The Artist
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The Artist
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Narrated by:
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Tanya Reynolds
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By:
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Lucy Steeds
About this listen
A RADIO 4 BOOK AT BEDTIME IN APRIL
'A blaze of a book, poetic, passionate and quietly powerful' Daily Mail
'The year's most lauded debut novelist . . . A sultry, headily perfumed portrait of monstrous male egos and oppressed overlooked women . . . The Artist uncovers its secrets by stealth' Telegraph
'Dextrous and powerful . . . a hugely accomplished portrait of ambition and self-fulfilment' Guardian
'The Artist is a lush, impressive debut; the writing is rich and sensuous, especially in descriptions of food, the landscape and the act of creation. Lucy Steeds is one to watch' The Times
'This compelling, evocative debut will transport you to idyllic, sun-drenched Provence in 1920 . . . An absorbing, poetic read' Mail on Sunday
'Enthralling . . . the descriptions of the landscape, the meals they eat and the art created are so rich and evocative it's as if you're there' Good Housekeeping
**BEST BOOKS FOR 2025 from Stylist and Good Housekeeping**
PROVENCE, 1920
Ettie moves through the remote farmhouse, silently creating the conditions that make her uncle's artistic genius possible.
Joseph, an aspiring journalist, has been invited to the house. He believes he'll make his name by interviewing the reclusive painter, the great Edouard Tartuffe.
But everyone has their secrets. And, under the cover of darkness, Ettie has spent years cultivating hers.
Over this sweltering summer, everyone's true colours will be revealed.
Because Ettie is ready to be seen.
Even if it means setting her world on fire.
'Gorgeous . . . Steeped in the heat and atmosphere of 1920s Provence, this novel brims with intrigue, hope and yearning' Elizabeth Macneal, author of The Doll Factory and The Burial Plot
'Phenomenal . . . beautiful, pacey historical fiction, vividly realised. It drifts with the scent of summer, the land lit up and throbbing, the food piled high and richly painted, the paint as thick and buttery as food. I wanted to eat it. Yes, I even wanted to eat the paint. Read this book!' Seth Insua, author of Human, Animal
'I could not love this beautiful novel more . . . the final chapters left me with that delicious heart-bursting feeling, full of hope and delight' Florence Knapp, author of The Names
'Lucy Steeds transports the reader with her sensuous depictions of food, art, and landscape . . . an assured and atmospheric debut' Sarah Perry, author of The Essex Serpent
'A furiously romantic, sun-drenched mystery . . . The Artist will leave you yearning in every sense of the word' Yael van der Wouden, author of The Safekeep
'An intoxicating tale of creativity, possession and freedom. An impressively assured debut which asks questions about all those who are painted over by history' Joanna Quinn, author of The Whalebone Theatre©2025 Lucy Steeds (P)2025 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
What listeners say about The Artist
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Strong
- 09-05-25
Wow !
I enjoyed this book so much and hope there could be another about artists and painting with such wonderful descriptions.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- kls
- 05-05-25
Well written and narrated
I enjoyed the tale but really wanted to shake some of the characters and give them some backbone
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Steph
- 05-03-25
A stunning and beautiful book
A fabulous listen, very well narrated. An exquisite story which I hugely enjoyed. Highly recommended
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Vicki
- 28-04-25
Well crafted and original
There is a hint at the start of where the story will go, but that just adds to the mystery which slowly unfolds. There is some horror in this story and a good deal of misery. But hope too. I loved it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nature lover
- 07-05-25
A tale of feminist emancipation
This is a story of despair, repression and unrequited longing. It is beautifully illustrated with words that enable the reader to enter the minds of the three protagonists and understand their passions, what drives them and how complex human relationships are.
The novel literally paints with words the social history, experiences of a repressed and trapped child then woman set against the backdrop of the interwar period.
A masterful and moving novel, expertly narrated and leaving you wanting to know ‘what next’.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- David
- 03-03-25
an outstanding story
I love those book. the pure passion drips on every page,leaving a hunger for more...
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jules
- 10-03-25
A brilliantly powerful story
It took me a little while to get into The Artist, but the second half told a brilliantly powerful story about the suppression of women, in this case in the arts, and what some women will do to be seen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sia Jane
- 08-04-25
Beautiful debut
A stunning novel with wonderful character development. The rich descriptive language sets you right there in the farmhouse and the characters’s experiences. You can tell Steeds has studied world literatures and her work reminds me of a number of writers. She has pulled them all together and wove her own writer’s voice beautifully.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- avidreader
- 17-03-25
Absolutely Brilliant
In all my reading years, of which are very many!, I've only ever given full stars to one book. Until now... until ' The Artist', by Lucy Steeds . What a read... the story has depth and layers, with real 'substantial' characters, and with art and creation as the running theme, it addresses many life issues , as well as being written in a truly beautiful style of writing, and interspersed with unique, powerful , again beautiful , poignant whilst often sharp imagery. I loved this book. The audible version equally wonderful, works well, expressive and clear
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- @mrsinkslinger
- 24-03-25
A book so real you’ll believe it is
This book! Best I’ve read in years. Beautiful it leaps of the page. Sears itself in your heart.
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