INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER“A must-read for anyone who loves history and art.” –Kristin HannahFrom the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the smash bestseller Orphan Train, a stunning and atmospheric novel of friendship, passion, and art, inspired by Andrew Wyeth’s mysterious and iconic painting Christina’s World. “Later he told me that he’d been afraid to show me the painting. He … iconic painting Christina’s World.
“Later he told me that he’d been afraid to show me the painting. He thought I wouldn’t like the way he portrayed me: dragging myself across the field, fingers clutching dirt, my legs twisted behind. The arid moonscape of wheatgrass and timothy. That dilapidated house in the distance, looming up like a secret that won’t stay hidden.”
To Christina Olson, the entire world was her family’s remote farm in the small coastal town of Cushing, Maine. Born in the home her family had lived in for generations, and increasingly incapacitated by illness, Christina seemed destined for a small life. Instead, for more than twenty years, she was host and inspiration for the artist Andrew Wyeth, and became the subject of one of the best known American paintings of the twentieth century.
As she did in her beloved smash bestseller Orphan Train, Christina Baker Kline interweaves fact and fiction in a powerful novel that illuminates a little-known part of America’s history. Bringing into focus the flesh-and-blood woman behind the portrait, she vividly imagines the life of a woman with a complicated relationship to her family and her past, and a special bond with one of our greatest modern artists.
Told in evocative and lucid prose, A Piece of the World is a story about the burdens and blessings of family history, and how artist and muse can come together to forge a new and timeless legacy.
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Weak, slow
I have always liked the Andrew Wyeth painting, Christina’s World and this book truly gives great meaning and understanding of the work. Plus it is soberly written so you are not aware of so much history as you are of the storyline. The narrator is Christina Olson and one of the most interesting parts is how the painting got its name. You will find this out and much, much more as you read. I thoroughly enjoyed this and am recommending it to my very diverse book group.
This is a wonderful revelation of the character behind Wyeth’s “Christina” painting and it is cleverly put together with humor and charm for a time of great struggles. Exceptionally well done and good to read.
Enjoyed the book so much because it gave a view of my favorite artist Andrew Wyeth
I have always loved the paintin Christina’s World. This book was a fascinating glimpse into what might have been.
Enjoyed this story
Being an art fan and a fan of Andrew Wyeth, I found this book to be a fascinating read both about the artist and the subject of one of his most famous paintings.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters and story are well developed and it flowed nicely. I liked reading this book in bed before falling asleep. I didn’t have to struggle to keep up with a complicated plot or police procedural details, just good solid story telling.
One of the best books I’ve ever read. I’ve always been fascinating by Andrew Wyeth’s painting. This encourages me to do research into his life.
Interesting take on the inspiration for wyeths painting. Nice mix of fact and fiction
I almost didn’t choose this book because i knew it might be sad. However, it seemed to be something different and I was hooked after the first chapter. Finished in two days and still thinking about the characters. a beautiful, haunting story.
Love her writing!!
Loved it!!
I was disappointed after so enjoying the first one in the series.
Because I’ve been in the area where it was set and love that painting and artist, this story intrigued me. The author did an excellent job of showing the difficulty of life in the early 1900’s and focused on that more than emotions. Yet the emotions were there and many times alluded to nicely. I will read more from this author.
Beautiful writing.
Historical fiction based on Andrew Wyeth’s life and a character in a painting. Has some moments when it drags but I liked it and I recommend it.