Book Review
Oct. 3rd, 2007 08:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariHeadlong
by Michael Frayn
This tragi-comic novel is about Martin, a philosophy professor and academic who discovers a painting that he thinks is a long-lost Bruegel. Specifically, he thinks it is the painting missing from the series known as The Season or The Twelve Months. Unfortunately, Martin discovers this lost masterwork in the hands of his uncultured neighbor, Tony Churt, who is only interested in converting the painting into ready cash with which to keep his mismanaged estate afloat. Out of an absurd combination of greed, obsession, and snobbery, Martin decides to resort to con artistry to get the painting away from Tony. Hijinks ensue which had me both chuckling and cringing. Frayn also does an amazing job of weaving the imagery of the paintings described into the fabric of the novel as well as providing some interesting thoughts on Bruegel and his work.
by Michael Frayn
This tragi-comic novel is about Martin, a philosophy professor and academic who discovers a painting that he thinks is a long-lost Bruegel. Specifically, he thinks it is the painting missing from the series known as The Season or The Twelve Months. Unfortunately, Martin discovers this lost masterwork in the hands of his uncultured neighbor, Tony Churt, who is only interested in converting the painting into ready cash with which to keep his mismanaged estate afloat. Out of an absurd combination of greed, obsession, and snobbery, Martin decides to resort to con artistry to get the painting away from Tony. Hijinks ensue which had me both chuckling and cringing. Frayn also does an amazing job of weaving the imagery of the paintings described into the fabric of the novel as well as providing some interesting thoughts on Bruegel and his work.
