The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis
The Masterpiece
Author: Fiona Davis
Publisher: Dutton Press
Publication Date: August 7, 2018
Summary from Publisher: "For the nearly nine million people who live in New York City, Grand Central Terminal is a crown jewel, a masterpiece of design. But for Clara Darden and Virginia Clay, it represents something quite different.
For Clara, the terminal is the stepping stone to her future, which she is certain will shine as the brightly as the constellations on the main concourse ceiling. It is 1928, and twenty-five-year-old Clara is teaching at the lauded Grand Central School of Art. A talented illustrator, she has dreams of creating cover art for Vogue, but not even the prestige of the school can override the public's disdain for a "woman artist." Brash, fiery, confident, and single-minded--even while juggling the affections of two men, a wealthy would-be poet and a brilliant experimental painter--Clara is determined to achieve every creative success. But she and her bohemian friends have no idea that they'll soon be blindsided by the looming Great Depression, an insatiable monster with the power to destroy the entire art scene. And even poverty and hunger will do little to prepare Clara for the greater tragedy yet to come.
Nearly fifty years later, in 1974, the terminal has declined almost as sharply as Virginia Clay's life. Full of grime and danger, from the smoke-blackened ceiling to the pickpockets and drug dealers who roam the floor, Grand Central is at the center of a fierce lawsuit: Is the once-grand building a landmark to be preserved, or a cancer to be demolished? For Virginia, it is simply her last resort. Recently divorced, she has just accepted a job in the information booth in order to support herself and her college-age daughter, Ruby. But when Virginia stumbles upon an abandoned art school within the terminal and discovers a striking watercolor hidden under the dust, her eyes are opened to the elegance beneath the decay. She embarks on a quest to find the artist of the unsigned masterpiece--an impassioned chase that draws Virginia not only into the battle to save Grand Central but deep into the mystery of Clara Darden, the famed 1920s illustrator who disappeared from history in 1931."
For Clara, the terminal is the stepping stone to her future, which she is certain will shine as the brightly as the constellations on the main concourse ceiling. It is 1928, and twenty-five-year-old Clara is teaching at the lauded Grand Central School of Art. A talented illustrator, she has dreams of creating cover art for Vogue, but not even the prestige of the school can override the public's disdain for a "woman artist." Brash, fiery, confident, and single-minded--even while juggling the affections of two men, a wealthy would-be poet and a brilliant experimental painter--Clara is determined to achieve every creative success. But she and her bohemian friends have no idea that they'll soon be blindsided by the looming Great Depression, an insatiable monster with the power to destroy the entire art scene. And even poverty and hunger will do little to prepare Clara for the greater tragedy yet to come.
Nearly fifty years later, in 1974, the terminal has declined almost as sharply as Virginia Clay's life. Full of grime and danger, from the smoke-blackened ceiling to the pickpockets and drug dealers who roam the floor, Grand Central is at the center of a fierce lawsuit: Is the once-grand building a landmark to be preserved, or a cancer to be demolished? For Virginia, it is simply her last resort. Recently divorced, she has just accepted a job in the information booth in order to support herself and her college-age daughter, Ruby. But when Virginia stumbles upon an abandoned art school within the terminal and discovers a striking watercolor hidden under the dust, her eyes are opened to the elegance beneath the decay. She embarks on a quest to find the artist of the unsigned masterpiece--an impassioned chase that draws Virginia not only into the battle to save Grand Central but deep into the mystery of Clara Darden, the famed 1920s illustrator who disappeared from history in 1931."
My take:
What a beautiful novel, The Masterpiece is. I couldn't put it down. Once Again, Fiona Davis has created a book worthy of the New York Times top ten books.
At first, I wasn't in love with Virginia Clay, I found her struggle a little lacking, a typical divorcee who doesn't have the skills to cope with her singleness, then we got deeper into her story and her desire to get to know the things of the past which in turn made her a stronger woman. Virginia's story was definitely not as enduring as I found Clara Darden's story. Clara became my hero, she became the one to cheer on and clap hands for when she finally accomplished what she started out to do with Virginia's hindrance and then help. Thank heavens for women like Clara who forged ahead in the fight for noticeability when it came to being considered a great artist. I am so thankful for all women who fought for that right to be included as rivals to men in the arts.
I admire Fiona Davis for writing such a timely matter. This book was written in extraordinarily lyrical words. Words that helped to see, and smell the grand building of Grand Central Station (Terminal). I am so happy that that beautiful building was saved, I am glad that I have been able to arrive and depart in it's terminals and eat lunch in its eateries and grab a few black and white cookies in its bakeries. I am extremely glad that Ms. Davis wrote about the Grand Central Art School during its heyday. It makes this New Yorker happy to have had the privilege of reading this book ahead of publication. Ms. Davis' descriptive words led me to want to be one of Clara's Bohemian friends. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. :)
Thank you, Net Galley, and especially Dutton, and Penguin for the chance to read this novel in lieu of my honest opinion.
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| for an overall fantastic, beautifully written novel |
* There are a few scenes that are not appropriate for children and/or people who want to keep adult bedroom relationships out of their reading. In other words, not completely clean...
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