Imagined Lives: Mystery Portraits 1540-1640 John Banville, Tracy Chevalier, Julian Fellowes, Terry Pratchett, Sarah Singleton, Joanna Trollope, Minette Walters - Softcover

Cooper, Tarnya

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1855144271 ISBN 13: 9781855144279

Publisher: National Portrait Gallery Publications, 2010

Synopsis

In an exciting new research project the National Portrait Gallery has worked with the University of Bristol to discover the identity of mystery sitters in the Collection. To highlight this research, the Gallery has commissioned some of Britain and Ireland's leading writers to explore the evidence and to create playful stories about the lives of these unknown Tudor and Stuart sitters. The imaginary biographies in this volume provide new ways of looking at portraits in which the subject is unknown. Seven contemporary authors with international reputations have responded imaginatively to what can be seen in the portrait, exploring details of costume and pose in intriguing ways. Together they have created an imaginative range of letters, diaries, mini-biographies and brief memoirs, in which they explore some of the reasons why these people might have had their portrait painted. Each writer brings the sitter vividly to life, using facial expressions and other clues from the paintings, and often developing, moving stories for their invented characters.

About this title

About the Author:

John Banville is a novelist who won the Man Booker Prize for The Sea (2005). Tracy Chevalier is a historical novelist best known for Girl with a Pearl Earring. Julian Fellowes is a novelist, screenwriter and actor who won an Oscar for his screenplay for Gosford Park. Terry Pratchett has sold more than 55 million copies of his science-fiction and fantasy novels worldwide. He was the best-selling UK author of the 1990s. Sarah Singleton is an author of young adult fantasy fiction who won the Booktrust Teenage Prize for her novel Century in 2005. Joanna Trollope is the author of eleven bestselling novels, several of which have been adapted for television. Minette Walters is the award-winning author of thirteen crime novels, including The Ice House and The Sculptress.

About this edition

• Publisher: National Portrait Gallery Publications
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1855144271
• ISBN 13: 9781855144279
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 48