The Muse - Hardcover

The Muse is a brilliantly realised story, and the parallel narratives are perfectly balanced, propelling the story forward at break-neck speed... Jessie Burton can expect more awards to soon be coming her way.--Sunday Herald, Scotland

"[A] smart blend of literary and commercial fiction with intriguing characters and a compelling mystery at its center... Burton creatively infuses historical fiction with mystery in her exploration of the far-reaching consequences of deception, the relationship between art and artist, and the complex trajectory of women's desires.--Booklist

"Like its predecessor, this is a tale with a refreshingly feminist slant, interested in the slipperiness of meaning"--Daily Mail (UK)

"[A] rich palette of ideas and emotions... The novel excellently explores the writing process itself."--Independent (UK)

"The Muse... asks us to pay close attention, given the unexpected paths that wander variously through time, race, global politics and art history...[A] well crafted tale that draws you in, and in the end, respects you as a reader."--Minneapolis Star Tribune

"A complex, vividly drawn tale... The intricate way in which Burton pulls the two plots together is unexpected and impressive, a most original story about creative freedom, finding one's voice, and the quest for artistic redemption."--Publishers Weekly

"A simmering historical love story"--Glamour UK

"If you read and loved The Miniaturist, Burton's enchanting bestseller set in 17th-century Amsterdam, The Muse arrives just in time for the end of summer... Love, war, desire, and art--it's all here."--Elle

"Jessie Burton meticulously reconstructs two different worlds... and ruminates on the nature of truth in art.. Told with remarkable care and evident research... A serpentine tale about art, truth and artistic ambition... [A] beautifully constructed story of art, ambition and the sacrifices one makes in the pursuit of both."--Bookreporter.com

Seductive, exhilarating and suspenseful, The Muse is an unforgettable novel about aspiration and identity, love and obsession, authenticity and deception - a masterpiece from Jessie Burton, the million-copy bestselling author of The Miniaturist.