Review | The Flames

By Sophie Haydock

Published : 17th March 2022

Publisher : DoubleDay books

Format : Kindle, Hardback, Paperback, Audio

Genre : Historical Fiction

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Synopsis

This is the story of four muses...Women whose bodies were shown in intimate detail, depicted by the charming yet controversial artist Egon Schiele.

But who were they?

ADELE: his passionate and fierce admirer.

GERTRUDE: his spirited and possessive sister.

VALLY: his independent and proud model.

EDITH: Adele's quiet and conventional sister. Or was she?

My Review

Firstly I have to say a huge thank you to @DoubleDayBooks amd @RandomThingsTours for sending me this stunning copy.

#ad pr product/gifted arc

Set within the artistic world of 1900’s Vienna this story is a fictional tale that is made up from events written in history.

As a debut novel I was completely blown away. Historical is one of my most favourite genres and this book was tantalisingly good!

The author takes us through a story that follows the four women who are muses for the scandalous artist Egon Schiele. His art is seen as controversial as he likes to paint nude women and he finds himself and his muses verbally under attack where ever he goes. As much as we read about Egon as the artist, the story is told primarily from the four women’s perspective. This made the book for me. Each with their own unique characteristics and stories to tell.

From a problematic relationship with his sister Gertie to a bordering obsession with the two upper class girls Adele and Edith and finally Vally, who is In retrospect Egons girlfriend and has stool by his side when all other women have left him, yet he doesn’t ever take that next step in commitment and offer his hand in marriage.

Why I Loved It

Amongst the detail of love and betrayal there is also the atmospheric backdrop of 1900 Vienna which was rich is description and adds to the artistic aura of this book.

This story ultimately tells us the takes of the women who were passionately drawn to him yet at the same time burnt and betrayed by him.

This is high on my most favourite books of the year so far and as it stands my book of the month pick ⭐️