Valerie Martin crée des récits qui plongent dans les aspects les plus sombres de la psyché humaine, explorant des thèmes d'obsession, de transgression et la nature de la croyance. Sa prose se distingue par son langage luxuriant et évocateur et sa capacité à créer un sentiment d'atmosphère palpable, entraînant les lecteurs dans des mondes où les frontières de la réalité et de la perception s'estompent. Martin possède un talent unique pour disséquer des dilemmes moraux complexes et cartographier les paysages psychologiques de ses personnages. Son œuvre est célébrée pour sa profondeur intellectuelle et son exploration captivante des désirs et des peurs humaines durables.
Set in the vibrant theater scene of 1970s New York, this novel immerses readers in a bohemian world filled with glamour and artistic ambition. The story explores the lives and struggles of its characters as they navigate the complexities of creativity, fame, and personal relationships. With a backdrop rich in historical context, the narrative reflects the pulse of a transformative era in the arts, showcasing the author's award-winning storytelling prowess.
The narrative unfolds through a series of vivid "panels" that chronicle the life of Francesco di Pietro Bernardone, beginning with his final days and moving backward to pivotal moments. It captures his transformation from a carefree youth to a revolutionary figure challenging authority and embracing spirituality. The bond with Chiara di Offreducci highlights themes of sacrifice and devotion, while his encounter with a leper marks a significant turning point in his spiritual journey. This portrayal offers both a historical context and a deep, personal insight into St. Francis's enduring legacy.
Exploring the complexities of the artistic experience, this collection of stories delves into the lives of artists grappling with their creative struggles. Valerie Martin presents characters who are both celebrated and criticized, portraying their intense relationships with their art and the challenges of balancing public perception with personal inspiration. The narratives offer a poignant examination of the emotional and psychological burdens faced by those devoted to their craft.
Winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction 2003. * A powerful, startling novel set
in America's Deep South in the early 19th century - a story of freedom, both
political and personal. schovat popis
From the acclaimed author of Orange Prize winning PROPERTY comes a fresh twist on the classic Jekyll and Hyde story, a novel told from the perspective of Mary Reilly, Dr. Jekyll's dutiful and intelligent housemaid. Faithfully weaving in details from Robert Louis Stevenson's classic, Martin introduces an original and captivating character: Mary is a survivor-scarred but still strong-familiar with evil, yet brimming with devotion and love. As a bond grows between Mary and her tortured employer, she is sent on errands to unsavory districts of London and entrusted with secrets she would rather not know. Unable to confront her hideous suspicions about Dr. Jekyll, Mary ultimately proves the lengths to which she'll go to protect him. Through her astute reflections, we hear the rest of the classic Jekyll and Hyde story, and this familiar tale is made more terrifying than we remember it, more complex than we imagined possible.
Exploring the darker aspects of existence, the author weaves a narrative rich with disturbing and macabre imagery. The story delves into an unseen realm filled with strange and magical occurrences, showcasing the author's exceptional storytelling ability. Through a myriad of specific details, the narrative transforms into larger, symbolic themes, inviting readers to engage with the complexities of life’s hidden layers.
From Simon & Schuster, Alexandra is Valerie Martin's "strange and artful novel" (Margaret Manning, Boston Sunday Globe). In Alexandra, Valerie Martin creates a slowly shocking erotic odyssey, a bittersweet love story, a chilling tale of a man destroyed by a desperate and tragic experiment in passion. It's an unforgettable novel for any lover of fiction.
A secluded Tuscan villa, a mysterious death, a missing manuscript, a whiff of a ghost, and a smart young American woman tumbling helplessly into an unexpected affair--these are the ingredients of this beguiling and acutely observed new novel by the author of Mary Reilly. Lucy Stark--clever, pragmatic, capable--is the assistant to a best-selling but remarkably untalented writer named DV, who has spent the last several months in Tuscany searching for inspiration. One morning in Brooklyn, as Lucy sits at her desk reluctantly reading the first half of DV's latest novel, she receives a startling phone call: DV is dead, and the circumstances are suspicious. Soon Lucy finds herself in Italy, where her search for the rest of DV's manuscript leads her into the thick of various mysteries. Was DV murdered, or just the victim of his own stupidity? Was the ghost story he was writing pure fantasy, or did it hint at a darker reality? Is the devastating, married Massimo, who cares for Lucy in ways no one has before, as dangerously in love with her as she is with him? Part mystery, part romance, part meditation on the maddening but redemptive power of art, Italian Fever is a supremely satisfying novel: a funny, insightful portrait of the American abroad, and an irresistible exploration of our perpetual love affair with Italy.
