Synopses & Reviews
A highly atmospheric literary noir and remarkable debut by one of Scotland’s leading art correspondents
The recently bereaved George Newhouse is an art historian and newly appointed curator at the National Gallery who becomes increasingly obsessed with a lost minor Dutch masterpiece, The Blue Horse by Van Doelenstraat. The painting’s provenance is disputed and many doubt its existence at all. But Newhouse has uncovered a letter by Rembrandt where the master states, "That damned painting vexes my mind’s eye." As Newhouse struggles with his grief, his grip of reality slowly loosening, he embarks upon a surreal journey of loss and self-discovery, fueled by alcohol, drugs, and self-destructive behavior. As the lines between reality and imagination blur, will George lose himself in his obsession or return from the brink of destruction in time?
Review
"Anna Kavan explored the nocturnal worlds of our dreams, fantasies, imagination, and nonreason . . . Such an exploration takes greater courage and skill in expression." —Anaïs Nin
Review
"The best introduction to Kavan." - Harper's Magazine
Synopsis
Short stories addressing the surreal realities of mental illness, from an incredible cult writer often compared to Kafka and Woolf The tortured life of Anna Kavan brought her some reward in terms of great pieces of art. Her drug addiction bore fruit in the Julia and the Bazooka collection of stories; while this companion volume recalls her experience of the asylum—powerful, haunting works which can be harrowing but are full of sympathy too.
About the Author
Anna Kavan (1901-1968) was a novelist, short story writer, and painter. Her works include Asylum Piece, Ice, and Sleep Has His House. She has been often compared to Djuna Barnes, Franz Kafka, Anaïs Nin, and Virginia Woolf. She was a long-term heroin addict and suffered periodic bouts of mental illness, and these facets of her life feature prominently in her novels and short stories.