Giles Waterfield (1949–2016)

I first read this novel around twenty years ago, shortly after it was published, having picked it up by chance in the Muswell Hill Library. I hadn’t thought about it in the intervening years until I noticed the author’s name shown in LibraryThing’s list of writers’ birthdays. Seeing his name made me recall how much I had enjoyed the book, and I managed to source a cheap copy through Amazon.

To be fair, I wasn’t quite as rampantly enamoured of it the second time around, although I did still enjoy it, and was glad to have reread it. The book follows a number of characters based at the fictitious Brit Museum, situated on the South Bank of the Thames, which is about to hold a special exhibition called ‘Elegance’, the star exhibit of which will be a little-known painting by Gainsborough, owned by the Chairman of the Museum’s Board of Trustees.

Much of the book, which is encompassed within the span of a single day, follows the machinations between various curators and experts at the museum, along with its current director (who years for a similar position at a more prestigious institution) and the Chair of the Trustees, who has his own vested interests. There are some closely-observed snipes at various sacred cows within the professional art world, and some intriguing insights into the way that art exhibitions are arranged.

Reading it now, twenty years after first encountering it, I found some of the humour slightly clumsy, although that may simply reflect the accrual of two more decades’ worth of cynicism about such things. There are some glorious moments of satire, and intriguing glimpses of the relationships between commerce and the art world. I am glad I re-read it.… (altro)

The action all takes place over one heady Midsummer Day in and around the Museum of British History on the south bank of the Thames (it’s been known as BRIT for short, since the millennium, in an effort to make it sound more inclusive and relevant). It’s a big day for all the staff: the grand opening of their new, highly anticipated exhibition, which goes by the self-consciously appealing single-word title Elegance. Focusing on the art and culture of the 18th century, the exhibition will be kicked off with an achingly stylish Georgian-style dinner, which is due to be attended by patrons, the glittering elite and even a member of the Royal Family. And absolutely nothing can be allowed to go wrong. As the day unfolds, the story follows a series of characters involved in the exhibition, each of whom has their own agenda...

For the full review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2015/01/13/the-hound-in-the-left-hand-corner-giles-wate...… (altro)

I wanted to like this book, really... but, I just couldn't. I know it's based on a Midsummer Night's Dream, I think I know what the author was trying for, internal dialogue instead of "Asides" to the audience. The only problem with this is that he gave us inner dialogue for EVERYONE, and even dedicated quite a bit of space and MY TIME to the caterer, who was not even an important character. He didn't break it up into "proper" chapters/acts, which, again, was okay by me, but I think that if he had it would have forced him to really look at the story and what (or whose) story was most improtant. Even half way through, I didn't care what the mystery was, and I believe it was a better attempt at satire than mystery. (But according to the star I gave it, it's not saying much.)… (altro)

Sometimes it pays to judge a book by its cover. Since finishing Giles Waterfield's beautifully written book I can't get it out of my head, it will invade my thoughts for days to come! The lives retold here of Henry and Helen Williamson are drawn from real people, the author's grandparents, but the story is not based on fact. As a young couple of modest wealth they leave England in the 1930s for a change of climate to the French Riviera. They live the genteel English life in their new home with two young sons and a small household staff. As an over loving mother, Helen creates a claustrophobic cocoon of protection around them all to keep out the dangers of ill health. As their sons grow into young men, one loved more than the other and one never quite understood, a quietly spoken Henry does what he can to keep his fretful wife happy. As the impact of war reaches their isolated paradise not even Helen can save them from it's devastating consequences.… (altro)