Harriet baxter, a cultured and refined woman approaching her 80th year, sits. Gillespie and i, the second novel by jane harris whose the observations was widely acclaimed is a bravura work, its pace finely controlled, its plot like a rope played out, as taut or slack as dramatic effect requires, its setting so well recreated that the reader could find their way around the glasgow of the 1880s, should the need arise. Elegant novel of love, loss and redemption among the victorians and caledonians. Even if i asnt able to read the full story gillespie and i by jane harris, an interesting. Gillespie and i by jane harris goodreads share book. Gillespie and i jane harris as she sits in her bloomsbury home, with her two birds for company, elderly harriet baxter sets out to relate the story of her acquaintance, nearly four decades previously, with ned gillespie, a talented artist who never achieved the fame she maintains he deserved. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading gillespie and i. February 2012 trade paperback, 528 pages as the book opens it is 1933 london, england and elderly harriet baxter begins to record the story of her friendship, 40 years earlier, with the scottish artist ned gillespie. Gillespie and i, while less strikingly original than the observations, has much of its pace and verve. The international exhibition of science, art and industry took place in glasgow from may to november in 1888 at kelvingrove park on the banks of the river kelvin image below, left.
I read jane harriss debut, the observations, a couple of years ago. O riginality the unreliable narrator is one of the oldest stories there is. From the orange prizenominated author of the observations comes an absorbing, atmospheric exploration of one young womans friendship with a volatile artist and. As she sits in her bloomsbury home, elderly harriet baxter sets out to relate the story of her acquaintance, nearly four decades previously, with ned gillespie, a talented artist who never achieved the fame she maintains he deserved. All the same, one hesitates to recommend a 500page book that can be appreciated only in retrospect. Book talk interviews jane harris about gillespie and i. It is april 1933 and harriet baxter is in the early stages of writing the memoir of her friend and soulmate ned gillespie.
Her most recent work is the novel sugar money which has been shortlisted for several literary prizes harris was nominated for the british book awards newcomer of the year. Jane harris sets her novel gillespie and i at a time when scotland felt it was ready for its closeup. Jane harriss debut, the observations, was a rollicking doorstopper of a novel that drew its inspiration from the victorian gothic tradition of. Explore books by jane harris with our selection at. The opening of jane harriss clever and entertaining second novel gives little indication of how dark it will become. In france, the observations was shortlisted for the prix du premier roman etranger. Instantly i recalled that i had planned to read this last year but never got around to it. The end was a bit disappointing but the book is quite good. As she sits in her bloomsbury home, with her two birds for company, elderly harriet baxter sets out to relate the story.
Buy a discounted paperback of gillespie and i online from australias leading online bookstore. If you buy the book using that link, i will receive a small commission from the sale. This is as delicious a literary treat as they come. Jane harris gillespie and i as she sits in her bloomsbury home, with her two birds for company, elderly harriet baxter sets out to relate the story of her acquaintance, nearly four decades previously, with ned gillespie, a talented artist who never achieved the fame she maintains he deserved. Savidge reads interviews jane harris about gillespie and i. Jane harris born 1961 is a british writer of fiction and screenplays.
Gillespie and i by jane harris books entertainment. I came across one of these yesterday while doing a bit of a clean up of the bookshelf and desperately hoping to find some gaps so i could fit in my new purchases. Booktopia gillespie and i by jane harris, 9780571238279. Her debut novel, the observations, was shortlisted for the 2007 orange broadband prize for fiction. Interview with jane harris the view from here literary.
Jane harris born 1961 is a british writer of fiction. Jane harris books list of books by author jane harris. And you believe her, because gillespie and i is completely absorbing. I thought it possibly meant she had made the whole thing up. Buy a cheap copy of gillespie and i book by jane harris.
After a chance encounter she befriends the gillespie family and soon becomes a fixture in all of their lives. Her novels have been published in over 20 territories worldwide and translated into many different languages see the observations and gillespie and i. Gillespie and i as she sits in her bloomsbury home, with her two birds for company, elderly harriet baxter sets out to relate the story of her acquaintance, nearly four decades previously, with ned gillespie, a talented artist who never achieved the fame she maintains he deserved. The historical novel set in 19th century central scotland was subject to a bidding war between. Gillespie and i by jane harris as she sits in her bloomsbury home, with her two birds for company, elderly harriet baxter sets out to relate the story of her acquaintance, nearly four decades previously, with ned gillespie, a talented artist who never achieved the fame she maintains he deserved. Gillespie and i first published in 2011 is the second novel by jane harris. Read gillespie and i by jane harris available from rakuten kobo. She meets the scottish painter, ned gillespie, and his wife, annie but tragedy is about to strike the gillespies. Her acclaimed debut novel, the observations first pub. Gillespie and i by jane harris it is april 1933 and harriet baxter is in the early stages of writing the memoir of her friend and soulmate ned gillespie. Follow jane harris on facebook latest book my latest book, sugar money, was published in the uk in october 2017 and in the us on 6th march 2018 you can order it from the book page. Featuring a memorable cast of characters, infused with atmosphere and period detail, and shot through with wicked humour, gillespie and i is a powerful and. Gillespie and i jane harris pdf download kosmobookz. Gillespie and i jane harris a dark and subversive novel.
Gillespie and i, published in 2011, is the bestselling second novel by british author jane harris. I downloaded gillespie and i onto my kindle, but having finished reading it i want a physical book to put my on favourite books shelf. So, i wondered if shed bought the painting and imagined all the rest of the story the whole glasgow bit. Theres a link to her flickr collection of images and paintings which inspired some of gillespies pictures as well as some pictures of the exhibition and glasgow. From the orange prizenominated author of the observations comes an absorbing, atmospheric exploration of one young womans friendship with a volatile artist and her place in the controversy that consumes him. The studio was the painting she saw in the london gallery right at the beginning, the first time she met gillespie. Harriet baxter is a hitherandthither kind of person, capable of getting where she needs to go. In 2007, she was shortlisted for the british book awards waterstones newcomer of the year and the south bank show times breakthrough award.
Back in 1888, the young, artloving harriet arrives in glasgow at the time of the international. Without a doubt, jane harris is an extraordinarily effective and accomplished author. Jane harris, anna bentinck, whole story audiobooks. If you love strong characterdriven literary psychological mysteries, dont pass this up.
Jane harris author jane harris was born in belfast and brought up in glasgow. Jane harriss gillespie and i presents a strongly voiced female protagonist evocative of moll flanders and becky sharp, who offers a keen sensibility, deeply felt observations, and poignant remembrances of the world of a young artist in turnofthecentury glasgow in this fantastic work of historical fiction. Even for readers who think theyve seen everything, gillespie and i by jane harris is almost certain to be surprising. Her first novel the observations was shortlisted for the orange prize for fiction 2007 and has been published in over 20 territories worldwide. Gillespie and i will certainly be on my list of one of the best books ive read this year. In france, the observations was shortlisted for the prix du premier. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. See all books authored by jane harris, including the observations, and gillespie and i, and more on thriftbooks.
Review of gillespie and i by jane harris, plus backstory and other interesting facts about the book. Just with gillespie and i alone, the name of jane harris should be added alongside mystery greats such as edgar allan poe, wilkie collins, and arthur conan doyle. Her latest novel, gillespie and i, was published to critical acclaim in the uk in may 2011 by faber and faber. Belfastborn jane harris was raised in glasgow, but currently lives in london with her husband. As she sits in her bloomsbury home, with her two birds for company, elderly harriet baxter sets out to relate the story of her acquaintance.
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