The Very Picture of You - Hardcover

Wolff, Isabel

3.71

2,903 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0553807846 ISBN 13: 9780553807844

Publisher: Bantam Dell Pub Group, 2011

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Where the eye sees the brushstroke, the heart sees the truth.

From Isabel Wolff, the internationally bestselling author of A Vintage Affair, comes a beguiling novel about artistic inspirations, family secrets, and the courage to turn one’s life into a masterpiece.

At thirty-five, Gabriella Graham—“Ella” to her family and friends—has already made a name for herself as a successful portrait artist in London. She can capture the essential truth in each of her subjects’ faces—a tilt of the chin, a glint in the eye—and immortalize it on canvas. This gift has earned Ella commissions from royals and regular folks alike.

But closer to home, Ella finds the truth more elusive. Her father abandoned the family when she was five, and her mother has remained silent on the subject ever since. Ella’s sister, Chloe, is engaged to Nate, an American working in London, but Ella suspects that he may not be so committed. Then, at Chloe’s behest, Ella agrees to paint Nate’s portrait.

From session to session, Ella begins to see Nate in a different light, which gives rise to conflicted feelings. In fact, through the various people she paints—an elderly client reflecting on her life, another woman dreading the prospect of turning forty, a young cyclist (from a photograph) who met a tragic end—Ella realizes that there is so much more to a person’s life than what is seen on the surface, a notion made even clearer when an unexpected email arrives from the other side of the world. And as her portraits of Nate and the others progress, they begin to reveal less about their subjects than the artist herself.

A picture is worth a thousand words, and in Isabel Wolff’s vibrant and textured story, these words are brilliantly crafted to convey the humor, mystery, and beauty that exists within each of us.

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Review:

Praise for The Very Picture of You:

'Isabel Wolff is a wonderful writer who weaves humour and pathos to great effect.... I loved this book with its compelling characters, thoughtful air, warmth and wit.' Daily Mail

‘This heart-warming, gentle story is pure feel-good stuff and should be added to your must-read list immediately.’ Candis

‘It’s easy to read – something you can dip in and out of on the way to work.’ Heat

‘A wonderful story.’ The Sun

‘***’ Daily Express

Praise for Isabel Wolff’s previous bestsellers:

‘Romance in a vintage clothes shop – we were sold from line one. Luckily, this book lives up to its hype, and is filled with all the sensory goodness that leads to inevitable comparisons to Joanne Harris – this is an author to bookmark.’ Irish Tatler

‘The love triangle is light and sparky, but what makes the book stand out is Wolff’s passion for vintage fashion; velvety, silken prose describes the clothes and their history, with several pieces telling rich stories that develop into compelling sub-plots’ Easy Living

‘Pure feel-good escapism. Perfect’ Sophie Kinsella

‘A touching, compulsive read. Love it!’ OK!

‘Old passions are re-ignited but should Laura risk everything on a past love or stick with her safe life? A charming, funny and unpredictable read’ Company

‘A resigned singleton, Laura’s world is rocked when her first boyfriend reappears. Compulsive’ Heat

‘Funny, charming, upbeat and unputdownable’ Marian Keyes

‘An engaging creation with a knack in witty one-liners’
Sunday Express

About the Author:

Isabel Wolff was born in Warwickshire, England, and attended Cambridge University. She is the author of eight bestselling novels, which have been published in twenty-nine languages. She lives in London with her family.

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