So, i wondered if shed bought the painting and imagined all the rest of the story the whole glasgow bit. Gillespie and i will certainly be on my list of one of the best books ive read this year. 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. Her most recent work is the novel sugar money which has been shortlisted for several literary prizes. The opening of jane harriss clever and entertaining second novel gives little indication of how dark it will become. Even for readers who think theyve seen everything, gillespie and i by jane harris is almost certain to be surprising. On that point, how the victorians managed to reproduce is a subject of mystery. Jane harris s 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. Buy gillespie and i by jane harris from waterstones today. Gillespie and i, jane harris girl with her head in. If you are in any way squeamish or genteel, skip gillespie and i. His name is gillespie, sir, and hes already married, she tells her stepfather about her newly kindled friendship. Gillespie and i jane harris a dark and subversive novel.
From the orange prizenominated author of the observations comes an absorbing, atmospheric exploration of one young womans friendship with a volatile artist and. 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. The studio was the painting she saw in the london gallery right at the beginning, the first time she met gillespie. The followup to the observations explores loneliness and obsessive love. Download these highlights and all our programmes via the iplayer radio app. Gillespie and i, published in 2011, is the bestselling second novel by british author jane harris. Belfastborn jane harris was raised in glasgow, but currently lives in london with her husband. 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. Lets just say that the story is told by harriet baxter, who befriends the upand coming scottish artist ned gillespie in the 1880s, and in her old age. Victorian gothic mystery by jane harris, set in glasgow in 1888.
Harriet baxter is an elderly english woman embarking in 1933 upon the memoir of an artist. If youd like to know a little more about the seamy side. This post contains affiliate links which you can use to purchase the book. Harriet baxter is a hitherandthither kind of person, capable of getting where she needs to go, even if the mores of the time suggest that a 35yearold woman should not properly be wandering off alone for a sojourn to the magnificent spectacle that was said to bestraddle both banks of the river kelvin. Gillespie and i, while less strikingly original than the observations, has much of its pace and verve. This novel is an experience rather than a book simply to pass the time with. 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. Explore books by jane harris with our selection at. Without a doubt, jane harris is an extraordinarily effective and accomplished author.
All this happens in a short span of pages, at the end of which harris gives us to. Gillespie and i by jane harris meet your next favorite book. See all books authored by jane harris, including the observations, and gillespie and i, and more on. The opening of jane harris s clever and entertaining second novel gives little indication of how dark it will become. In gillespie and i jane harris has crafted an immensely engaging. Gillespie and i by jane harris books entertainment. Gillespie and i is also a novel dominated by its narrator. Gillespie and i jane harris pdf download kosmobookz. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. In 2007, she was shortlisted for the british book awards waterstones newcomer of the year and the south bank show times breakthrough award. And continues, like the observations, gillespie and i is, at heart, a book about loneliness and.
Gillespie and i by jane harris overdrive rakuten overdrive. Harriet baxter, a cultured and refined woman approaching her 80th year, sits. The backstory forms the main body of the book, but we. Jane harris author jane harris was born in belfast and brought up in glasgow. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Elegant novel of love, loss and redemption among the victorians and caledonians. 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. Jane harris born 1961 is a british writer of fiction and screenplays. I often steer away from doorstopper books, but i am so glad i read jane harris s second novel. 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. Harris is a fine storyteller and controls the twists and turns of her plot well. 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.
I read jane harriss debut, the observations, a couple of years ago. Now, for posterity, she will be the first to record the true story of this forgotten genius. If you buy the book using that link, i will receive a small commission from the sale. It is a spellbinding tale, and harris is a gifted and dazzling storyteller. A novel by jane harris harperperennial well, we know something is up from that statement. In fact, it is this that makes gillespie and i the phenomenal book that it is. 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. 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.
After a chance encounter she befriends the gillespie family and soon becomes a fixture in all of their lives. This is as delicious a literary treat as they come. If you love strong characterdriven literary psychological mysteries, dont pass this up. Read gillespie and i by jane harris available from rakuten kobo. Jan 05, 2012 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. Harriet is most definitely an unreliable narrator, a daunting task that the author handles with remarkable dexterity. 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. As she sits in her bloomsbury home, with her two birds for company, elderly harriet baxter sets out to relate the story. Download in pdf, epub, and mobi format for read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. It is april 1933 and harriet baxter is in the early stages of writing the memoir of her friend and soulmate ned gillespie.
Before turning to novels, she was an award winning script writer, and was twice nominated for baftas for bait 1999 and going down 2000 and was twice shortlisted for the bbcs dennis. Gillespie and i is a deliciously morbid, almost smutty story, a compendium of inappropriate wants and smarmy desires there are what amounts to three different novels in these 500 pages, each one creepier than the last. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Her debut novel, the observations, was shortlisted for the 2007 orange broadband prize for fiction, and she was also shortlisted for the british book awards waterstones newcomer of the year and the south bank showtimes breakthrough award. Buy a cheap copy of gillespie and i book by jane harris.
Jane harris was born in belfast and brought up in glasgow. The end was a bit disappointing but the book is quite good. She meets the scottish painter, ned gillespie, and his wife, annie but tragedy is about to strike the gillespies. Books go search hello select your address best sellers todays deals new releases books electronics gift ideas customer service home. Sitting in her bloomsbury home, with her two birds for company, elderly harriet baxter sets out to relate the story of her acquaintance with ned gillespie, a talented artist who never achieved the fame he deserved. I thought it possibly meant she had made the whole thing up. Start reading gillespie and i on your kindle in under a minute. Bbc radio 4 15 minute drama, jane harris gillespie and i. I often steer away from doorstopper books, but i am so glad i read jane harriss second novel. If youd like to know a little more about the seamy side of the human condition, by all means, pick this one up. Back in 1888, the young, artloving harriet arrives in glasgow at the time of the international. Lets just say that the story is told by harriet baxter, who befriends the upandcoming scottish artist ned gillespie in the 1880s, and in her old age.
Jane harriss gillespie and i presents a strongly voiced female protagonist evocative of moll flanders. 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. Even if i asnt able to read the full story gillespie and i by jane harris, an interestin. Gillespie and i rnib supporting blind and partially. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading gillespie and i. In gillespie and i by jane harris the elderly harriet baxter narrates the story of her friendship with an artist, ned. The historical novel set in 19th century central scotland was subject to a bidding war between. Her novels have been published in over 20 territories worldwide and translated into many different languages see the observations and gillespie and i. November 21, 2011 harriss haunting second novel finds harriet baxter, a single 30something adrift after the death of her aunt, visiting the famous glasgow international exhibition in 1888. 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. Jane harris books list of books by author jane harris.
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