In the Full Light of the Sun
Clare Clark
Rave
Positive
Mixed
Pan
In the Full Light of the Sun
Clare Clark
Rave
Positive
Mixed
Pan
Rave
Positive
Mixed
Pan
Clare Clark’s sixth book is another slice of well researched and compellingly told historical fiction.
... terrific.
... as compelling as it is expansive.
... engaging, emotionally rich.
It’s a fascinating tale, although the characters’ artifice can feel more enticing than the forgery case.
... splendid.
In the Full Light of the Sun contains its own share of improbabilities, notably a set of unusually stormy romances. Its plot, too, is convoluted and occasionally confusing, zig-zagging in unexpected directions.
Clark’s mastery of historic and artistic details merges with skillful plotting and compelling characters in this accomplished novel.
Based on a real-life forgery scandal, the novel is infused with Clark’s signature attention to historical detail. While van Gogh’s paintings and the question of artistic veracity provide a nice narrative framework, the core of the story is the bonds and delusions that form between Julius, Emmeline, and Frank. Evocative prose and excellent pacing make this fine historical a must-read for art history buffs..
The book’s first hundred or so pages drag with the details of Julius’s attempts to get the painting back from his ex-wife...A conflict that should have intense emotional stakes is reduced to a series of negotiations between lawyers.