From the Bookshelf of Around the World in 80 Books

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

Daisy
Nov 03, 2009 rated it liked it
Shelves: vienna
There's nothing wrong with this at all. It's a nice, witty escape, not badly-written, and certainly a vivid period piece. Pleasant, historical gossip.

It's a strange day when the little girl whose christening dress you made starts bossing you around. p. 105

It took a week and two pieces of caramel cake for me to forgive Gustav. p. 127

I love you, I didn't say. Instead I suggested we have lunch. I had brought smoked mackerel and rye bread. p. 171

At parties like this Berta didn't mingle; she sat in a
...more
Keith
Mar 31, 2012 rated it liked it
I loved this book, but not as much as 'The Wayward Muse', the other book I read by Elizabeth Hickey ...more
Kay Green
Dec 28, 2016 rated it really liked it
Very interesting book about the intersecting lives of Gustav Klimt, the most famous painter from Vienna and Emilie Floge his lifelong companion and friend who was a famous dress designer. Set in Vienna during the late 1800s early 1900s, it describes the artistic scene during those years. Many other famous people are part of it including Adele Bloch Bauer - who is the Woman in Gold from last years movie with helen Mirren. A nice introduction to the artistic history of Vienna.
Jessica
Jan 07, 2008 rated it it was ok  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: art-history
Interesting for the background on Klimt, but weak in characterization - Emilie never seems as though she could be a real person. The first-person narration seems oddly cold and distant, lacking the emotional warmth that you'd except from the more intimate perspective. ...more
MichelleCH
Oct 03, 2010 marked it as to-read
Gaijinmama
Mar 04, 2011 marked it as to-read
O'Rissa
Feb 08, 2013 marked it as to-read
Rachel
Aug 13, 2014 rated it really liked it
Diane
Sep 01, 2014 marked it as to-read
Laura
Mar 02, 2015 marked it as to-read
Kathy
Aug 19, 2015 rated it really liked it
Felicia follum
Oct 10, 2015 marked it as to-read
Kathleen Valentine
Nov 13, 2015 marked it as to-read
Wanda
Feb 26, 2020 rated it it was amazing