The Muse is a historical fiction novel by Jessie Burton.
The story follows two women across different eras, exploring themes of art, identity, and ambition as it uncovers the hidden history behind a mysterious painting.
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Plot
In 1967 London, Odelle Bastien‘s life takes a significant turn when she starts working as a typist at the Skelton gallery under the mentorship of the mysterious Marjorie Quick.
As Odelle unravels her own potential, a lost masterpiece with a hidden past arrives at the gallery, intertwining her fate with events from 1936 Spain.
In rural Spain, Olive Schloss, daughter of an art dealer, harbours ambitions while navigating the arrival of artist Isaac Robles and his sister Teresa, leading to explosive consequences for the Schloss family.
The Muse Book Review
The Muse is so beautifully written and I love how Jessie Burton intertwines the two stories set in different eras. The settings of 1960s London and 1930s Spain couldn’t have been more different but each were filled with complex characters and mysteries.
Jessie Burton’s writing is lush and evocative, painting vivid pictures of both the vibrant art scene of London and the tumultuous pre-Civil War Spain. The dual timelines kept me on my toes as I tried to piece together the connections between the two stories.
I liked the characters, and found Odelle and Olive particularly well-drawn. Their personal struggles and ambitions felt real and relatable.
While I did enjoy the novel, there were moments when the pacing felt a bit slow, especially in the beginning. It took a little while for the story to truly hook me, but once it did, I was fully invested. I had the same issue when reading The Miniaturist and The House of Fortune so perhaps it’s just the author’s style to draw the reader in more slowly.
Overall, The Muse is a beautifully written and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries.
What should I read after The Muse?
If you enjoyed The Muse, I’d also recommend reading other Jessie Burton books, such as The Confession and Medusa.
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