Picasso's Lovers

Listed in the Visual Arts category on Art In Fiction, Picasso’s Lovers (2024) by Jeanne Mackin takes readers through the affairs, the scandals, and the art of Pablo Picasso. The women of Picasso’s life are glamorous and elusive, existing in the shadow of his fame—until 1950s aspiring journalist Alana Olson determines to bring one into the light. Unsure of what to expect but bent on uncovering what really lies beneath the canvas, Alana steps into Sara Murphy’s well-guarded home to discover a past complicated by secrets and intrigue.   Sara paints a luxurious picture of the French Riviera in 1923, but also a tragic one. The more Sara reveals, the more cracks emerge in Picasso’s once-vibrant social circle—and the more Alana feels a disturbing convergence with her own life. Who are these other muses? What became of them? What will become of her?     Desperate to trace the threads, Alana dives into the glittering lives of the past. But to do so she must contend with her own reality, including a strained engagement, the male-dominated world of art journalism, and the rising threat to civil rights in America. With hard truths peeling apart around her, it turns out that the most extraordinary portrait Alana encounters is her own. “Mackin’s clever plot delivers well-timed bombshells, and her characterizations of various women in Picasso’s life—such as Irene Lagut, who is blasé about her roles as lover and muse but nothing more—ring true. Thanks to Mackin, the women who loved and inspired Picasso get their turn in the spotlight.”— Publishers Weekly Jeanne Mackin is the author of several historical novels, including The Beautiful American . She has taught creative writing at Goddard College and has presented numerous workshops. She lives with her husband in upstate New York.   Buy Now from Amazon Buy Now from Bookshop For more, check out: More novels by Jeanne Mackin on Art In Fiction  The Art In Fiction Podcast: Paris Between the Wars: Couture and Surrealism in the Novels of Jeanne Mackin The Art In Historical Fiction Panel Presentation at the Historical Novel Society Conference 2021