The Lost Pre-Raphaelite: The Secret Life and Loves of Robert Bateman

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$40.00


This non-fiction book draws you in slowly. It begins with a fine old manor, in need of restoration, that snags the interest of two of Britain’s best architectural restorers. One of these men details how the littlest of clues lead them on as they opened up and restored stairwells and great rooms. The restoration of the house leads them to former occupants, a renowned artist, Robert Bateman and his wife Caroline; and a discovery of the Batemans’ lives. The amazing thing is the pictures painted by Bateman are clues. The settings, the people, the art history and especially the ambiance of his paintings tell a compelling story of love pledged and love lost only to be regained at great cost. The great cost being in the lives of close relatives and friends. The prose flows easily from one scene to another. The book captures the Victorian values of the nineteenth century without becoming odd. The explanation and reproduction of the paintings is excellent. The overall tone of the book is encouraging, even uplifting. The real life adventures of the Bateman’s nephew is fantastic. This is a great book to be swept into a mystery from another time and place while keeping a solid anchor in the present.


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Author
Star Count 5/5
Format Hard
Page Count 336 pages
Publisher Wilmington Square Books
Publish Date 2014-Sep-02
ISBN 9781908524386
Bookshop.org Buy this Book
Issue January 2015
Category History
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