Jessie Burton Livres

Pewnego zimowego popołudnia 1980 roku, w samym sercu Londynu, Elise Morceau spotyka Constance Holden i natychmiast daje się jej oczarować. Connie, odważna i magnetyczna, jest odnoszącą sukcesy pisarką, której ostatnia powieść doczeka się filmowej adaptacji jednej z największych wytwórni w Hollywood. Elise podąża za Connie do Los Angeles, miasta marzeń i zapomnienia. Jednak gdy Connie upija się nowym życiem, w którym wszyscy otaczają się kłamstwem i próbują sięgnąć gwiazd, Elise zaczyna tracić grunt pod nogami. Podczas hucznego przyjęcia hollywoodzkiego słyszy rozmowę, która skłoni ją do podjęcia radykalnej decyzji mogącej zmienić jej życie. Trzy dekady później, w 2017 roku, Rose Simmons szuka odpowiedzi na pytania dotyczące jej matki, która zniknęła bez śladu, gdy Rose była jeszcze dzieckiem. Ostatnią osobą, która ją widziała, jest Constance Holden - zapomniana pisarka, która wycofała się z życia publicznego, gdy była u szczytu sławy. Rose czuje się zaintrygowana losem Connie i szuka wskazówek, które wskażą jej sekrety przeszłości. Ta pełna światła, romantyczna historia zabiera nas na niezwykle zaplanowane poszukiwanie tożsamości. Poprzez tajemnicze i niezapomniane postacie, Jessie Burton odsłania przed nami kulisy kręgów literackich i filmowych, a także drugą stronę twórczości artystycznej, fikcji i macierzyństwa.

Nella Oortman n’a que dix-huit ans ce jour d’automne 1686 où elle quitte son village pour rejoindre à Amsterdam son mari, Johannes Brandt. Homme d’âge mûr, riche marchand, il vit dans une opulente demeure entouré de ses serviteurs et de sa sœur, Marin, une femme restée célibataire qui accueille Nella avec une extrême froideur. Johannes offre à son épouse une maison de poupée représentant leur propre intérieur, que la jeune fille entreprend d’animer grâce aux talents d’un miniaturiste. Les fascinantes créations de l’artisan permettent à Nella de mettre peu à peu au jour de dangereux secrets… S’inspirant d’une maison de poupée exposée au Rijksmuseum d’Amsterdam, Jessie Burton livre ici un premier roman haletant, et dessine le portrait d’une femme résolument moderne, déterminée à affirmer son existence dans un monde hostile, où la rigueur morale le dispute à l’intransigeance religieuse.

Exiled to a far-flung island by the whims of the gods, Medusa has little company except the snakes that adorn her head instead of hair. But when a charmed, beautiful boy called Perseus arrives on the island, her lonely existence is disrupted with the force of a supernova, unleashing desire, love, betrayal ... and destiny itself

For her twelve daughters, Queen Laurelia's death in a motor car accident is a disaster beyond losing a mother. Their father, King Alberto, cannot bear the idea of the princesses ever being in danger and decides his daughters must be kept safe at all costs. Those costs include their lessons, their possessions and, most importantly, their freedom. But the eldest, Princess Frida, will not bend to his will without a fight and she still has one possession her father can't take: the power of her imagination. And so, with little but wits and ingenuity to rely on, Frida and her sisters begin their fight to be allowed to live

Amsterdam in the year 1705. It is Thea Brandt's eighteenth birthday. She is ready to welcome adulthood with open arms, but life at home is increasingly difficult. Her father Otto and her Aunt Nella argue endlessly over their financial fate, selling off furniture in a desperate attempt to hold on to the family home. As catastrophe threatens to engulf the household, Thea seeks refuge in Amsterdam's playhouses. She loves the performances, and the stolen moments afterwards are even better. In the backrooms of her favorite theater, Thea can spend a few precious minutes with her secret lover, Walter, the chief set-painter, a man adept at creating the perfect environments for comedies and tragedies to flourish. The thrill of their hidden romance offers Thea an exciting distraction from home. But it also puts her in mind of another secret that threatens to overwhelm the present: Thea knows her birthday marks the day her mother, Marin, died in labor. Thea's family refuses to share the details of this story, just as they seem terrified to speak of "the miniaturist" - a shadowy figure from their past who is possessed of uncanny abilities to capture that which is hidden. Aunt Nella believes the solution to all Thea's problems is to find her a husband who will guarantee her future. An unexpected invitation to Amsterdam's most exclusive ball seems like a golden opportunity. But when Thea finds, on her doorstep, a parcel containing a miniature figure of Walter, it becomes clear that someone out there has another fate in mind for the family

When Elise Morceau meets the writer Constance Holden, she quickly falls under her spell. Connie is sophisticated, bold and alluring - everything Elise feels she is not. She follows Connie to LA, but in this city of strange dreams and razzle dazzle, Elise feels even more out of her depth and makes an impulsive decision that will change her life forever. Three decades later, Rose Simmons is trying to uncover the story of her mother, who disappeared when she was a baby. Having learned that the last person to see her was a now reclusive novelist, Rose finds herself at the door of Constance Holden's house in search of a confession.

Librarian's note: An alternate cover edition can be found here A picture hides a thousand words . . . On a hot July day in 1967, Odelle Bastien climbs the stone steps of the Skelton gallery in London, knowing that her life is about to change forever. Having struggled to find her place in the city since she arrived from Trinidad five years ago, she has been offered a job as a typist under the tutelage of the glamorous and enigmatic Marjorie Quick. But though Quick takes Odelle into her confidence, and unlocks a potential she didn't know she had, she remains a mystery - no more so than when a lost masterpiece with a secret history is delivered to the gallery. The truth about the painting lies in 1936 and a large house in rural Spain, where Olive Schloss, the daughter of a renowned art dealer, is harbouring ambitions of her own. Into this fragile paradise come artist and revolutionary Isaac Robles and his half-sister Teresa, who immediately insinuate themselves into the Schloss family, with explosive and devastating consequences . . .

Set in 1686 Amsterdam, the story follows eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman as she navigates her new life with her distant husband, merchant Johannes Brandt. Isolated in a grand yet unwelcoming home, her life takes a turn when Johannes gifts her a miniature replica of their house. Nella enlists a mysterious miniaturist to furnish it, leading to unsettling parallels between the miniatures and her reality. This enchanting tale explores themes of identity, control, and the complexities of human relationships through the lens of art and craftsmanship.

Exiled to a far-flung island, Medusa has little company except for the snakes adorning her head instead of hair until a beautiful boy named Perseus arrives, disrupting her lonely existence and unleashing desire, love, and betrayal.

The story revolves around two children whose fates intertwine after discovering an ancient treasure. This treasure holds the extraordinary ability to restore their most cherished loss, setting them on a journey of adventure and self-discovery. Jessie Burton weaves a compelling narrative that explores themes of loss, hope, and the magic of childhood, making it a captivating read for those who enjoy richly layered stories.