“The first month at Giverny was quite challenging, spent proving myself to M. Vahé, the head gardener, and the seven other male gardeners. None of them could understand why an American woman would want to work so hard for free. But my love and enthusiasm for the garden and Monet grew as each new plant came into blossom.” Elizabeth Murray.

Before I received my copy of Monet’s Passion by Elizabeth Murray, I knew this was going to be a beautiful volume. When I opened the packaging I was overwhelmed by the book’s beauty: the rich feel of the jacket, the amazingly rich photographs that seem to have captured every aspect of Monets’ garden, and the exquisite transparent overlays with pen and ink sketches. Having written a few books about prehistoric art myself I am all to aware of the issues involved in publishing high quality art books at reasonable prices. This latest edition of Monet’s Passion, published in 2010 to celebrate its 20th anniversary, really and truly is a snip at only $35. [Read more →]

“Reading Claude & Camille is like inhabiting an Impressionist painting filled with luscious, tactile imagery. But in this novel of passion and heartbreak, Stephanie Cowell never forgets the emotional price exacted by such vivid, trembling beauty.” Lauren Belfer, Author of City of Light.

Yesterday, Stephanie Cowell’s new novel, Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet, was published by the prestigious New York publishers Crown. And today, a review copy arrived in Normandy, chez moi! I can not wait to get on with it. As soon as I have completed the novel I shall post a review here, and Stephanie Cowell has kindly agreed to a ‘Question and Answer’ post – so if any of you MGN readers have a question for Stephanie, please post it here and I shall be sure to include it. [Read more →]