The Portrait by Antoine LaurainMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I came across The President's Hat a couple of years back, bought it, read it, loved it. In a recent foray to Waterstones I spotted this - The Portrait - by the same author, Antoine Laurain. A gentle piece of Gallic whimsy, "a hymn to la vie Parisienne" for anyone who loves all things French.
It is beautifully written as we follow the nostalgic journey of Pierre-François Chaumont, a lawyer and avid collector of all things antique. On a visit to his favourite auction house he is stunned to discover an eighteenth century portrait of an unknown man who looks just like him!. His jaded wife and circle of friends say they are unable to see the resemblance. Clearly, they have a hidden motive...
Chaumont remains convinced and his researches into the painting's history lead him on a journey into a brand new life, in a plot with a totally unexpected twist at the end. A joy to read, not quite up to The President's Hat, but delightful nonetheless.
View all my reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment