The Portrait

A incredibly intense and impressive work.

It's all about the narrator. Pears has created an impressive character in the artist Henry Morris MacAlpine. The reader know only his perspective, which is less than reliable, but I found myself hanging on his every word. I've been a fan of Pears for years, and The Portrait illustrates his brilliant diversity as a novelist.

Peeling the onions

Add to the comments of the reviewers the concept of peeling the layers of an onion; however, it is not only the critic who is peeled to show how intellectually and morally derelict he is, but it is also the portrait painter who reveals more and more of himself as this monologue, divided by the sittings, moves forward. The painter realizes his failings and inexorably forces to speechless sitter to recognize what he has done as a creator of artistic opinion and the damage he has wrought. This short novel, or should one say parable, should provide joy to critics in their search for tags by which to identify the characters.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.