in photography, and her shift to painting, as well as her influence on Picasso's work.
I hugely enjoyed this, and would definitely recommend The Paris Muse.
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