Rembrandt's Whore

(Paperback, Main - Canons)

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Description

A sensitive innocent, Hendrickje Stoffels escapes the harsh realities of her garrison home-town to become a servant in Rembrandt's household. She soon becomes his lover and closest confidante, filling the void in his life resulting from the death of his wife and two of their children. But Hendrickje is fated to discover the hypocrisy and fickleness of Amsterdam society.

In sensuous prose, Matton paints a powerful fictional portrait of this impassioned relationship against the backdrop of a turbulent era of Dutch history.

Reviews

Using rich historical detail, Matton charts [Rembrandt's] ostracism from the Church and wealthy Amsterdam society, and reveals the tender, domestic side of the great master's life * * The Times * *
Rembrandt's Whore is written in small, pithy passages, each one a sketch depicting a mood or a moment, and is rich in historical detail . . . It is translated from the French, yet somehow the awkwardness of the language only adds to the tenderness of Stoffels' naivety and her wonder at the joys of life * * Guardian * *
Matton deserves some reflected glory for this lyrical but well-researched "memoir" . . . She convincingly recreates the girl who moved from maid to muse and mother, shocking puritanical Amsterdam and inspiring some of the tenderest depictions of solid flesh and soaring spirit in art * * Independent * *
A work of unobtrusive beauty, unforgettably true and poignant * * Le Figaro * *
Matton digs deep into Stoffels' psyche . . . her writing is as beautiful, honest and emotional as the portraits of her subject which, of course, is just the way it should be * * Big Issue * *
Matton's novel has been assiduously researched, and she memorably evokes the cruelties and hardships of everyday life 300 years ago * * Mail on Sunday * *
A precious alloy of human interest, detailed historical research and inspired sensitivity to Rembrandt's work . . . the writing is as careful and subtle as the master's paintings * * Magazine Litteraire, France * *
A fascinating, illuminating look at the pressures [Rembrandt] faced in the later stages of his life . . . a noteworthy book * * Publishers Weekly * *
Matton has created a work of incredible beauty, juxtaposing the darkness of a society riddled with Black Death with the passion shared by the painter and his muse * * Bizarre * *

Author Bio

Sylvie Matton is the author of three novels and four works of non-fiction. She has been an actress and screenwriter. With her husband, the artist and film-maker Charles Matton, she worked for two years on a feature-length film on the life of Rembrandt, which was premiered in Britain in 2001. She lives in France.

Tamsin Black is a freelance translator and lives in Switzerland. She studied French literature in London and Paris, where she was awarded various prizes and scholarships. Rembrandt's Whore was her first translation of a work of fiction.