A beautiful landscape of 17th Century Holland, this rich book made me a Tracey Chevalier fan. Her deep understanding of servant life, she introduces us to Griet, a maid forced to work for the famous painter Vermeer and his demanding household. Though her station keeps her below stairs, the connection between the painter Vermeer and his young maid is bittersweet and romantic. A stunning story of unrealistic love, ambition, and the final hurt, this is a stunning book that is so subtle, the final showdown between Vermeer and the young maid left me breathless. Chevalier is a master storyteller, who creates a lush backdrop to her story line. Multidimensional, colorful, unforgettable, this remains one of the best books I have ever read!
I enjoyed this book as well.
ReplyDeleteDid you see the film? It was well made with Colin Firth as Vermeer and Scarlet Johanssen as Griet.
Cheers.
I loved the film. A lot of people thought it was boring, but I think Colin Firth and Scarlett Johanson imbued more longing in just looking at each other, than any dialog could have done. They filmed it so to me, it resembled a Vermeer painting.
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