Call number
FIC OLI
Collection
Genres
Publication
Viking (2014), Edition: First ed; First Printing, 352 pages
Description
"A novel of Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas's great romance from the New York Times bestselling author of My Name Is Mary Sutter The young Mary Cassatt never thought moving to Paris after the Civil War to be an artist was going to be easy, but when, after a decade of work, her submission to the Paris Salon is rejected, Mary's fierce determination wavers. Her father is begging her to return to Philadelphia to find a husband before it is too late, her sister Lydia is falling mysteriously ill, and worse, Mary is beginning to doubt herself. Then one evening a friend introduces her to Edgar Degas and her life changes forever. Years later she will learn that he had begged for the introduction, but in that moment their meeting seems a miracle. So begins the defining period of her life and the most tempestuous of relationships"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member muddyboy
This is the interesting story of the on again, off again, relationship between Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas during their memorable careers as artists. There is a major side story about the artist Manet and his never ending attraction to his sister in law Berthe. This is a drawing room book with
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almost all the action occurring at parties and meetings among these people and many other celebrities in the Paris art and literary scene. This is a very well written book for, I think, a limited audience. People with interest and knowledge of these artists already will get much more out of it than those reading the book in a vacuum. Show Less
LibraryThing member theeccentriclady
I ALWAYS LOVED YOU is a rich historical novel that gives life to 2 of my favorite impressionist artist, Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas. I chose this book because of the subject of art and was not disappointed in the way Robin Oliveira depicted the lives, loves, struggles and doubts these artist
For those who were disappointed in The Painted Girls, which was a story about the ballerinas Degas painted not the artist, this is the book you were looking for. The relationship between Mary and Edgar will frustrate most people but Oliveira did a splendid job of showing us the vulnerabilities of the creative person’s mind and the struggles they face trying to live ordinary lives and still find the solitude to be inspired and produce beautiful images that come from their hearts and souls.
I chose to listen to this book and the narrator was wonderful and made the experience even more real.
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experienced. The pain and effort it takes to create a work of art, putting your soul on a piece of canvas and then the pain to have critics tear you apart. Needing to make a living to sustain your life but not wanting to cheapen what you do to something commercial. If you have a love of Art or have an artist heart you will enjoy this beautiful portrayal of a time when art was changing and these artist were on the cutting edge of change. For those who were disappointed in The Painted Girls, which was a story about the ballerinas Degas painted not the artist, this is the book you were looking for. The relationship between Mary and Edgar will frustrate most people but Oliveira did a splendid job of showing us the vulnerabilities of the creative person’s mind and the struggles they face trying to live ordinary lives and still find the solitude to be inspired and produce beautiful images that come from their hearts and souls.
I chose to listen to this book and the narrator was wonderful and made the experience even more real.
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LibraryThing member Jaylia3
Beautifully written and full of period details, this novel features American artist Mary Cassatt and her complex relationship with the talented, sometimes infuriating Edgar Degas, but the viewpoint also switches to Berthe Morisot and her brother-in-law/maybe-lover Edouard Manet, creating a broad
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intimate portrait of Belle Epoque Paris and the loves, doubts, struggles, triumphs, yearnings, fears, and ambitions of four painters hoping to change the direction of art. I’ve read several books on the era, but nothing that focuses so much on the personal lives of the Impressionists. I usually prefer biography to fiction in books about actual people, but Robin Oliveiera did her research and breathes life into the characters, intriguing me enough that I have biographies of Cassatt and Morisot on hold at my library. One fun fact I didn’t know: Cassatt was a dear friend of Abigail May Alcott--Louisa’s artistic younger sister and the basis for the Amy character in Little Women. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jcambridge
I thoroughly enjoyed this work of historical fiction and would highly recommend it. The author makes the reader feel that he/she is back in Paris during the time of so many great artists. I read this for a bookclub, the timing of which coincides with a Degas/Cassatt exhibition at the National
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Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Our members look forward to a "field trip" that will even further enhance our discussion. Show Less
LibraryThing member canpam
surprisingling good
relationship between Mary Cassat and Edgar Degas and their early impressionist group in Paris 18860s
told in 3rd person that can get too distant at times
my favoritepainting is a Cassat, Child in a straw hat
will have to research some of the artists mentioned
relationship between Mary Cassat and Edgar Degas and their early impressionist group in Paris 18860s
told in 3rd person that can get too distant at times
my favoritepainting is a Cassat, Child in a straw hat
will have to research some of the artists mentioned
LibraryThing member pennsylady
This is a novel of Belle Époque Paris featuring the leading impressionist-era revolutionaries.
With a backdrop of the beginnings of "Impressionism" , we find an again off again, somewhat convoluted, relationship of Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas.
"Though it’s never been proven that the two painters
We're privy to the relationships of other notables of the period, including Edouard Manet (impressionist painter ignored by the Salon of the times)
Berthe Morisot (painter in love with her brother in law, Edouard Manet)
1870 Paris appeared to me to be gossipy, often sorrowful but still a worthy tapestry.
Having read My Name is Mary Sutter, this volume was impressive at intervals, but overall, my reaction was tepid.
I was hoping for something more spirited.
But, I do understand and defer to the fact that "more spirited" may not have truly portrayed their union.
3 ★
With a backdrop of the beginnings of "Impressionism" , we find an again off again, somewhat convoluted, relationship of Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas.
"Though it’s never been proven that the two painters
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were lovers, Oliveira explores the next 40 turbulent years of their relationship, and what might have been, crafting a tale of inspiration, desire, and restraint between two great artists of the 19th century."We're privy to the relationships of other notables of the period, including Edouard Manet (impressionist painter ignored by the Salon of the times)
Berthe Morisot (painter in love with her brother in law, Edouard Manet)
1870 Paris appeared to me to be gossipy, often sorrowful but still a worthy tapestry.
Having read My Name is Mary Sutter, this volume was impressive at intervals, but overall, my reaction was tepid.
I was hoping for something more spirited.
But, I do understand and defer to the fact that "more spirited" may not have truly portrayed their union.
3 ★
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LibraryThing member gbelik
There's really not much plot here, just the story of the relationships between Degas and Cassatt and Morrisette and Manet and lots of other Impressionists thrown in too.
LibraryThing member christinejoseph
Turn of the century — Mary Cassatt in Paris — Salon rejected her
join w/ Edgar Degas' grp — long term love/hate relationship
all outside salon didn't want jury to decide good art
Many friends with Abigail (May) Alcott
also a painter — Manet 2 Brother Edward
Berthe Morisot — married Manet
In end money all we have
The young Mary Cassatt never thought moving to Paris after the Civil War to be an artist was going to be easy, but when, after a decade of work, her submission to the Paris Salon is rejected, Mary’s fierce determination wavers. Her father is begging her to return to Philadelphia to find a husband before it is too late, her sister Lydia is falling mysteriously ill, and worse, Mary is beginning to doubt herself. Then one evening a friend introduces her to Edgar Degas and her life changes forever. Years later she will learn that he had begged for the introduction, but in that moment their meeting seems a miracle. So begins the defining period of her life and the most tempestuous of relationships.
join w/ Edgar Degas' grp — long term love/hate relationship
all outside salon didn't want jury to decide good art
Many friends with Abigail (May) Alcott
also a painter — Manet 2 Brother Edward
Berthe Morisot — married Manet
Show More
brotherIn end money all we have
The young Mary Cassatt never thought moving to Paris after the Civil War to be an artist was going to be easy, but when, after a decade of work, her submission to the Paris Salon is rejected, Mary’s fierce determination wavers. Her father is begging her to return to Philadelphia to find a husband before it is too late, her sister Lydia is falling mysteriously ill, and worse, Mary is beginning to doubt herself. Then one evening a friend introduces her to Edgar Degas and her life changes forever. Years later she will learn that he had begged for the introduction, but in that moment their meeting seems a miracle. So begins the defining period of her life and the most tempestuous of relationships.
Show Less
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
Book on CD narrated by Mozhan Marnò
The subtitle – A Story of Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas – is all the synopsis anyone needs. This immediately drew my attention as I love art, the Impressionists in particular, and I love reading historical fiction about artists. Also, I loved Oliveira’s
I liked learning more about the journey these artists took to become the icons we know today. No story focusing on these two artists could possibly be told without also touching on the other Impressionists: Manet, Morisot, Pissarro, Monet, Renoir, and they are all here as well. I appreciated all the period detail and the exploration of the various tangled relationships. I was unaware of some of the medical issues that plagued Degas and Manet, having previously been content merely to study the product of their years of work. Similarly, I didn’t know about Cassatt’s family situation, or Morisot’s complicated love life. I had previously been content to merely gaze with astonishment and admiration at the works of art they created. But while I appreciate now having learned all these details, and while these elements added color to the story, they failed to really move me.
I grew as frustrated by the relationship between Mary and Edgar as Oliveira indicates Mary was. Despite what the title may imply, I didn’t find much love here. I absolutely hated Degas; what a selfish, arrogant, inconsiderate worm! And I was somewhat puzzled by Mary, so strong and determined one moment and so self-pitying in another. I found the relationship between Morisot and the Manet brothers a much more compelling story.
Final verdict: interesting historical fiction that held my attention and shed some light on the background of these artists, but it failed to fully engage me.
Mozhan Marnò does a stellar job performing the audio version. She sets a good pace and her facility with French names and phrases helped me feel I was in Paris.
The subtitle – A Story of Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas – is all the synopsis anyone needs. This immediately drew my attention as I love art, the Impressionists in particular, and I love reading historical fiction about artists. Also, I loved Oliveira’s
Show More
debut work: My Name is Mary Sutter. So, I had high hopes.I liked learning more about the journey these artists took to become the icons we know today. No story focusing on these two artists could possibly be told without also touching on the other Impressionists: Manet, Morisot, Pissarro, Monet, Renoir, and they are all here as well. I appreciated all the period detail and the exploration of the various tangled relationships. I was unaware of some of the medical issues that plagued Degas and Manet, having previously been content merely to study the product of their years of work. Similarly, I didn’t know about Cassatt’s family situation, or Morisot’s complicated love life. I had previously been content to merely gaze with astonishment and admiration at the works of art they created. But while I appreciate now having learned all these details, and while these elements added color to the story, they failed to really move me.
I grew as frustrated by the relationship between Mary and Edgar as Oliveira indicates Mary was. Despite what the title may imply, I didn’t find much love here. I absolutely hated Degas; what a selfish, arrogant, inconsiderate worm! And I was somewhat puzzled by Mary, so strong and determined one moment and so self-pitying in another. I found the relationship between Morisot and the Manet brothers a much more compelling story.
Final verdict: interesting historical fiction that held my attention and shed some light on the background of these artists, but it failed to fully engage me.
Mozhan Marnò does a stellar job performing the audio version. She sets a good pace and her facility with French names and phrases helped me feel I was in Paris.
Show Less
LibraryThing member murderbydeath
I have mixed feelings about this book. Upfront, it's pure fiction; other than the artists' names, their work, and the broad strokes of accomplishment, it's made up out of whole cloth.
This is the part I had issues with, I guess. I don't know enough about Degas, Cassatt, Morisot and Manet, with the
But if you're able to keep fact and fiction seperate, this is a heartfelt, well-written story about people who might have taken the wrong turn at the fork in the road of life. It's slow-paced, but always interesting; I enjoyed it, but it wasn't a fast read. The end also has a high probability of making readers misty eyed of not weeping outright. Oliveira is very talented at creating a sympathetic anti-hero; one that you want to hug as much as you want to smack.
At some point though, I'm going to have to follow this up with more information about these artists and their real lives so I don't every accidentally try to pass off as fact the imaginations of Oliveira's mind.
This is the part I had issues with, I guess. I don't know enough about Degas, Cassatt, Morisot and Manet, with the
Show More
result that I feel like this book has unfairly coloured my impressions of them as people. I'm going to forever be guarding against mixing up this story with the reality of 4 of the most talented impressionist painters who've yet lived.But if you're able to keep fact and fiction seperate, this is a heartfelt, well-written story about people who might have taken the wrong turn at the fork in the road of life. It's slow-paced, but always interesting; I enjoyed it, but it wasn't a fast read. The end also has a high probability of making readers misty eyed of not weeping outright. Oliveira is very talented at creating a sympathetic anti-hero; one that you want to hug as much as you want to smack.
At some point though, I'm going to have to follow this up with more information about these artists and their real lives so I don't every accidentally try to pass off as fact the imaginations of Oliveira's mind.
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
Vivid, moving imagining of the life of Mary Cassatt as it intersected with Degas. A portrait of Paris and the impressionist circle; a portrait of the struggle for art and love under the magnifying glass of Parisian society. Paris is shining, and book does, too.
Advanced reader copy provided by
Advanced reader copy provided by
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edelweiss. Show Less
Pages
352
ISBN
0670785792 / 9780670785797