The Gallery of Vanished Husbands, Natasha Solomons
The Gallery of Vanished Husbands, Natasha Solomons
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The Gallery of Vanished Husbands

Author: Natasha Solomons

Narrator: Karen Cass

Unabridged: 11 hr 20 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/01/2013

Synopsis

When Juliet Montague's husband disappears, so does she. As far as the conservative Jewish community in which she lives is concerned, she is invisible. She does her best to conform to their rules, but then on her thirtieth birthday she does something unexpected. Instead of the fridge she has scrimped for, she impulsively spends her savings on a portrait of herself.

It is the first in a series of portraits that punctuate Juliet's adult life as she joins London's lively post-war art scene and proves to be an astute spotter of talent. Yet she remains an outsider in both her worlds: a mother of two, drawn to a reclusive artist who never leaves Dorset, and unable to feel free until she has found her husband - a quest that leads her to California and a surprising discovery.

Absorbing, intriguing and richly evocative, this is the tale of one woman's life and an unusual emotional journey, each stage hinged on a painting. It is a bravura performance by a highly talented young author.

(P)2013 Hodder & Stoughton

About Natasha Solomons

Natasha Solomons is the author of the internationally bestselling Mr Rosenblum's List, The Novel in the Viola, which was chosen for the Richard & Judy Book Club, and The Gallery of Vanished Husbands. Natasha lives in Dorset with her son and her husband with whom she also writes screenplays. Her novels have been translated into 17 languages.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Melanie on July 27, 2013

The book takes place in 1960s London. Juliet Montague is a mother of two who lives in a very conservative Jewish community. Her husband disappeared one day and since then, Juliet has felt she has also become invisible to those around her. Only men can divorce their Jewish wives at that time, so Juli......more

Goodreads review by Stephen on March 02, 2019

this book was a slow mover and didn't really get myself into it and couldn't really get into the characters as well......more

Goodreads review by Maggie on January 01, 2015

Sorry, but you can get the plot in another review; this is my opinion. The story was compelling enough to keep me reading to the end, but I didn't connect with most of the characters - and especially the main character. The disconnect was almost immediate when I saw that the heroine's name was Julie......more

Goodreads review by P.D.R. on March 23, 2016

Loved it. I really like the writing style and tone which Natasha Solomons uses. She has a way of making words dance. This story is about a very conventionally raised Jewish wife who breaks free and becomes a much respected Gallery owner in the art world of the 1960s. That sounds like a predictable pl......more

Goodreads review by Laura on August 16, 2013

Not sure the cover art does the book any favors - this is a book mostly about a woman rebelling against her traditional community in favor of art. Juliet is one of those people who sees things: blues are really blue, ugly stands out, and if you show her a bare wall she can tell you what art you shou......more

Quotes

Captivates you with its charm, quirkiness and old-fashioned storytelling Daily Mail

This charming, mesmerising story is ultimately about the triumph of the human spirit, not the caging of it . . . Solomons has created a warm, luscious read that brims with passion and skilfully evokes a bygone era when only married women could be prescribed the Pill, when the sexual revolution was just beginning and when children were cheerfully given cherry brandy as a "sleeping draught". It is a beautifully written tale about a woman who was left socially dead but rose again by seizing life. The Times

The Gallery of Vanished Husbands is a colourful and captivating tale of a woman shedding her skin. Stylist

Natasha Solomons typically binds her themes with her gift as a storyteller. Many times I had to stop and gasp for air at some incredible revelation. But mostly this is a portrait of a woman. Solomons doesn't tell us Juliet is beautiful, but you know she is from the way her head and heart behave and the way the men in her orbit adore her. Sydney Morning Herald

This brilliant novel is infused with empathy and humour. I adored it. Irish Examiner

A luminous book - passionate, rich and touching. Sainsburys Magazine

The loose and liberated art world of the 1960s in the setting for The Gallery of Vanished Husbands, a charming tale by Natasha Solomons. After having her portrait painted, a newly abandoned wife breaks free from her uptight upbringing to find a new love and life. Good Housekeeping

Solomons creates in Juliet a detailed character portrait of a woman who exhibits strength and poise under less than ideal conditions. Each chapter tells the story of one of Juliet's paintings and of important events in her life, and readers will respond to the realistic and beautifully flawed characteristics assigned to her. Library Journal

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