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THE TIMES (UK) NOVEL OF THE YEAR
Named A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR bythe Guardian, the Telegraph, and the Sunday Times (UK)
Charlotte Mendelson's The Exhibitionist is a "furiously funny" novel (Sunday Express, UK) about a marriage between two artists, Lucia and Ray, which begins to unravel over the course of one weekend.
Meet the Hanrahan family, gathering for a momentous weekend as famous artist and notorious egoist Ray Hanrahan prepares for a new exhibition of his art–the first in many decades–and one he is sure will burnish his reputation for good. His three children will be there: eldest daughter Leah, always her father’s biggest champion; son Patrick, who has finally decided to strike out on his own; and daughter Jess, the youngest, who has her own momentous decision to make. And what of Lucia, Ray’s steadfast and selfless wife? She is an artist, too, but has always had to put her roles as wife and mother first. What will happen if she decides to change? For Lucia is hiding secrets of her own, and as the weekend unfolds and the exhibition approaches, she must finally make a choice about which desires to follow.
The Exhibitionist is the latest, extraordinary novel from Charlotte Mendelson, a dazzling exploration of art, sacrifice, toxic family politics, queer desire, and personal freedom.
Genre: Literary Fiction
Named A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR bythe Guardian, the Telegraph, and the Sunday Times (UK)
Charlotte Mendelson's The Exhibitionist is a "furiously funny" novel (Sunday Express, UK) about a marriage between two artists, Lucia and Ray, which begins to unravel over the course of one weekend.
Meet the Hanrahan family, gathering for a momentous weekend as famous artist and notorious egoist Ray Hanrahan prepares for a new exhibition of his art–the first in many decades–and one he is sure will burnish his reputation for good. His three children will be there: eldest daughter Leah, always her father’s biggest champion; son Patrick, who has finally decided to strike out on his own; and daughter Jess, the youngest, who has her own momentous decision to make. And what of Lucia, Ray’s steadfast and selfless wife? She is an artist, too, but has always had to put her roles as wife and mother first. What will happen if she decides to change? For Lucia is hiding secrets of her own, and as the weekend unfolds and the exhibition approaches, she must finally make a choice about which desires to follow.
The Exhibitionist is the latest, extraordinary novel from Charlotte Mendelson, a dazzling exploration of art, sacrifice, toxic family politics, queer desire, and personal freedom.
Genre: Literary Fiction
Praise for this book
"I don't think I've ever read anything that is simultaneously so elegant and so propulsive - every single sentence Charlotte Mendelson writes is arrestingly powerful. I think this book is beautiful, but it's also funny, furious, sexy, blissfully hot and cold and wild in its rage." - Daisy Buchanan
"A treat . . . Excoriating observation of the art world, crazy toxic family intrigues, wit, wisdom and brilliant writing." - Muriel Gray
"A delicious, heartbreaking family snapshot about thwarted ambition, misplaced loyalty and good and bad love. Secrets abound. Fabulously written and utterly compelling." - Marian Keyes
"It takes the most ferocious intelligence, skill, and a deep reservoir of sadness to write a novel as funny as this. I adored it." - Meg Mason
"A truly wonderful novel, and a funny and wise one, too; the individual components sparkle, the whole movement beguiles." - Sunjeev Sahota
"In The Exhibitionist Mendelson brings a forensic eye to family dynamics, laying bare the agonies of rage, frustration and longing that lie just beneath the surface of domestic life. The result is a devastating treat of a novel: funny, furious, dark and delicious." - Sarah Waters
"A treat . . . Excoriating observation of the art world, crazy toxic family intrigues, wit, wisdom and brilliant writing." - Muriel Gray
"A delicious, heartbreaking family snapshot about thwarted ambition, misplaced loyalty and good and bad love. Secrets abound. Fabulously written and utterly compelling." - Marian Keyes
"It takes the most ferocious intelligence, skill, and a deep reservoir of sadness to write a novel as funny as this. I adored it." - Meg Mason
"A truly wonderful novel, and a funny and wise one, too; the individual components sparkle, the whole movement beguiles." - Sunjeev Sahota
"In The Exhibitionist Mendelson brings a forensic eye to family dynamics, laying bare the agonies of rage, frustration and longing that lie just beneath the surface of domestic life. The result is a devastating treat of a novel: funny, furious, dark and delicious." - Sarah Waters
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