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Rodin's Lover
A mesmerizing tale of art and passion in Belle Époque France
As a woman, aspiring sculptor Camille Claudel has plenty of critics, especially her ultra-traditional mother. But when Auguste Rodin makes Camille his apprentice—and his muse—their passion inspires groundbreaking works. Yet, Camille’s success is overshadowed by her lover’s rising star, and her obsessions cross the line into madness.
Rodin’s Lover brings to life the volatile love affair between one of the era’s greatest artists and a woman entwined in a tragic dilemma she cannot escape.
As a woman, aspiring sculptor Camille Claudel has plenty of critics, especially her ultra-traditional mother. But when Auguste Rodin makes Camille his apprentice—and his muse—their passion inspires groundbreaking works. Yet, Camille’s success is overshadowed by her lover’s rising star, and her obsessions cross the line into madness.
Rodin’s Lover brings to life the volatile love affair between one of the era’s greatest artists and a woman entwined in a tragic dilemma she cannot escape.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 27, 2015
34 people are currently reading
6871 people want to read
About the author
Heather Webb
15 books1,335 followersHeather Webb is the USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author of historical fiction, including Strangers in the Night, The Next Ship Home, Last Christmas in Paris, Meet Me in Monaco, Rodin's Lover, and more. In 2017, Last Christmas in Paris won the Women's Fiction Writers Association award, and in 2019, Meet Me in Monaco was shortlisted for both the RNA award in the UK and also the Digital Book World Fiction prize.
Heather's currently hard at work on a novel releasing in early 2024 called Queens of London about a true-to-life, all-female gang led by the most notorious criminal, Diamond Annie, set in grimy and glamorous 1925. Also, look for her fourth collaboration with her beloved writing partner, Hazel Gaynor, Christmas with the Queen releasing in the fall of 2024
When not writing, Heather flexes her foodie skills, geeks out on pop culture and history, or looks for excuses to head to the other side of the world.
***Heather's review policy on Goodreads is to only rate books that she enjoys. She believes there's enough negativity in the world and would rather share the positive with her reader friends. The negative she lets swirl down the drain of her bathtub.
Heather's currently hard at work on a novel releasing in early 2024 called Queens of London about a true-to-life, all-female gang led by the most notorious criminal, Diamond Annie, set in grimy and glamorous 1925. Also, look for her fourth collaboration with her beloved writing partner, Hazel Gaynor, Christmas with the Queen releasing in the fall of 2024
When not writing, Heather flexes her foodie skills, geeks out on pop culture and history, or looks for excuses to head to the other side of the world.
***Heather's review policy on Goodreads is to only rate books that she enjoys. She believes there's enough negativity in the world and would rather share the positive with her reader friends. The negative she lets swirl down the drain of her bathtub.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews
December 21, 2014
The book opens with a young girl and her younger brother chasing each other in the woods, the scene is delightful. The girl is seventeen year old Camille Claudel and her younger brother Paul. Though this scene is joyous, home life for Camille was anything but as her burning desire is to be a sculptress, a career her mother most disapproves as she does many things about her daughter. Her father though has supported her decision since she was very young. The dissention in the family home is palpable.
she meets Rodin in Paris where she eventually goes to study, the family moving with her. Her passion for her art consumes her and the heat between her and Rodin is immense. Thorough discussion of their art and creations, the desire for recognition burns between them, though being a woman it is much more difficult for Camille. The striving for commissions, always the lack of money for materials, rent, wood for heat, to pay models and for food are a worry everyday.
As her mind deteriorates, she begins to rage out and sees things not as they should be. The tension in this book is remarkable. It is feel, show and not just tell for this author. All the emotions are vivid, the scenery, their relationships are all brilliantly portrayed. This is indeed a brilliant book about these two famous sculptors and I spent much time on the web looking for the pieces described in the book. There are brief appearances by other notables of this time period: Victor Hugo, the composer Debussy, Emile Zola and even mention of the Dreyfus's Affair.
There is a author's note at the end explaining what is fact, what is fiction and what was expounded on and why. This is always much appreciated.
ARC from publisher.
she meets Rodin in Paris where she eventually goes to study, the family moving with her. Her passion for her art consumes her and the heat between her and Rodin is immense. Thorough discussion of their art and creations, the desire for recognition burns between them, though being a woman it is much more difficult for Camille. The striving for commissions, always the lack of money for materials, rent, wood for heat, to pay models and for food are a worry everyday.
As her mind deteriorates, she begins to rage out and sees things not as they should be. The tension in this book is remarkable. It is feel, show and not just tell for this author. All the emotions are vivid, the scenery, their relationships are all brilliantly portrayed. This is indeed a brilliant book about these two famous sculptors and I spent much time on the web looking for the pieces described in the book. There are brief appearances by other notables of this time period: Victor Hugo, the composer Debussy, Emile Zola and even mention of the Dreyfus's Affair.
There is a author's note at the end explaining what is fact, what is fiction and what was expounded on and why. This is always much appreciated.
ARC from publisher.
April 1, 2018
If Camille Claudel had been born a century later she would have been much more accepted and that is very tragic. She was talented, but she lived in a man's world and she just couldn't play by their rules. I mean women apparently had to send a request to wear trousers! All she wanted in her life was to sculpt, but she had to fight for that, her mother was against it, thanks to her father she could do it
Her relationship with Auguste Rodin was passionate, but her jealousy, her fierce nature, and, in the end, her illness just couldn't make the relationship work.
I liked the book, but I found it was hard to read also, partly because I know how it would end, but also because I felt that I really never got into the story. I felt sorry for Camille Claudel, but I never really liked her in the book, I liked that she struggled to do something that before just men had done. But often I felt that she lacked the will to compromise, do keep her mouth shut sometimes. But this could easily be a part of her illness, but that didn't make her more sympathetic. She drove her friends away with her sharp tongue and I can understand why they find it was hard to be her friend. I don't know if she was this way in real life or if Heather Webb has just portrayed her this way. But it really made it hard to read the book. Also the relationship between Rodin and Claudel, I just didn't feel any passion I was never engrossed by their tragic love story. I didn't feel that moved by their relationship. It was interesting to get to know more about them, but I could just as well have read a biographical book about them.
Still, it was a good book, it was never boring, and I liked the small part with Victor Hugo, made me want to know more about him.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
Her relationship with Auguste Rodin was passionate, but her jealousy, her fierce nature, and, in the end, her illness just couldn't make the relationship work.
I liked the book, but I found it was hard to read also, partly because I know how it would end, but also because I felt that I really never got into the story. I felt sorry for Camille Claudel, but I never really liked her in the book, I liked that she struggled to do something that before just men had done. But often I felt that she lacked the will to compromise, do keep her mouth shut sometimes. But this could easily be a part of her illness, but that didn't make her more sympathetic. She drove her friends away with her sharp tongue and I can understand why they find it was hard to be her friend. I don't know if she was this way in real life or if Heather Webb has just portrayed her this way. But it really made it hard to read the book. Also the relationship between Rodin and Claudel, I just didn't feel any passion I was never engrossed by their tragic love story. I didn't feel that moved by their relationship. It was interesting to get to know more about them, but I could just as well have read a biographical book about them.
Still, it was a good book, it was never boring, and I liked the small part with Victor Hugo, made me want to know more about him.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
January 31, 2015
It's always fascinating to me how a novelist can take a famous person from the past and imagine what they might have said or done at a given time on their life , or what their relationships might have been like . I'm always a little skeptical too. Of course , there is biographical information to be researched but imagining the conversations , the intimate moments that we don't hear in the biographical accounts somehow makes these icons more real . But I do keep in mind when I read historical fiction that while some of it is true there is the element of the author's imagination at play so I try to enjoy it for what I hope it will be - a good story .
I knew very little about the life of Rodin and nothing about Camille Claudel so I couldn't judge the facts but I did do some outside reading to find further information as I read the book . What I know is that this is about the passion of a woman for her art in a world where few women embark on a career where men dominate. It's about the passion of a young sculptor for her famous teacher, Auguste Rodin . It's about his passion , of course for his art and for Camille. Sadly it's also about her loss of sanity as she becomes obsessed with her work.
While it is titled as Camille's story , it is Rodin's story also and we discover some of what he experienced in trying to get his work shown and commissioned even as an artist with some fame . One work that is focused on is his "The Gates of Hell". Do yourself a favor and take a look at some images of this . I can't imagine how amazing it would be to see it in person . It's also pretty amazing to look at images of Claudel's work .
It is clear from the author's notes and acknowledgements that she has done a great deal of research and she does tell us that she does take some liberties when writing the novel . I found not only the good story I hoped for but discovered some of the real story behind the volatile love affair between Rodin and Camille as well as a glimpse of their complicated artistic heart and souls.
Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Plume and NetGalley .
November 8, 2019
Camille Claudel (1864-1943) was a French sculptor, recognized for the originality and quality of her work. She had experimented with materials, “demonstrating her immeasurable talent for crafting with difficult materials.”
France, 1881. Camille Claudel studies are progressing well. Upon finishing her studies, her mother expects her to find a husband and end the absurd of being an artist.
She persuades her father to hire an art tutor. And the new tutor persuades the father to enroll Camille at a school of art in Paris, as females are allowed to attend this school.
Her “works show violent contrast, light and its absence, and an intimacy all her own. The very antithesis of Rodin’s style.” He “prefers harmony in his silhouettes and musculature.”
Auguste Rodin becomes her tutor. “At last she had met someone as consume with sculpture as she was.”
He is an accomplished artist and a skilled teacher, who falls in love with her. She tries to resist him as there is Rose Beuret, his partner. But he hasn’t been intimate with her for years. He just feels he can’t turn his back on her. They share a son.
Artistically driven and emotionally developed characters. Rodin is much older than Camille, but he can’t control his heart, which develops feelings for his student. A very talented student, whom he honestly wants to see succeed. And it’s his actions that speak for that.
She is blunt and unapologetic. She does as she pleases. She has low tolerance for being told what to do, asking makes a difference. She certainly knows how to propel herself in a man’s world.
As long as historical romance (especially love triangle) is written with a good taste, then I don’t mind reading it. And this one certainly is. It explores their relationship and how it affected their careers. It also reveals her struggle with mental illness.
Also enjoyed brief encounters with other artists and writers including Victor Hugo and Emile Zola.
Relished this richly imagined story told with intelligent prose.
P.S. Also by this talented writer, highly recommend Becoming Josephine.
@FB/BestHistoricalFiction
France, 1881. Camille Claudel studies are progressing well. Upon finishing her studies, her mother expects her to find a husband and end the absurd of being an artist.
She persuades her father to hire an art tutor. And the new tutor persuades the father to enroll Camille at a school of art in Paris, as females are allowed to attend this school.
Her “works show violent contrast, light and its absence, and an intimacy all her own. The very antithesis of Rodin’s style.” He “prefers harmony in his silhouettes and musculature.”
Auguste Rodin becomes her tutor. “At last she had met someone as consume with sculpture as she was.”
He is an accomplished artist and a skilled teacher, who falls in love with her. She tries to resist him as there is Rose Beuret, his partner. But he hasn’t been intimate with her for years. He just feels he can’t turn his back on her. They share a son.
Artistically driven and emotionally developed characters. Rodin is much older than Camille, but he can’t control his heart, which develops feelings for his student. A very talented student, whom he honestly wants to see succeed. And it’s his actions that speak for that.
She is blunt and unapologetic. She does as she pleases. She has low tolerance for being told what to do, asking makes a difference. She certainly knows how to propel herself in a man’s world.
As long as historical romance (especially love triangle) is written with a good taste, then I don’t mind reading it. And this one certainly is. It explores their relationship and how it affected their careers. It also reveals her struggle with mental illness.
Also enjoyed brief encounters with other artists and writers including Victor Hugo and Emile Zola.
Relished this richly imagined story told with intelligent prose.
P.S. Also by this talented writer, highly recommend Becoming Josephine.
@FB/BestHistoricalFiction
August 5, 2016
Webb’s illustration of the complicated and abundantly talented artist Camille Claudel focuses on her tumultuous and licentious affair with Auguste Rodin, a man penetrating her heart yet elusive for her to possess.
Exceptionally researched, Webb highlights the art world in all its glory and harshness. The politics, power and societal propriety seizing artists and their creativity creating a fissure of misunderstanding. A world full of sexism and misogyny as female artists struggle to penetrate a male dominated world, an improper vocation fitting a woman.
Webb provides snippets of Claudel, more could have been offered besides her love of Rodin and their forbidden dalliance. Rodin comes across as weak, a man hopelessly in love with his artistic equal but bound by obligation and duty preventing a full fledged commitment with Claudel.
Despite their runaway attraction, the narrative fails to convey their deep rooted connection, it feels flat, lack of spark. Their mutual appetite for sculpting is also tempered. Two obsessive creatures in both art and love are not expressed as they could be in the narrative, rather a quiet storm leaving the reader anticipating and wanting more declared.
I was hoping Claudel’s slow descent into ‘madness’ was examined more. What drove her to ‘madness’ or was she a victim shut away for convenience sake of her ‘family’ as a maverick, an intelligent independent woman craving more or was art the culprit – much delving left wide open in this area.
An entertaining read, it’s a romance narrative rather than an in depth probe into the woman Camille Claudel. A woman worthy of notice and artistic praise as her life is often questioned in its shroud of mystery and unanswered questions. I was expecting Webb to take a different avenue with Claudel, despite my frustration this is a worthwhile read, if anything the reader will want to discover more of Camille Claudel on their own of her life, art, and tragic circumstances.
Exceptionally researched, Webb highlights the art world in all its glory and harshness. The politics, power and societal propriety seizing artists and their creativity creating a fissure of misunderstanding. A world full of sexism and misogyny as female artists struggle to penetrate a male dominated world, an improper vocation fitting a woman.
Webb provides snippets of Claudel, more could have been offered besides her love of Rodin and their forbidden dalliance. Rodin comes across as weak, a man hopelessly in love with his artistic equal but bound by obligation and duty preventing a full fledged commitment with Claudel.
Despite their runaway attraction, the narrative fails to convey their deep rooted connection, it feels flat, lack of spark. Their mutual appetite for sculpting is also tempered. Two obsessive creatures in both art and love are not expressed as they could be in the narrative, rather a quiet storm leaving the reader anticipating and wanting more declared.
I was hoping Claudel’s slow descent into ‘madness’ was examined more. What drove her to ‘madness’ or was she a victim shut away for convenience sake of her ‘family’ as a maverick, an intelligent independent woman craving more or was art the culprit – much delving left wide open in this area.
An entertaining read, it’s a romance narrative rather than an in depth probe into the woman Camille Claudel. A woman worthy of notice and artistic praise as her life is often questioned in its shroud of mystery and unanswered questions. I was expecting Webb to take a different avenue with Claudel, despite my frustration this is a worthwhile read, if anything the reader will want to discover more of Camille Claudel on their own of her life, art, and tragic circumstances.
April 24, 2017
Passion fills the pages of this story--passion for art and the intense love of Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin. Even as a girl in the late 19th Century, Camille was driven to create art. She would dig up clay near her family home in Villeneuve-sur-Fere, not caring that she was ruining her nice clothes, so she could form her sculptures. Her father and her brother were supportive of her art, but her mother thought she should be meeting suitors and preparing for a married life. She was a young woman wanting to work in a man's profession. Camille's father moved the family to Paris so she could study sculpture at an art academy. She was told that she had a similar style as Auguste Rodin, and she eventually became his student.
Auguste was impressed by Camille's talent, and was also very attracted to her. Camille was wary of a relationship at first since Auguste was living with his former lover, the mother of his son. Camille was growing as an artist, and Auguste was winning some important commissions. The two artists became lovers in a very volatile relationship. Camille began hearing voices, and had a difficult time maintaining relationships with friends and family. As her mental health deteriorated she pushed away even the people who loved her. The book ends in 1913, around the time of the death of Camille's beloved father.
The book has a good sense of place, transporting us to the art world of Paris. Heather Webb presents both Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin as fascinating people. I had been to a large Rodin exhibit about ten years ago, and loved his sculptures. I found myself going online to view Camille's work. Unfortunately, she had smashed many pieces when the voices drove her to madness, probably schizophrenia. This was an enjoyable work of historical fiction where the author captured the spirit of the two talented artists and, except for a few details, stayed true to their actual lives.
Auguste was impressed by Camille's talent, and was also very attracted to her. Camille was wary of a relationship at first since Auguste was living with his former lover, the mother of his son. Camille was growing as an artist, and Auguste was winning some important commissions. The two artists became lovers in a very volatile relationship. Camille began hearing voices, and had a difficult time maintaining relationships with friends and family. As her mental health deteriorated she pushed away even the people who loved her. The book ends in 1913, around the time of the death of Camille's beloved father.
The book has a good sense of place, transporting us to the art world of Paris. Heather Webb presents both Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin as fascinating people. I had been to a large Rodin exhibit about ten years ago, and loved his sculptures. I found myself going online to view Camille's work. Unfortunately, she had smashed many pieces when the voices drove her to madness, probably schizophrenia. This was an enjoyable work of historical fiction where the author captured the spirit of the two talented artists and, except for a few details, stayed true to their actual lives.
December 28, 2014
You don't have to love historical fiction to love this book. Nor do you have to appreciate sculpture, or care about the politics of public art. You don't even have to be able to find Paris on a map. No, all it takes to love this book is a willingness to lose yourself in a story about a woman whose motto, if she lived now, would've been "Go big or go home."
Camille Claudel (about whom I knew exactly nothing) is a heroine I won't soon forget. Consumed by her drive to create, and inflamed by her love for her tutor, Auguste Rodin, Camille achieves more than any woman sculptor of her time, and pays the price at every level. Passion, heartache, entanglements and betrayal--it's all here.
Webb frames the story beautifully, carrying us into nineteenth century Paris and through the studios, salons and homes of the working artists and their models, benefactors, rivals and families. Her writing is precise (but never arch), assured and utterly convincing. I could feel the clay in Claudel's hand, and the fire in her heart.
Fast-paced and filled with raw emotion, Rodin's Lover is an impressive achievement, and a reminder of the power of great stories about great lives, whenever they were lived.
Camille Claudel (about whom I knew exactly nothing) is a heroine I won't soon forget. Consumed by her drive to create, and inflamed by her love for her tutor, Auguste Rodin, Camille achieves more than any woman sculptor of her time, and pays the price at every level. Passion, heartache, entanglements and betrayal--it's all here.
Webb frames the story beautifully, carrying us into nineteenth century Paris and through the studios, salons and homes of the working artists and their models, benefactors, rivals and families. Her writing is precise (but never arch), assured and utterly convincing. I could feel the clay in Claudel's hand, and the fire in her heart.
Fast-paced and filled with raw emotion, Rodin's Lover is an impressive achievement, and a reminder of the power of great stories about great lives, whenever they were lived.
November 26, 2016
Another superb recounting of an artist's relationship with his muse, only this time the muse happens to also be a recognized sculptor on her own right. I took the time to google images of her pieces and they are exquisite. When one takes into account that Claude's was also suffering from schizophrenia, her talent seems extraordinary. Rodin is also an integral part of the plot. Their love affair seems genuine and deep, but obviously unconventional. If this sub genre is of any interest to you, I recommend this book.
February 12, 2015
Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
It's rare that I pick up a book with a premise I know nothing about, but that's exactly what happened with Heather Webb's Rodin's Lover. Before cracking this fiction I'd honestly never heard of Camille Claudel and the only thing I knew about Rodin came from Catherine Zeta Zones in 1999's The Haunting. A virtual blank slate, I had no idea where this story would take me, but I loved watching it come to light in Webb's hands.
Camille was a difficult character for me to appreciate, but I liked Webb's interpretation of her just the same. This is a woman who is dedicated, imaginative and driven to succeed on her own merit, but she is also flawed. She is prone to jealousy and anger and suffers demons few if any can understand. She is complex beginning to end, an individual whose creativity is stifled by mental illness and I stand in awe of how Webb brought that concept to life.
I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of time Webb spent in both Camille and Auguste's workrooms. I remember being disappointed with The Queen's Dollmaker and Madame Tussaud for the lack attention paid the heroine's craft, but Webb didn't gloss over Camille's passion, not by a long shot. She actually dedicates several pages to the art of sculpture and I think that went a long way in developing Camille's creative personality and illustrating how much of an anomaly she was as female artist in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Speaking of Rodin, I thought Webb's decision to alternate between Camille and her lover one of the most inspired aspects of the narrative. Unlike Abelard in The Sharp Hook of Love, Rodin's motivations and interest in Claudel are tangible and concrete. There is no ambiguity in his emotions or conflicting loyalties and I think Rodin's Lover a stronger piece for it.
There is a large supporting cast, but I particularly liked Jessie Lipscomb. She is like Camille in some ways, remarkably different in others, but what I liked is that Webb didn't paint her as weak or inferior to Claudel. Jessie has a particular personality, a strength that contrasts and challenges Camille's and I thought that very interesting. There is a tendency to paint women as dominant or submissive, independent or reliant, and I liked how Webb's approach acknowledged the grey area in between and touched on the idea that people can vary and that doesn't necessarily make one better than the next.
The novel is long and slows in places, but I enjoyed the time I spent with Rodin's Lover. The material challenged me, but I don't think a bad thing and would certainly recommend the piece to fans of both historic and romantic fiction.
It's rare that I pick up a book with a premise I know nothing about, but that's exactly what happened with Heather Webb's Rodin's Lover. Before cracking this fiction I'd honestly never heard of Camille Claudel and the only thing I knew about Rodin came from Catherine Zeta Zones in 1999's The Haunting. A virtual blank slate, I had no idea where this story would take me, but I loved watching it come to light in Webb's hands.
Camille was a difficult character for me to appreciate, but I liked Webb's interpretation of her just the same. This is a woman who is dedicated, imaginative and driven to succeed on her own merit, but she is also flawed. She is prone to jealousy and anger and suffers demons few if any can understand. She is complex beginning to end, an individual whose creativity is stifled by mental illness and I stand in awe of how Webb brought that concept to life.
I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of time Webb spent in both Camille and Auguste's workrooms. I remember being disappointed with The Queen's Dollmaker and Madame Tussaud for the lack attention paid the heroine's craft, but Webb didn't gloss over Camille's passion, not by a long shot. She actually dedicates several pages to the art of sculpture and I think that went a long way in developing Camille's creative personality and illustrating how much of an anomaly she was as female artist in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Speaking of Rodin, I thought Webb's decision to alternate between Camille and her lover one of the most inspired aspects of the narrative. Unlike Abelard in The Sharp Hook of Love, Rodin's motivations and interest in Claudel are tangible and concrete. There is no ambiguity in his emotions or conflicting loyalties and I think Rodin's Lover a stronger piece for it.
There is a large supporting cast, but I particularly liked Jessie Lipscomb. She is like Camille in some ways, remarkably different in others, but what I liked is that Webb didn't paint her as weak or inferior to Claudel. Jessie has a particular personality, a strength that contrasts and challenges Camille's and I thought that very interesting. There is a tendency to paint women as dominant or submissive, independent or reliant, and I liked how Webb's approach acknowledged the grey area in between and touched on the idea that people can vary and that doesn't necessarily make one better than the next.
The novel is long and slows in places, but I enjoyed the time I spent with Rodin's Lover. The material challenged me, but I don't think a bad thing and would certainly recommend the piece to fans of both historic and romantic fiction.
April 29, 2015
I had heard the name Camille Claudel before reading Rodin’s Lover, but knew nothing about her. Women artists interest me, but I had never previously read anything about a sculptor. This means that I was completely uneducated about the methods and traditions of sculpture. So I learned a great deal from this book about Camille Claudel, Auguste Rodin and sculpture in general. Yet I felt that the Wikipedia article on Camille Claudel caused me to understand the general outline of her life better than Heather Webb’s novel, much of which is written from Claudel’s own perspective.
To say that Claudel was an unreliable narrator is to put it rather mildly. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia. I noticed in the novel that she became much worse later in her life, and that hormones appeared to have an influence.
I appreciated Camille Claudel’s conflict between love and independence from a feminist perspective. It was not paranoid to want to have her own identity as an artist and not be considered an imitator of Rodin. She was continually breaking up with him, but I didn’t think it was always due to mental instability. There were some legitimate reasons why being with Rodin wasn’t the best thing for her.
I found Rodin's Lover to be highly reminiscent of I Always Loved Youby Robin Oliveira about the ambivalent relationship between artists Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas. I wish that Camille Claudel and Mary Cassatt could have met. I think they would have understood and supported each other as woman artists.
I received this book from the publisher via both First to Read and Net Galley in return for this honest review.
For my complete review see http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2015/...
To say that Claudel was an unreliable narrator is to put it rather mildly. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia. I noticed in the novel that she became much worse later in her life, and that hormones appeared to have an influence.
I appreciated Camille Claudel’s conflict between love and independence from a feminist perspective. It was not paranoid to want to have her own identity as an artist and not be considered an imitator of Rodin. She was continually breaking up with him, but I didn’t think it was always due to mental instability. There were some legitimate reasons why being with Rodin wasn’t the best thing for her.
I found Rodin's Lover to be highly reminiscent of I Always Loved Youby Robin Oliveira about the ambivalent relationship between artists Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas. I wish that Camille Claudel and Mary Cassatt could have met. I think they would have understood and supported each other as woman artists.
I received this book from the publisher via both First to Read and Net Galley in return for this honest review.
For my complete review see http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2015/...
September 7, 2016
Neupečatljivi likovi i antipatična heroina, pravo mučenje za čitanje. Ni Roden, ni Kamij nemaju karakter, uglavnom je njena osobina ta da je strašno tvrdoglava i bolja od svih, dok je njegova osobenost ta da je bolji od svih i tvrdoglav. Za taj par ne možeš čak ni da navijaš, toliko je neinspirativna njihova priča.
Ona lagano tone u ludilo, paranoju i šizofreniju, dok on nju uprkos svemu voli. Na stranu što je odlepila, Kamij je predstavljena kao jedna iritatna žena, naporna i bez imalo šarma, kako da je voli onaj koji je opisan kao najveći zavodnik svog vremena? Ni to mi ne deluje baš realno, ali eto, u svakom poglavlju vidimo drugu ženu koja mu se baca pred noge. I sama spisateljica na kraju romana kaže da je praktično sve izmislila, dakle, ovo je pokušaj istorijskog romana zasnovan na nemaštovitosti.
Ona lagano tone u ludilo, paranoju i šizofreniju, dok on nju uprkos svemu voli. Na stranu što je odlepila, Kamij je predstavljena kao jedna iritatna žena, naporna i bez imalo šarma, kako da je voli onaj koji je opisan kao najveći zavodnik svog vremena? Ni to mi ne deluje baš realno, ali eto, u svakom poglavlju vidimo drugu ženu koja mu se baca pred noge. I sama spisateljica na kraju romana kaže da je praktično sve izmislila, dakle, ovo je pokušaj istorijskog romana zasnovan na nemaštovitosti.
May 18, 2014
I read a pre-publication version of this novel, and devoured it from start to finish in a single sitting.
I'll write a full review closer to publication, but for now, this is an epic story of love, art, and madness, written by one of the best new voices in historical and women's fiction.
I'll write a full review closer to publication, but for now, this is an epic story of love, art, and madness, written by one of the best new voices in historical and women's fiction.
January 15, 2015
It appears that I am in the minority in that I was a little disappointed in Rodin's Lover by Heather Webb. I was expecting more historical fiction and less historical romance. Ms. Webb does a fairly good job expressing the obsessive passion that Rodin and Camille Claudel felt for one another and their art; however, at times, it came across as a little tedious for my taste. Between chapters, there are often large lapses in time without explanation or acknowledgment. Several times, I found myself having to back up thinking that I had missed something, only to find out that I hadn't. Overall, I would consider this book to be a very light, simple introduction to the life of Camille Claudel and, therefore, best suited to those previously unfamiliar with her. Unfortunately, I was already quite familiar with her story and did not find the deeper insight into her life that I had hoped to read about. Thank you to Penguin's First to Read program for the advance review copy.
December 16, 2014
I would have preferred a more sophisticated interpretation of Camille Claudal's life. She was an exceptional artist who was ahead of her time both artistically and culturally. Her tragic life was circumstantial. She had a bitter and hateful mother and brother who essentially stole Camille's life away from her; and for a woman in the 19th century, her independent desire to express herself in sculpture was akin to prostitution.
Looking at and reading about the life and work of Claudel in relation to Rodin, it is clear they fed off and influenced one another both artistically and intellectually. This book would have been more interesting had the author focused on the dynamics of this dual creative force. Instead, it read like a light romance novel. It was not the biography I anticipated.
Looking at and reading about the life and work of Claudel in relation to Rodin, it is clear they fed off and influenced one another both artistically and intellectually. This book would have been more interesting had the author focused on the dynamics of this dual creative force. Instead, it read like a light romance novel. It was not the biography I anticipated.
December 8, 2017
Years ago, I saw the movie Camille Claudel, so I procrastinated on picking Rodin's Lover up, thinking there would be nothing new in there. How wrong I was! I was so delightfully surprised at the insight into Claudel's--and Rodin's--life, and I felt I were learning her story anew. The writing swept me away, and now I'm anxious to return to Paris to visit Claudel's artwork. A beautifully wrought story.
February 17, 2015
Consumed. This novel consumed me.
Webb's powerful writing matches her passionate and tragic heroine, sculptor Camille Claudel. The conflicts and frustrations of a female artist at a time of rampant discrimination bring the pages to life, and the beautiful writing and narrative momentum make the book impossible to put down.
The cast of artists, writers, and notable historic figures will send one in search of photographs and images for hours, and Claudel will forever haunt the reader. Webb's depiction of Claudel's love affair with Auguste Rodin is cautionary, sympathetic, and wholly absorbing.
Look into Camille's eyes on the cover, and see if you can resist her intense and untamed world...
Highly recommended.
Webb's powerful writing matches her passionate and tragic heroine, sculptor Camille Claudel. The conflicts and frustrations of a female artist at a time of rampant discrimination bring the pages to life, and the beautiful writing and narrative momentum make the book impossible to put down.
The cast of artists, writers, and notable historic figures will send one in search of photographs and images for hours, and Claudel will forever haunt the reader. Webb's depiction of Claudel's love affair with Auguste Rodin is cautionary, sympathetic, and wholly absorbing.
Look into Camille's eyes on the cover, and see if you can resist her intense and untamed world...
Highly recommended.
December 28, 2014
I've visited the Rodin museum in Paris twice and was aware of Camille Claudel's work and her relationship with the famous sculptor, but not the story behind the woman and artist. Her life is both sad and uplifting. I finished the book with a profound sense of sadness about the toll that mental illness (most likely schizophrenia) took on a talented woman's life. It was only after some thought, that I realized the disease also provided a strength that allowed Claudel to flout social norms in the late 19th century and assert her right to be a working artist in spite of her gender. She was obsessed with her work and would allow nothing to stand in her way--including her consuming love for Auguste Rodin. It was heartbreaking to see how she alienated friends and family as the disease disordered her mind while, at the same time, encouraging to see how she battled her demons with hard work and talent, which won her the recognition she craved.
At the heart of the story is love, obsession, and madness--Claudel's love of a man, her obsession with her work, and the madness that cripples and feeds both. Heather Webb does a fine job teasing apart these tightly knotted strands to give us a clear-eyed portrait of two brilliant artists and their effect on one another's lives and work. The author at first introduces hints to Claudel's affliction and strengths, circling back time and again as the symptoms grow worse and the consequences more dire. She expertly weaves in tiny historical details such as the need for women to fill out extensive forms in order to receive permission from the police to wear trousers or the "human zoo" exhibits that (dis)graced the Exposition Universelle (also the site of the Eiffel Tower).
My only complaint is the character of Rodin, which seemed a little flat and staid, almost bourgeois. He professed his love for Claudel and assisted her in many ways great and small, except in the only way she wanted--his exclusive love. The artist seemed more interested in his own reputation than his art--of course that might have been exactly how Webb saw his character and used it to portray a foil for the explosive Claudel. In which case, she succeeded. However, as a fiction reader, I wanted a little more fire from such an edgy artist and lover. A small flaw for a good read, highly recommended.
Note: This review is based on an Advance Reader's Copy and uncorrected proof provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
At the heart of the story is love, obsession, and madness--Claudel's love of a man, her obsession with her work, and the madness that cripples and feeds both. Heather Webb does a fine job teasing apart these tightly knotted strands to give us a clear-eyed portrait of two brilliant artists and their effect on one another's lives and work. The author at first introduces hints to Claudel's affliction and strengths, circling back time and again as the symptoms grow worse and the consequences more dire. She expertly weaves in tiny historical details such as the need for women to fill out extensive forms in order to receive permission from the police to wear trousers or the "human zoo" exhibits that (dis)graced the Exposition Universelle (also the site of the Eiffel Tower).
My only complaint is the character of Rodin, which seemed a little flat and staid, almost bourgeois. He professed his love for Claudel and assisted her in many ways great and small, except in the only way she wanted--his exclusive love. The artist seemed more interested in his own reputation than his art--of course that might have been exactly how Webb saw his character and used it to portray a foil for the explosive Claudel. In which case, she succeeded. However, as a fiction reader, I wanted a little more fire from such an edgy artist and lover. A small flaw for a good read, highly recommended.
Note: This review is based on an Advance Reader's Copy and uncorrected proof provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2015
I love the historical fiction sub-genre of art fiction. You get not only the atmosphere of the time period being explored, but are also treated to the beauty of the artist’s pieces. It requires that the author be both knowledgeable of the time period and art. It is not an easy feat to describe through words what a masterpiece looks like – it is so much easier to just look at it – but that is what the author must do here. It’s an extra challenge and can add so much depth to the narrative.
In Rodin’s Lover, Heather Webb does an admirable job of meeting this challenge. I have no prior knowledge of the works of Camille Claudel, however I do have some knowledge of the works of Rodin to draw from. Webb draws comparisons between the two artists, tutor and pupil, which allowed me to create enough of a visual in my head to imagine Camille’s own art pieces. Additionally, the setting was well modeled, creating a tactile experience to Paris which is lacking in some other novels that I have read of the period. There is one scene that stands out in particular in my mind that perfectly illustrates this skill – when Camille takes her brother Paul to his first salon experience. There is an opium smoke filled room, lovers in dark shadows, ample imbibing of alcohol, and more. A beautifully expressed scene.
Webb also crafts very real characters – all with their own types of flaws. You can respect Camille and her desire to make a name for herself in a male dominated world, but at the same time be pulled in the direction of the heart as well. She is a brutally honest, no-nonsense type of woman, who will tell you what she thinks – and she isn’t someone that you exactly like all of the time. Rodin I sometimes found to be whiny and clingy, despite his great artistic drive and desire to try to enhance Camille’s art. But these are the things that make characters on a flat page, have three-dimensional depth.
Heather Webb has knocked this book out of the park and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
This review was originally posted at The Maiden's Court blog.
In Rodin’s Lover, Heather Webb does an admirable job of meeting this challenge. I have no prior knowledge of the works of Camille Claudel, however I do have some knowledge of the works of Rodin to draw from. Webb draws comparisons between the two artists, tutor and pupil, which allowed me to create enough of a visual in my head to imagine Camille’s own art pieces. Additionally, the setting was well modeled, creating a tactile experience to Paris which is lacking in some other novels that I have read of the period. There is one scene that stands out in particular in my mind that perfectly illustrates this skill – when Camille takes her brother Paul to his first salon experience. There is an opium smoke filled room, lovers in dark shadows, ample imbibing of alcohol, and more. A beautifully expressed scene.
Webb also crafts very real characters – all with their own types of flaws. You can respect Camille and her desire to make a name for herself in a male dominated world, but at the same time be pulled in the direction of the heart as well. She is a brutally honest, no-nonsense type of woman, who will tell you what she thinks – and she isn’t someone that you exactly like all of the time. Rodin I sometimes found to be whiny and clingy, despite his great artistic drive and desire to try to enhance Camille’s art. But these are the things that make characters on a flat page, have three-dimensional depth.
Heather Webb has knocked this book out of the park and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
This review was originally posted at The Maiden's Court blog.
January 21, 2015
"Rodin's Lover" is the latest release from Heather Webb, author of "Becoming Josephine." It is a historical fiction take on Camille Claudel, a woman who dreams of being a famous sculptor. Unfortunately for her, she lives during a time where women are not supposed to be artists and her mother is more interested in making a good love match with an appropriate gentleman. Enter Auguste Rodin, the famous sculptor. Camille finds him endlessly intriguing and falls under his spell. It is not easy to be with him though! This is a passionate tale of love and art that I ate up!
I really enjoyed this story. I was excited to read it after having read "Becoming Josephine." Much of what I liked about that story was present in "Rodin's Lover." Webb spins a great story about art and love and the way that they intersect with each other. It is apparent that Webb spent a great deal of time researching to bring Camille and Auguste as well the rest of the characters to life. I also really loved the setting of Paris. Camille's Paris is a quickly evolving world filled with artists and thinkers
The characters really drive this story and they pulled me into the narrative quickly. These are characters that you want to follow because Webb writes them in such a way that you really care about them. Camille especially felt real to me. Before reading this book, I don't think that I knew a single thing about her. She is such a great character, definitely one that is well ahead of her time. I also really liked the love story between Auguste and Camille. It's full of heat, desire, and storminess. I loved reading about how things evolved between them. I did wish there was a little more about Rodin himself in the book. The story really focuses on Camille alone and Camille and Auguste together but not really on Auguste alone.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. My fellow historical fiction fans will find so much to love about this book. I am anxiously awaiting Webb's next release.
I really enjoyed this story. I was excited to read it after having read "Becoming Josephine." Much of what I liked about that story was present in "Rodin's Lover." Webb spins a great story about art and love and the way that they intersect with each other. It is apparent that Webb spent a great deal of time researching to bring Camille and Auguste as well the rest of the characters to life. I also really loved the setting of Paris. Camille's Paris is a quickly evolving world filled with artists and thinkers
The characters really drive this story and they pulled me into the narrative quickly. These are characters that you want to follow because Webb writes them in such a way that you really care about them. Camille especially felt real to me. Before reading this book, I don't think that I knew a single thing about her. She is such a great character, definitely one that is well ahead of her time. I also really liked the love story between Auguste and Camille. It's full of heat, desire, and storminess. I loved reading about how things evolved between them. I did wish there was a little more about Rodin himself in the book. The story really focuses on Camille alone and Camille and Auguste together but not really on Auguste alone.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. My fellow historical fiction fans will find so much to love about this book. I am anxiously awaiting Webb's next release.
January 26, 2015
Camille Claudel does not conform to convention. Her mother wants her to accept her place first as a girl and do things good girls do and then as a young woman, marry and have a family. Instead, as a girl, Camille digs for clay to sculpt with and comes home dirty.
Her father is more supportive and moves the family to France where Camille can go to an art school that recently opened it’s doors to female students. Her mother agrees but only if Camille will at least agree to meet potential suitors. Of course, a suitor is arranged for right away and Camille is not impressed. The second time he comes around, Camille finds out before she walks into the family door and leaves rather that having to see him again.
Camille and two other female students share a small art studio and have a private tutor, none other than Auguste Rodin. When he sees Camille’s talent, he makes her his apprentice. Soon after they start having an affair.
I enjoyed this book, for the most part. I especially liked it all the way through until soon after the affair started. After that, there were some good parts but also a lot of repetition, to the point that I just wanted the book to end! Yes, I got the point, Camille had an illness. I didn’t need to be reminded, the way I was reminded page after page. Every time she had an attack with the illness coming on the author found it necessary to insert the words “drip,drip, drip”. I found them to have no effect on her point except to be annoying.
Don’t get me wrong, I am glad I read ‘Rodin’s Lover’, it had enough good things to make it worthwhile. I just think it could have been so much better. I loved Heather Webb’s ‘Becoming Josephine’ so I know ‘Rodin’s Lover’ could have been so much more.
Her father is more supportive and moves the family to France where Camille can go to an art school that recently opened it’s doors to female students. Her mother agrees but only if Camille will at least agree to meet potential suitors. Of course, a suitor is arranged for right away and Camille is not impressed. The second time he comes around, Camille finds out before she walks into the family door and leaves rather that having to see him again.
Camille and two other female students share a small art studio and have a private tutor, none other than Auguste Rodin. When he sees Camille’s talent, he makes her his apprentice. Soon after they start having an affair.
I enjoyed this book, for the most part. I especially liked it all the way through until soon after the affair started. After that, there were some good parts but also a lot of repetition, to the point that I just wanted the book to end! Yes, I got the point, Camille had an illness. I didn’t need to be reminded, the way I was reminded page after page. Every time she had an attack with the illness coming on the author found it necessary to insert the words “drip,drip, drip”. I found them to have no effect on her point except to be annoying.
Don’t get me wrong, I am glad I read ‘Rodin’s Lover’, it had enough good things to make it worthwhile. I just think it could have been so much better. I loved Heather Webb’s ‘Becoming Josephine’ so I know ‘Rodin’s Lover’ could have been so much more.
February 6, 2016
I received an advanced reader's copy of Rodin's Lover, provided in exchange for an objective review.
From the opening pages, this story casts a heart-wrenching portrait of Camille Claudel, first on the outskirts of Belle Époque Paris, and then in the epicenter of its artistic movement. Fans of historical fiction will love the period detail and societal positioning among the characters. There's a Jane Austen-like irony in the dialogue, along with some terrific appearances by historical figures (Debussy and Zola were two of my favorites). I loved this book, from Camille's first battles of self-determination with her mother, to the artist's later years--at the delicate fringe between genius and insanity. Rodin's Lover is a passionate rendering of a star-crossed life.
From the opening pages, this story casts a heart-wrenching portrait of Camille Claudel, first on the outskirts of Belle Époque Paris, and then in the epicenter of its artistic movement. Fans of historical fiction will love the period detail and societal positioning among the characters. There's a Jane Austen-like irony in the dialogue, along with some terrific appearances by historical figures (Debussy and Zola were two of my favorites). I loved this book, from Camille's first battles of self-determination with her mother, to the artist's later years--at the delicate fringe between genius and insanity. Rodin's Lover is a passionate rendering of a star-crossed life.
July 6, 2016
na početku mi se svidjela knjiga. Fascinantna priča o talentu i istrajnosti mlade vajarke koja se svim snagama borila da opstane u svijetu umjetnika, svijetu koji se smatrao neprikladnim za jednu damu. Međutim sam kraj me je razočarao...očekivala sam daleko bolji svršetak
January 23, 2015
Written with a passion and conviction worthy of the sculptor herself, Heather Webb's new novel RODIN'S LOVER (Plume, January 2015) explores the tumultuous life, troubled psyche, and splendid achievements of Camille Claudel, student, protégée and rival of artist Auguste Rodin. Born in an era that expected bourgeoise women to reflect their husbands' glory, Camille determines instead to amplify her own. Gifted with the skills, vision and tenacity necessary to succeed as an artist, she confronts head-on the prejudices and condescension of the male artistic establishment, showing pieces in Salon exhibitions and even earning a civic commission. But Camille's success does not come without price--like a file on fine marble, the constant strife wears away at her mental and emotional stability, exacerbating paranoid and schizophrenic tendencies. Her romantic relationship with Rodin becomes both a crucible of creativity and the catalyst of the tortured artist's ultimate undoing.
Webb's Camille is as entrancing and rough-hewn as one of her statues. The novel opens with her tussling with her beloved brother, shirking lessons to gather clay in the woods, and vowing to a raven, under a full moon, to pursue her dreams. Once in Paris, she devours the sights, sounds and smells of the city with ravenous delight and watches, with endearing curiosity, a male model undress before the class on the first day of art school. She toys with the suitors her mother insists she meet, charming them into abandoning the hunt. She loses herself for hours in her quest to coax beauty from unformed lumps of earth and resistant rock. She pursues the best models and the finest teachers, her belief in herself and her devotion to her calling never wavering. Yet for all her passion and joie de vivre, Camille has an abrasive side, one that Webb never shirks from depicting. The seeds of Camille's mental illness sprout early, nourished by the critical waters of her mother's rejection. Ever fearful of abandonment, Camille refuses to allow others close, especially women. She rebuffs overtures of friendship and systematically destroys the few attachments that manage to take hold. Webb is careful to associate Camille's increasing alienation with descriptions of the physical symptoms that assail her (metallic tastes, vision problems, hallucinations, and an insidious Voice that ever murmurs suspicious suggestions in her ear), inspiring sympathy for rather than annoyance with the character. The reader experiences the unravelling of the artist's promise and very self in real time and marvels that Camille accomplishes all she does, given the panoply of internal and external obstacles arrayed against her.
Webb's Rodin pales in comparison to the vibrant, tormented Camille. Waging his own battle against the establishment, he yearns for acceptance by the state yet refuses to sculpt in the style that would earn him ready praise. His collaboration and liaison with Camille becomes the source of inspiration and passion he needs to lift his work to a level of genius that even the advocates of decency and civic virtue can't ignore. But just as Rodin can't shake his need for approval--though he might declare otherwise--he cannot abandon Rose, his lover of twenty years, despite his impassioned avowals of love for Camille. He supports Camille in every way he can, training her, introducing her to critics, buying supplies and renting studio space, treating her to holidays and dinners, yet he refuses to commit himself fully to her. Rodin's bourgeois hesitancy leads the reader to wonder whether Camille's accusations that Rodin steals her ideas and profits from her work are simply the ravings of a disturbed mind. In any case, Webb's depiction of the artists' affair reflects the nagging question of whether Camille would have achieved success without Rodin's help back onto the artist himself. Wedded to his tired housekeeper and bourgeois values, Rodin might never have surpassed the limits of circumstance if not coaxed beyond them by the passion and courage of Camille.
In this, her second novel, Heather Webb tackles weighty subjects: mental illness, envy, oppression, illicit love. That she does so in a way that preserves Camille's integrity and prevents her from becoming an object of pity testifies to Webb's skill as a writer. This novel of passion and power in Belle Époque France both satisfies and inspires, illuminating an artist who spent the last thirty years of her life in an asylum and still, to this day, lingers in the shadow of man. Thanks to Webb, that shadow has become all the shorter.
Tender yet resolute, soulful but never dark, RODIN'S LOVER pulses with the sensuous tempo of a lover's waltz. Deeper and defter than Webb's debut, it promises even richer work to come.
Webb's Camille is as entrancing and rough-hewn as one of her statues. The novel opens with her tussling with her beloved brother, shirking lessons to gather clay in the woods, and vowing to a raven, under a full moon, to pursue her dreams. Once in Paris, she devours the sights, sounds and smells of the city with ravenous delight and watches, with endearing curiosity, a male model undress before the class on the first day of art school. She toys with the suitors her mother insists she meet, charming them into abandoning the hunt. She loses herself for hours in her quest to coax beauty from unformed lumps of earth and resistant rock. She pursues the best models and the finest teachers, her belief in herself and her devotion to her calling never wavering. Yet for all her passion and joie de vivre, Camille has an abrasive side, one that Webb never shirks from depicting. The seeds of Camille's mental illness sprout early, nourished by the critical waters of her mother's rejection. Ever fearful of abandonment, Camille refuses to allow others close, especially women. She rebuffs overtures of friendship and systematically destroys the few attachments that manage to take hold. Webb is careful to associate Camille's increasing alienation with descriptions of the physical symptoms that assail her (metallic tastes, vision problems, hallucinations, and an insidious Voice that ever murmurs suspicious suggestions in her ear), inspiring sympathy for rather than annoyance with the character. The reader experiences the unravelling of the artist's promise and very self in real time and marvels that Camille accomplishes all she does, given the panoply of internal and external obstacles arrayed against her.
Webb's Rodin pales in comparison to the vibrant, tormented Camille. Waging his own battle against the establishment, he yearns for acceptance by the state yet refuses to sculpt in the style that would earn him ready praise. His collaboration and liaison with Camille becomes the source of inspiration and passion he needs to lift his work to a level of genius that even the advocates of decency and civic virtue can't ignore. But just as Rodin can't shake his need for approval--though he might declare otherwise--he cannot abandon Rose, his lover of twenty years, despite his impassioned avowals of love for Camille. He supports Camille in every way he can, training her, introducing her to critics, buying supplies and renting studio space, treating her to holidays and dinners, yet he refuses to commit himself fully to her. Rodin's bourgeois hesitancy leads the reader to wonder whether Camille's accusations that Rodin steals her ideas and profits from her work are simply the ravings of a disturbed mind. In any case, Webb's depiction of the artists' affair reflects the nagging question of whether Camille would have achieved success without Rodin's help back onto the artist himself. Wedded to his tired housekeeper and bourgeois values, Rodin might never have surpassed the limits of circumstance if not coaxed beyond them by the passion and courage of Camille.
In this, her second novel, Heather Webb tackles weighty subjects: mental illness, envy, oppression, illicit love. That she does so in a way that preserves Camille's integrity and prevents her from becoming an object of pity testifies to Webb's skill as a writer. This novel of passion and power in Belle Époque France both satisfies and inspires, illuminating an artist who spent the last thirty years of her life in an asylum and still, to this day, lingers in the shadow of man. Thanks to Webb, that shadow has become all the shorter.
Tender yet resolute, soulful but never dark, RODIN'S LOVER pulses with the sensuous tempo of a lover's waltz. Deeper and defter than Webb's debut, it promises even richer work to come.
February 21, 2015
As with “The Aviators Wife” taking the reader behind the scenes of Charles Lindbergh through the eyes of his spouse, as well as, the novel “The Paris Wife” using the same concept to Ernest Hemingway and his first wife; this story is also written as a historical biographical novel, a genre that I seek out. Auguste Rodin’s lover is Camille Claude, a woman who aspires to be a sculptor, as is Rodin, during the 19th century in France. I knew a little bit about Claude since years ago I watched the French film starring Isabelle Adjani playing Claude and Gerard Depardieu in the part of Rodin. They are both extremely gifted artists. However, Camille’s gender is a hindrance and her success is overshadowed by her lover’s rising star. Eventually her obsessions cross the line into madness and her potential greatness is lost. The author does a wonderful job of capturing the spirit of both artists while portraying their volatile relationship. I close with one thought: It puzzles me as to why in these bio-novels the main character is female yet there is no mention of her name in the title.
October 20, 2015
I remember watching the movie ‘Camille Claudel’, starring Isabelle Adjani and Gerard Depardieu in the late 1980s, and being stirred by the intensely romantic yet tragic story of this young sculptor as she struggled to make her way as a woman and a creative artist in the male-dominated world of the late 19th century.
Heather Webb has now brought Camille Claudel to life on the page, in this delicate and haunting novel told from her point of view.
We see her as a strong-willed and determined young woman, stealing clay from a garden late at night so she can use it for her sculptures. Then we see Camille’s meeting with Auguste Rodin, the controversial sculptor, and the beginning of their tumultuous affair.
The tension between Love and Art torments Camille. She breaks off their relationship as her work is dismissed as being copies of his, even as she longs for him.
Her emotional and psychological breakdown is deftly and sensitively handled, and the ending brought tears to my eyes. A beautiful novel for anyone who (like me) loves books inspired by real-life artists.
Heather Webb has now brought Camille Claudel to life on the page, in this delicate and haunting novel told from her point of view.
We see her as a strong-willed and determined young woman, stealing clay from a garden late at night so she can use it for her sculptures. Then we see Camille’s meeting with Auguste Rodin, the controversial sculptor, and the beginning of their tumultuous affair.
The tension between Love and Art torments Camille. She breaks off their relationship as her work is dismissed as being copies of his, even as she longs for him.
Her emotional and psychological breakdown is deftly and sensitively handled, and the ending brought tears to my eyes. A beautiful novel for anyone who (like me) loves books inspired by real-life artists.
January 20, 2015
This book is incredible. I got an advanced copy from Penguin's First to Read program and was in love from the first page to the last. Webb has the ability to weave in historical elements seamlessly, give the reader snippets of French culture as if it is nothing at all, all while writing a compelling and passionate story.
But don't let the title lead you to believe the passion is exclusively romantic. The struggle Camille faces in being a female artist, the way she does whatever she can to continue pursuing her art, instilled in me a deep appreciation for early female artists. I had no idea this woman existed before reading this book, and her depiction here now leaves me grateful for her work.
The storytelling is stunning, descriptions and world building enable the reader to be fully immersed in both time and place. This is the first of Webb's books that I've read.
It will by no means be the last.
But don't let the title lead you to believe the passion is exclusively romantic. The struggle Camille faces in being a female artist, the way she does whatever she can to continue pursuing her art, instilled in me a deep appreciation for early female artists. I had no idea this woman existed before reading this book, and her depiction here now leaves me grateful for her work.
The storytelling is stunning, descriptions and world building enable the reader to be fully immersed in both time and place. This is the first of Webb's books that I've read.
It will by no means be the last.
January 18, 2015
I knew only a little about Camille Claudel before I picked up this book. I of course knew about Rodin, and The Gates of Hell is one of my favourite sculptures ever. (If you haven't yet, try to see it in person; the size and detail is incredible.)
The story was fascinating, and it ranged from Camille's adolescence until her tragic descent into mental illness. I hadn't known that of her; such an unfortunate end to a very creative life. The story was a page-turner for me, and I read this book in one, blissfully uninterrupted, sitting. There aren't too many books I can say that about.
Camille's path into sculpture, and the workings of an atelier, were my favourite parts of the book. That's probably the art geek in me. But aside from that, I hoped and wished for Camille's success, and felt her agonies and frustrations as my own, the sign of a well-written novel. I highly recommend it, and I know I will be picking up Heather Webb's other work.
The story was fascinating, and it ranged from Camille's adolescence until her tragic descent into mental illness. I hadn't known that of her; such an unfortunate end to a very creative life. The story was a page-turner for me, and I read this book in one, blissfully uninterrupted, sitting. There aren't too many books I can say that about.
Camille's path into sculpture, and the workings of an atelier, were my favourite parts of the book. That's probably the art geek in me. But aside from that, I hoped and wished for Camille's success, and felt her agonies and frustrations as my own, the sign of a well-written novel. I highly recommend it, and I know I will be picking up Heather Webb's other work.
January 16, 2020
“Love did not conquer all; it only made life more bearable for a short time before it consumed its victims.”
"Paul did not understand; neither did Auguste. She tried to explain, but each time she spoke of the Voice, they looked at her as if she had three heads. Perhaps hers was broken."
~~Camille herself, along with one of her bronzed sculptors.
Given 3.5 stars or a rating of "Very Good". Full review to come on Monday.
Further Reading: A link to the Musee Rodin website. Many of the works referenced in Webb's novel are pictured in this article. http://www.musee-rodin.fr/en/resource...
~~A link to schizophrenia, the mental condition which may have plagued Camille. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizop...
"Paul did not understand; neither did Auguste. She tried to explain, but each time she spoke of the Voice, they looked at her as if she had three heads. Perhaps hers was broken."
~~Camille herself, along with one of her bronzed sculptors.
Given 3.5 stars or a rating of "Very Good". Full review to come on Monday.
Further Reading: A link to the Musee Rodin website. Many of the works referenced in Webb's novel are pictured in this article. http://www.musee-rodin.fr/en/resource...
~~A link to schizophrenia, the mental condition which may have plagued Camille. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizop...
January 28, 2015
I enjoyed studying art history in college, and enjoy reading fictionalized accounts of the artists in books like The Agony and the Ecstasy and Lust for Life and now, Rodin’s Lover. Webb does a great job of bringing history alive.
One thing the author did that bothered me throughout the book was that she would sometimes call him Auguste and sometimes Rodin, sometimes it was Claude and sometimes it was Monet. I wished she’d decided to call a person by his first name throughout or his surname and stuck with it.
I loved Becoming Josephine, and while I didn’t find this to be quite as much of a page-turner, it’s a good read. I like that Camille is not always likeable. She’s complicated, which makes her interesting. Webb is a gifted writer.
One thing the author did that bothered me throughout the book was that she would sometimes call him Auguste and sometimes Rodin, sometimes it was Claude and sometimes it was Monet. I wished she’d decided to call a person by his first name throughout or his surname and stuck with it.
I loved Becoming Josephine, and while I didn’t find this to be quite as much of a page-turner, it’s a good read. I like that Camille is not always likeable. She’s complicated, which makes her interesting. Webb is a gifted writer.
September 5, 2014
No Sophomore slump for Ms. Webb. If you fell in love with this talented new author's enchanting debut novel, BECOMING JOSEPHINE, you'll be mesmerized by her newest effort, RODIN'S LOVER.
An enthralling look at a fascinating character, RODIN'S LOVER takes you into the unstable mind of Camille Claudel, a talented female sculptress from the early twentieth century, whose light becomes dimmed under the brilliance of her lover, Auguste Rodin.
Fast-paced, emotionally charged, and drenched in historical accuracy, RODIN'S LOVER is Ms. Webb's most enthralling book to date.
I can't wait to see more from this very talented author.
An enthralling look at a fascinating character, RODIN'S LOVER takes you into the unstable mind of Camille Claudel, a talented female sculptress from the early twentieth century, whose light becomes dimmed under the brilliance of her lover, Auguste Rodin.
Fast-paced, emotionally charged, and drenched in historical accuracy, RODIN'S LOVER is Ms. Webb's most enthralling book to date.
I can't wait to see more from this very talented author.
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