The Underpainter

A very sad book, very beautifully written. I will probably read it again to enjoy the writing and I'm sure I will discover clues I missed the first time through (not that this is a mystery, but the writing is dense and the chronology is sometimes difficult). I would compare Jane Urquhart's style to that of John Banville, with its attention to the details of light, clouds passing and weather. Additionally, Urquhart's writing displays a strong sense of setting, with evocative descriptions of physical landscapes and the geography of place. Like another reader here I almost gave up on this one because of its chronological fragmentation and the introduction of unexplained new characters (only to be properly introduced in subsequent chapters, show more for some reason), but the quality of the writing and the literary aspirations make this a book to remember, a book that will stick with me for a long time. show less

I almost stopped reading this book several times. First because I was having a little trouble following the time periods; which were reflections and memories, and which were present day. Then I came to dislike the main character, Austin, given his self-centeredness, his blindness to the needs of others, his unrelenting privacy. But somehow, Urquhart's prose charmed me into staying and I came to want to know how things turned out. Her writing is beautiful, brilliant, shimmering as the prolonged northern light she describes so well as Austin's obsession. I came to care about all of the characters that Austin couldn't really see or know. It is a book that will stay with me for a long while, especially in this anniversary year of the start show more of WWI and the elements of life that can make art.

Thank you, LT, for recommending this book for me years ago. I kept it on my wishlist and then TBR shelf for a long time and now value the time I spent reading it. show less

Sensitive, moving, and beautiful. Urquhart's spare language makes simple events more powerful. Her words paint scenes which appear clear and unblemished but come to be deeply complex. Her characters are strong but vulnerable.

Deciding to write about Austin Fraser, and how she manipulates the timing of words, dialogue and events to make us understand his life, his relationships, and his effect on others is brilliant.

The Underpainter slowly reveals the different layers of Austin's life; undoing his efforts at hiding and erasure.

Do read!

The narrator, Austin Fraser, is a successful painter from New York who is in his old age, reflecting back on his life. He is emotionally stunted and has suppressed commitment and genuine friendship his whole life. I've known selfish artist types like him, and so I had no sympathy for the character. However, the people who's lives he messed with--namely Augusta, George & Sara--were very interesting and likable, and their stories made up most of the book. Their stories traverse from New York to the north shores of Lake Superior and Lake Ontario, and over to the WWI battlefields of France.

A LT friend with similar tastes as mine gave up on this book in the first 100 pages, and I can see her point. It got off to a slow start. But Urquhart is show more a beautiful writer, and I saw glimmers of promise so I persevered, and was rewarded for my patience. Urquhart is one of those poetic, atmospheric writers that are a treat for the senses.

Recommended for: readers of literary fiction who are in the mood for a somewhat chilly, distracted, meandering journey.

And a note: I've made this comment about other novels with a strong visual element (mostly books about painters, but also novels about archaeology and architecture): give the reader some illustrations! I can make a picture in my mind of what Fraser was painting, but I really would like to see what the author had in mind. Publishers could learn so much by looking at illustrated novels like the ones by Nick Bantock and Barbara Hodgson. show less

Beautiful and sad. Jane Urquhart paints a wonderful picture of early Twentieth century North America and Canada, mainly around the shore of Lake Superior. There are also pieces set in New York and World War I France. The main character is a cold man, Austin Fraser, an objective observer who sublimates his life to his art, unable to connect emotionally to those around him.

Reminiscing about his life from his house in Rochester we are treated to his picture of the lives of some of his friends and acquaintances. Jane Urquhart writes beautiful prose, fitting for the life of an artist and, given Austin's distance, as much of the lives of the other characters as is plausible.

This was the third of Urquhart's books that I have read and I will show more carry on reading her books. I was disappointed by her debut, The Whirlpool, but this and The Stone Carvers are a pleasure to read. show less

I don't know much about art, but I know that I like this work which is set firmly in the world of painting.It probably would enhance your appreciation of the book to be more aware of the art scene and technical issues in art, but there is plenty here to satisfy the art-ignorant reader such as me. Urquhart writes in a way that I enjoy a lot. Relationships between characters are explored at depth through both the description of the interactions and (more importantly for me) the characters own thoughts about their behaviour and their feelings towards each other.

I think I identified quite strongly with the main character. Urquhart says this about him, towards the end of the book:

"And how did I appear to Sara? Who did she see when she show more looked at me?
A man in love with the stifling order he had imposed upon his own life." (p. 220)

Urquhart's descriptions of the environment and the characters' responses to their surroundings was another particularly rewarding aspect of reading this book. I'm looking forward to reading more of her work. show less

This is the second novel by Jane Urquhart that I've read and I am, again, amazed by the beauty of her writing.

The Underpainter is the story of artist Austin Fraser who knows and understands colour and landscapes far better than he knows or tries to understand the people he is closest to.