An Equal Stillness
Francesca Kay
Winner of the Orange Award for New Writers 2009
Artist, lover, wife, mother: can one woman be them all?
Born in 1924, Jennet Mallow grew up with a disillusioned mother and a father haunted by memories of war. But Jennet has a talent - and a passion - for art. When she meets the handsome painter David Heaton they begin a tempestuous affair which takes them from the dank terraces of London to a bohemian artistic community in St Ives. But as Jennet's career flourishes, her relationship with David suffers - with potentially tragic consequences . . .
'The most beautiful, accomplished debut I have read for a long time . . . It is a powerful novel by a supremely talented artist' OBSERVER
'Enchanting . . . exquisitely written' DAILY EXPRESS
'A masterful portrait of a woman forging an unexpectedly dazzling career against the backdrop of familial duty' EASY LIVING
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About Francesca Kay
Reviews for An Equal Stillness
AN Wilson
EVENING STANDARD
What distinguishes this tale...is Kay's fine balance of romance and realism and her beautiful evocation of how paintings reflect their creator's experiences.
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
one dazzingly brilliantly executed scene after another...A marvel.
INDEPENDENT
An impressive debut novel that paints a vivid portrait of a woman torn between the conflicts of creativity and familial duty.
DAILY EXPRESS
sensual...Francesca Kay knows - and shows - how good art takes on a life all of its own.
INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
an absorbing and ambitious debut
GUARDIAN
The supple, verbless sentences of Fracesca Kay's accomplished first novel create a sensuous prose full of colour, taste and smell.
Anthony Cummins
DAILY TELEGRAPH
This is an outstanding literary debut, with masterful variation in style and characterisation of deep insight
BOOKSELLER PAPERBACK PREVIEW
The most astounding success lies in the conjuring up of a lifetime's work - a glorious succession of paintings brought to sustained, poetic life.
ART NEWSPAPER