Description
The Subject of a Portrait (Polar Books, 2014)
‘The novel is so alive, so full of movement and momentum.’ ANITA DESAI
‘Captivating . . . a discerning and rather sumptuous study of one of history’s most infamous love triangles.’ Independent
‘Excellent; I was taken by every page; more, every sentence. It is beautifully and startlingly written, the sudden shifts and
turns, impulse and counter-impulse within and from these remarkable people. A very fine love story.’ CHRISTOPHER
RICKS
‘A true page-turner . . . it becomes impossible to put down.’ The PreRaphaelite Society Review
‘The characters of Millais and Effie are far from romantic stereotypes; their passion is depicted as convincingly as Heathcliff and Cathy’s. But it’s the strangely sympathetic portrayal of the monstrous innocent Ruskin, with his angels and demons in constant conflict, that dominates the narrative and lingers in the memory.’ Tredynas Days
‘Powered by lyrical prose of the highest order . . . John Harvey’s evocation of Victorian England and its climate of sexual repression will be hard to match. So too will the subtlety and eye for intimate detail with which he brings alive an achingly beautiful love story.’ FARZANA SHAIKH
‘If you’re a fan of art history, fictional biographies or 19th century settings, this wonderfully atmospheric tale
should please . . . the personalities ring true and each will surprise the reader in turn.’ historical-fiction.com
