Book Review: The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay

I wasn't sure if I would like this book or not, but I read it because it was the challenge book for February. I got it on KU but ended up buying it on Audible after I had gotten about 20% of the way through it. I wanted to be able to keep reading even when I had other things to do. I found out that I had read another one of Katherine Reay's books that I enjoyed, The Berlin Letters. 

Even if you aren't interested in painting and famous art museums, this book will give you a closer look into the world of art and the intricacies of how famous artist's work is handled or mishandled. This book is set in 1970's London art world. I love the fact that Ms. Reay is so dedicated to her research because novels are my favorite way to learn history. I appreciate the fact that in the author's notes she gives us a few gems from her research. 

One of the things that drew me in was the points of view of the two women throughout the book. Lily is written in first-person. We get to experience things very vividly through her eyes. During the galleries special exhibit honoring Picasso due to his recent death, the description of the event is so vividly painted (pun intended) with words. It is almost like the reader is right there seeing the people gathered and the paintings on the walls and feeling the excitement bubbling up inside of Lily. When she stops in her tracks and does a double take, the world seems to stop. She can no more stop herself from saying the words "It's a forgery" than she can stop breathing. Everyone around her stops talking and it feels like the world is frozen in time. ​

Diana is written in 3rd person. She is the gallery's keeper of the Moder Collections and Lily is her assistant. Diana has worked her way up to this position and is doing everything she can to keep it. For Lily, this is a dream come true. Lily has put both their jobs in jeopardy by speaking those words in front of everyone at the showing, including the press. 

An insurance company has sent an art investigator to find out about the painting that is said to be a forgery before they can compensate the owner. He knows a lot about art and gets right to business of figuring out what Lily knows about that painting and about art in general. He plays a big part in how things unfold although Lily is the one who does a great deal of her own investigating. At one point he asks her if she is in the right business because she finds out some important information many times. 

Things aren't how they look on the surface and I got carried away with the story as things unfold. Lily's family is a bit complicated and at first, we don't know why. We find out at the beginning that she has another big regret, like she regrets speaking up about the portrait. I enjoyed how that unfolded and came to a resolution with her sister and then her mom.   

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning history when it is intertwined in a fictional story. Once you've read several chapters, it becomes difficult to put down. I switched back and forth between audible and e-book. The narrator was very good. I enjoyed her accent and style of reading.                                                 

Favorite Quotes:

"Her example has taught me that if you have status, money, and power, you don't need to talk about it. Rather you wear it lightly, effortlessly, like an Egyptian cotton shift on a warm summer day." 

"Sometimes an artist needs to begin in secret because, just like those unfinished works she loves, true expression can be daunting, paralyzing, and even terrifying. It's a solitary, often painful venture and it's almost impossible to share such vulnerability with others." 

Check out her website: Katherine Reay​