About this book:
(blurb from Exclusive Books)
‘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 hospitalized.
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.
Genre: Historical Fiction
My Thoughts:
Louisa Treger’s The Paris Muse is a brilliantly written story, fictionalising Dora Maar’s life and her turbulent relationship with Pablo Picasso.
Against the backdrop of historical events, the novel really roots itself in its era and carries readers to a dramatic and vivid time in art. Treger’s painstaking research and attention to detail vividly and dynamically bring Dora Maar to life. I knew nothing about Maar’s existence before reading this book; today, she is revered and admired in my mind.
Dora’s point of view presents amazing intimacy and a very personal view of her life, so guiding the story. Her voice is convincingly portrayed, which adds more authenticity. Picasso is depicted as a complex and multifarious person. His character development in the book aligned directly with my impression of him before reading this book. Though Treger catches moments of tenderness that give their turbulent relationship depth, his relationship with Dora is explosive and often toxic.
The book also explores Dora’s relationship with writer and philosopher Georges Bataille, who brought her to embrace surrealism in her art.
These relationships deepen the story and give Dora’s character and journey across the artistic world more complexity.
The Paris Muse is more than just a book; it seems like a live, breathing entity transcending its pages. The author is brilliant in bringing fierce female historical characters to life. On that note, if you haven’t read “Mad Woman,” do yourself a favour and get hold of it ASAP. I was obsessed while reading it and could not wait to get to my daily reading time.
It is a brilliantly brutal and occasionally shocking portrayal of a woman who was both a muse and a gifted artist in her own right. The intensity of the book guarantees that it stays in your mind long after you have closed it.
The way Louisa Treger combines fact with fiction produces an emotionally compelling narrative that is also informative. Picasso’s image as a narcissistic and controlling person runs quite counter to Dora’s intense but finally self-destructive love for him. This contradiction gives the narrative a striking edge and makes reading both interesting and sad.
The Paris Muse is an emotional, brilliant, and compelling book. It captures the core of Dora Maar and her complicated relationship with Picasso, so offering a very rich and unforgettable reading experience. This fresh work is a magnificent piece of art in itself, deserving of a spot among the artworks it so brilliantly describes.
Thank you to Exclusive Books for the opportunity to read this book!
About the author:
@roelia_reads Came home to the most fabulous books from @Exclusive Books – all featured on their #EBRecommends list this month In alphabetical order (titles) Breekpunt deur Marie Lotz @LAPA Publishers #MarieLotz Moonlight Market by Joanne Harris @Jonathan Ball Publishers #JoanneHarris Paris Muse by Louisa Treger Jonathan Ball Publishers #LouisaTreger What have you done? by Shari Lapena @Penguin Random House SA #ShariLapena Which book would you read first? #gifted #RoeliaReads #booktoksa #bookrecommendations ♬ Friday in Love – Studio Pro Sound
Read more: Review: Madwoman by Louisa Treger
1 Response
[…] “The Paris Muse” is an emotional, brilliant, and compelling book. It captures the core of Dora Maar and her complicated relationship with Picasso, so offering a very rich and unforgettable reading experience. This fresh work is a magnificent piece of art in itself, deserving of a spot among the artworks it so brilliantly describes. More here: The Paris Muse by Louisa Treger […]