THE UNDERPAINTER

by Jane Urquhart

Jane Urquhart is a celebrated Canadian author and one of those writers who makes her novels feel like poetry. She seems mostly rooted in historical fiction, and the other two novels I’ve read, Away and The Stone Carvers (read review here), are enchanting and moving. They illuminate the history of early Canadian settlers in a lyrical and engrossing way.  

Sadly, The Underpainter did not live up to my expectations. The protagonist is  an elderly painter who tells the story of his life with its many regrets. He doesn’t have any particularly redeeming personal qualities and treats his friends and his muse with detachment and disdain. He doesn't even learn much in the end, other than that pottery can be an art form. 

The Underpainter won't make me swear off Urquhart entirely. In fact, she has more recent books that I will check out at some point. I urge you to read Urquehart's novels, just skip The Underpainter. (Lily)