Will & Tom

(Paperback)

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Will & Tom is a glimpse into the life of the infamous artist JMW Turner as a young man during a week spent at Harewood House fighting for a commission against his childhood friend and rival Tom Girtin.
1797, West Yorkshire.

When rising artist Will Turner arrives at Harewood House in high summer, his intention is to sketch the house and grounds, receive his commission and return to London, where he has started attracting serious attention at the Royal Academy.

But things at the grand house are not quite as he expects. The atmosphere is strange, both above and below stairs, and Wills treatment by his hosts is surprisingly offhand. Most perplexing of all, however, is the appearance of another painter his childhood friend and now rival, Tom Girtin. While Tom is welcomed into the aristocratic circle, Will finds few allies. As it becomes harder to ignore the whispers of scandal , Will witnesses something that will threaten both his commission and his friendship.

Alive with intrigue, artistic rivalry, Will & Tom offers a glimpse into the early life of Britains greatest painter, J M W Turner, through the story of a complicated, vibrant friendship, and how it is tested by the dark dynamic of art and power.

Reviews

Praise for Will & Tom:

Witty and engaging A convincing portrait of a difficult, yet vulnerable genius and a clever study of the tangled relationship between art, power and money SUNDAY TIMES

Plampins deep (and lightly worn) expertise as an
art historian gives this novel weight and insight THE TIMES

Completely engaging wonderfully evocative. It makes you want to visit the countryside and see Turners paintings again. A great book PHILIPPA GREGORY

Praise for Matthew Plampins novels:

'A fascinating novel that brings to life an extraordinary historical episode . . . I can't wait to see where Matthew Plampin goes next' Andrew Taylor, author of THE AMERICAN BOY

'Fascinating . . . Matthew Plampin lights up a murky episode of French history' Liza Picard, author of VICTORIAN LONDON

A galloping good story THE TIMES

Lust, avarice, envy, revenge all play their part in this brilliantly told, well-paced story DAILY MAIL

Plampins historical research is impressive, as is his command of detail his true gift of descriptive power INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

Author Bio

Matthew Plampin was born in 1975 and lives in London. He completed a PhD at the Courtauld Institute of Art and now lectures on nineteenth-century art and architecture. He is the author of two previous novels, The Street Philosopher and The Devils Acre