Painter to the King - parts 2,3 and whole book (spoilers allowed) (Aug 2019)

[Hugh]

This is the place for free discussion of the whole book - all spoilers welcome.

[Hugh]

I am reluctant to say too much before anyone else has reached the point, but I may forget too much if I leave it much longer. Overall I found the book fascinating, and I enjoyed looking up the historical details. I am not sure that I ever felt we got to know the characters as private people, but Sackville's ability to analyse the paintings and deduce their context was very impressive.

My review

[Pamela]

I have now finished this book and thought it was wonderful. There was one section where it dipped slightly, with lots of descriptions of life inside and outside the court - Velázquez was absent from the action for too long there so it didn't hang together as well as the rest of the book.

But that's a small quibble really, overall it was superb. I felt we got to know Philip quite well, but the rest of his family were shadowy. Still, it was a tragic tale of loss and failure, and Sackville captured the court well.

My Review

[Hugh]

Thanks Pamela. I could have sworn I replied last night but my comment has disappeared without trace. I am really glad you enjoyed the book, and I enjoyed your review too.

[LindaJ^]

I finished the book a couple of days ago and liked it very much. I agree with Pamela -- there was one section through me out of the flow. I forgot to mark it, so cannot specifically identify it, but I suspect it was when Velazquez was missing. I like the use of the paintings to show what was going on at the court of Felipe the IV. The author did an excellent job portraying what was going on in Spain at that time using the paintings. I like the way she would postulate what Velasquez might have been thinking and when she would put her thinking into the text, especially when she offered other possible ways things could have gone. My review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

[Hugh]

Thanks Linda - I am glad you enjoyed it, and I enjoyed your review. I still hope more people will come to appreciate this book at a less busy time.

[LindaJ^]

It is one of the few books I think I will need to reread in conjunction with looking at the paintings. Using the paintings was such a unique way of writing a historical fiction novel.