The Muse

 The Muse by Jessie Burton is a wonderful novel to get lost in.  Written in one of my favorite styles we slip back and forth between the present and the past.  

Modern day, 1967,  we meet, Odelle Bastien, a young lady who has left Trinidad to find her independence and make a life in London as a writer.  Taking a job in an art gallery working for Marjorie Quick, who wants to support and push Odelle's writing career.   In a twist of fate, Odelle meets Lawrie who has a painting he wants to sell.  As they discover the artist who painted the arresting artwork, they develop a personal relationship and uncover the secrets of the past.

In a parallel plot line we slip back in history to Spain in the 1930s as the Spanish Civil War is brewing.

Isaac Robles and his half sister, Teresa come to the finca as Harold Schloss, an art dealer,  his wife, Sarah and his daughter, Olive move in.  They have arrived from London.  Each of the characters in the story have secrets of their own.  There is a telephone in Harold's office that rings and rings.  Sarah is despondent , but then seems to thrive as others are sinking.  Olive is an artist, and Isaac, also an artist but also more interested in his political agitator ideas feeling he is helping the revolution..  Teresa sees the genius of Olive's work and wants to help promote her work.  As the revolution is heating up the Schloss family seems to ignore the enclosing danger.

Between these two stories are the lives of people, love, art and recognition.  The needs of humankind does not change.  All people want to be recognized for their talent and loved by someone.