THE ARTIST AND THE FEAST

Tanya Reynolds gives this stunning novel a luminous performance. Budding journalist Joseph Adelaide is invited to interview the world- famous, notoriously reclusive painter Edouard Tartuffe. "Tata" lives in isolation in Provence with his niece, Ettie. Ettie caters to him, doing everything from answering his mail to cutting his hair while silently enduring his rages, cruelty, and jealousy. Intrigued by Ettie's quiet acceptance, Joseph is soon drawn into the great man's orbit. Reynolds deftly presents gorgeous descriptions of the French countryside, deliciously rendering the colorful foods Tata uses as inspiration for his paintings. Reynolds's narration enhances Steed's insights into each character's repressed motives. Longlisted for the 2025 Women's Prize for Fiction, the audiobook starts slowly, gathering momentum until it smashes into its inevitable shocking yet satisfying conclusion. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2025]