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Unveiling
Still reeling from her recent divorce, Rachel Piers steps off the plane in Rome, prepared to embark on a demanding art restoration project that could enhance her reputation as a rising star in her profession. As she uncovers layers of grime on what could prove to be a lost Flemish masterpiece, Rachel finds that layers of her own soul—layers that she would rather have kept hidden—are being stripped away.
Imbued with historical and artistic detail, Unveiling will appeal to readers of A.S. Byatt’s Possession and Tracy Chevalier’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. Beautifully written, it brings the venerable city of Rome vividly to life and illuminates the power of art, imagination, and beauty to speak directly to the heart.
Imbued with historical and artistic detail, Unveiling will appeal to readers of A.S. Byatt’s Possession and Tracy Chevalier’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. Beautifully written, it brings the venerable city of Rome vividly to life and illuminates the power of art, imagination, and beauty to speak directly to the heart.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2004
3 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne M. Wolfe
9 books100 followersSuzanne M. Wolfe grew up in Manchester, England and read English Literature at Oxford University, where she co-founded the Oxford C.S. Lewis Society. She served as Writer in Residence at Seattle Pacific University and taught literature and creative writing there for nearly two decades. Wolfe is the author of three novels: A Murder by Any Name (Crooked Lane), The Confessions of X (HarperCollins/Nelson, 2016, winner of the Christianity Today Book of the Year Award), and Unveiling (Paraclete Press, 2018, winner of the Award of Merit from the Christianity Today Book of the Year Awards). Thirty years ago, she and her husband, Gregory Wolfe, co-founded Image, a journal of the arts and faith. She and her husband are the parents of four grown children. They live in Richmond Beach, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 23, 2020
A promising first novel. New Yorker Dr. Rachel Piers, in Rome on assignment to research and restore a medieval triptych in the little out-of-the-way parish church of Our Lady of Sorrows. Why has her museum financed her in this project? What are their motives as well as those of everyone else involved in the effort? And Rachel? How does she reconcile her past and present?
The word ‘unveiling’ refers to the restorers’ discoveries, as well as those Rachel peals away within herself while working on the masterpiece. A sublimely simple and sensual revelation of soul and art. Rome in all its evocative beauty.
The word ‘unveiling’ refers to the restorers’ discoveries, as well as those Rachel peals away within herself while working on the masterpiece. A sublimely simple and sensual revelation of soul and art. Rome in all its evocative beauty.
July 25, 2018
This luxurious read from Paraclete Press is a story that was easy to dive into -- and tough to stop reading. My only complaint? It wasn't long enough! Assigned to Rome to restore a mysterious medieval painting, Rachel leaves her life in New York behind, along with a bitter divorce and a childhood trauma that's left a mystery to the reader until she is no longer able to bury the secret she'd rather keep hidden. Meanwhile, Rachel and her team work against the looming threat that the art will be removed from the church after restoration is complete. My favorite part involved the question of the identity of the artist behind the beautiful painting Rachel was restoring, and this book made me want to discover more about religious art.
January 22, 2016
Well researched and interesting reading. Somehow the characters didn't come alive for me, but I did enjoy the plot. There were some major gaps in the storytelling, as well as some beautifully written portions. It seemed to me like the effort of a writer with great potential who needs a lot of polishing.
July 11, 2018
I enjoyed parts of this book but parts made me go “Huh?” As an art history/medieval material culture geek, I found the descriptions of the restoration and conservation process interesting, and I appreciated that process as a metaphor for uncovering parts of the self that are kept hidden. However, I felt that the author could have delved a bit deeper into her characters - the book could have been longer, actually. We get some interesting glimpses of Rachel’s complexity, but they aren’t explored or fleshed out, almost nothing of Donati, and the other characters are merely background. There was so much that could have been explored further: Rachel’s relationship with her mother, her spirituality, Donati’s spirituality, the divorce... etc.
I also had some issues with other things in the book - one a blatant historical/geographical mistake. On page 24, a character mentions the Pazzi conspiracy and the assassination of Giuliano de’ Medici - which took place in Florence, not Rome. It isn’t expressly stated that it did take place in Rome, but a reader with little knowledge of Renaissance history would be led to believe that it did. That’s just sloppy research and writing. I also was uncomfortable with the way the characters kept referring to van der Weyden as “Rogier.” I’m not a conservationist so maybe in the profession it’s normal to refer to artists so intimately, but it bothered me.
One other thing that I had an issue with was some confusion over the two works of art - during Rachel’s speech at the end she suddenly mentions a Bruges altarpiece, which wasn’t mentioned anywhere else. It was never satisfactorily explained, in fact I’m still confused about it. I’m assuming it was a copy of the Rome triptych that Adrianna painted later while she was in the convent, but it wasn’t clear from the book. Really terrible editing there.
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I feel like it had lots of potential, but just never got over its own self-consciousness.
I also had some issues with other things in the book - one a blatant historical/geographical mistake. On page 24, a character mentions the Pazzi conspiracy and the assassination of Giuliano de’ Medici - which took place in Florence, not Rome. It isn’t expressly stated that it did take place in Rome, but a reader with little knowledge of Renaissance history would be led to believe that it did. That’s just sloppy research and writing. I also was uncomfortable with the way the characters kept referring to van der Weyden as “Rogier.” I’m not a conservationist so maybe in the profession it’s normal to refer to artists so intimately, but it bothered me.
One other thing that I had an issue with was some confusion over the two works of art - during Rachel’s speech at the end she suddenly mentions a Bruges altarpiece, which wasn’t mentioned anywhere else. It was never satisfactorily explained, in fact I’m still confused about it. I’m assuming it was a copy of the Rome triptych that Adrianna painted later while she was in the convent, but it wasn’t clear from the book. Really terrible editing there.
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I feel like it had lots of potential, but just never got over its own self-consciousness.
April 3, 2018
I received this book free for a review. I have to say as the book began i was afraid I would have to give it at best two stars. I felt the beginning wasn't easy to follow and I found myself flipping back to see if I misread anything. However as the book progressed I fell in love with the art and again with Rome. I have been to Rome one time but as the characters walked the streets I could see the city again and it stirred my desire to go back and wander in these old churches and see the art. I think some of the backstory could have been fleshed out a little more, even though what happened when Rachel was going isn't something I would want a lot of detail about, but the way it was presented felt like it was a minor detail, which it is not. I think the relationship between Rachel and Donati could have been developed more gradually. Beautiful book it just felt rushed. I loved that i read this right at Easter since that is the timing of the end of the book. I also loved hearing the Mass throughout the background of the story. This is a book I would highly recommend and if you feel in the beginning you want to give up, give it a chance. It is a short novel and we'll worth the read.
March 26, 2024
An art restorer flees New York and her broken marriage for an obscure triptych in Rome, where her PTSD is resistant to suppression through intense work. The conflict of corporate sponsorship, museums, the church and the art world come into play as the truth of the Flemish masterpiece emerges, and as Rachel is healed by the Eternal City.
ge
"A city of icons, of effigies executed in stone and paint, brilliantly hued mosaics and bronze, Rome was a city of faces-- the eyeless stare of emperors cautioning against hubris, the humorless countenance of the saints warning of the dangers of _vanitas_. Only the images of the Virgin set at street level over doorways, on the sides of buildings, bridges were homely, accessible. Instead of looking down on the teeming streets, patronizing in her ageless serenity, she adorned bakeries, post offices, bistros, bestowing myriad benedictions on the everyday, the mundane." p. 135
ge
"A city of icons, of effigies executed in stone and paint, brilliantly hued mosaics and bronze, Rome was a city of faces-- the eyeless stare of emperors cautioning against hubris, the humorless countenance of the saints warning of the dangers of _vanitas_. Only the images of the Virgin set at street level over doorways, on the sides of buildings, bridges were homely, accessible. Instead of looking down on the teeming streets, patronizing in her ageless serenity, she adorned bakeries, post offices, bistros, bestowing myriad benedictions on the everyday, the mundane." p. 135
July 20, 2018
Loved the story, characters, theme and plot. A novel about unveiling truth- one’s own and that of historical art. And set in beautiful Italy.
“It gave her a feeling that art was not to be found in museums and galleries so much as in the stuff of everyday.”
“When she first embarked on her career as a conservationist she believed in things like beauty, authenticity, integrity. That was before her marriage.”
“.... listening to his breathing and marveled at her separateness.”
“Now she felt her own identity distinct from rather than intrinsic to her mother’s.”
“It gave her a feeling that art was not to be found in museums and galleries so much as in the stuff of everyday.”
“When she first embarked on her career as a conservationist she believed in things like beauty, authenticity, integrity. That was before her marriage.”
“.... listening to his breathing and marveled at her separateness.”
“Now she felt her own identity distinct from rather than intrinsic to her mother’s.”
December 12, 2018
The book is so descriptive, every word in each sentence is chosen so carefully, and the writing style flows so smoothly that it reads like poetry. The description of the inner world of the main character who flies to Rome to restore a triptych, the historical buildings and artworks, and the lifestyle in Rome are so beautifully written about that they come alive in the imagination of the reader. I plan on reading more books by this author in the future.
September 19, 2018
An interesting idea but I don't think the author carried it off. I never got a real sense of the characters and their dramas seemed contrived because of the author's rather unemotional and distant handling of the situations.
April 9, 2018
This book wasn't what I expected. I gave it several chapters, but the plot is slow and I just didn't care enough about the characters to find out what happened to them.
May 26, 2018
Excellent
July 6, 2018
interesting premise but not well written
June 30, 2019
Heavy handed use of adjectives made it sometimes cumbersome and didn’t quite flesh out the characters. I still enjoyed it but I kept waiting for it to get better.
April 24, 2018
This engaging book was perfect for our recent vacation. Suzanne Wolfe captured my imagination with her snapshots of Rome, imaginative use of early Renaissance paintings, and her relatable characters. If you're a fan of Headlong or Girl With a Pearl Earring type books, you'll enjoy Unveiling.
**I was given a copy for review by the publisher in exchange for an honest opinion.**
**I was given a copy for review by the publisher in exchange for an honest opinion.**
August 18, 2012
I was in a thrift store the other day and found this intriguing first novel.
A recently-divorced painting restorer, Rachel Piers, travels to Italy to restore a painting. If the painting is by a famous master, it will become a fund raiser for the corporation which sponsers the restoration. If not, it could become a professional embarrasment.
What I liked:
A good story: well paced, and with surprises throughout.
A psychological mystery: family secrets brought into the light, forgiveness and healing.
A hermeneutic mystery. In cleaning the painting, the protagonist recovers and restores a transient human drama that had been lost to history.
A verisimilitude of work. The well-researched world of painting restoration comes through nicely.
What to watch for:
The early part of the book has a number of intensely descriptive scenes. While these scenes are well-written, it was a bit tiring to keep being drawn into this intensity. In retrospect, I see that this lapidary intensity fades as the book goes on, coinciding with the progress in cleaning the painting. It's a risky strategy, but it pays off in the conclusion, which has a calmness, a certainty, and a beauty that arise from craftsmanship and a well-told story.
A recently-divorced painting restorer, Rachel Piers, travels to Italy to restore a painting. If the painting is by a famous master, it will become a fund raiser for the corporation which sponsers the restoration. If not, it could become a professional embarrasment.
What I liked:
A good story: well paced, and with surprises throughout.
A psychological mystery: family secrets brought into the light, forgiveness and healing.
A hermeneutic mystery. In cleaning the painting, the protagonist recovers and restores a transient human drama that had been lost to history.
A verisimilitude of work. The well-researched world of painting restoration comes through nicely.
What to watch for:
The early part of the book has a number of intensely descriptive scenes. While these scenes are well-written, it was a bit tiring to keep being drawn into this intensity. In retrospect, I see that this lapidary intensity fades as the book goes on, coinciding with the progress in cleaning the painting. It's a risky strategy, but it pays off in the conclusion, which has a calmness, a certainty, and a beauty that arise from craftsmanship and a well-told story.
February 7, 2016
"Unveiling" tells the story of Rachael, a skilled conservationist of art, who leaves her home in New York, and travels to Rome to restore a piece of medieval art on commission. She's escaping her recent divorce (much to the chagrin of her mother), and still attempting to deal with adolescent drama.
I must say that when I picked this book up from the library, I was prepared for another quick, light "chick-lit" read. The first half of the book seemed headed in that direction, although Wolfe clearly researched art restoration well, including a great deal of detail. The last half of the book though is why I gave the book 4 stars. Romance books are a dime a dozen, but ones quietly crafted, well-written, and believable, are rarer. In the end Rachael's actions "spoke louder than a Hallmark card".
I must say that when I picked this book up from the library, I was prepared for another quick, light "chick-lit" read. The first half of the book seemed headed in that direction, although Wolfe clearly researched art restoration well, including a great deal of detail. The last half of the book though is why I gave the book 4 stars. Romance books are a dime a dozen, but ones quietly crafted, well-written, and believable, are rarer. In the end Rachael's actions "spoke louder than a Hallmark card".
March 26, 2010
Beautifully written story of a young woman, her marriage and personal life in tatters, goes to Rome to work on an art conservation project. There, in addition to her art conservation work, she comes to a knowledge of herself, unveiling her soul. Her character is powerfully drawn, as is the setting of Rome, which really comes alive in this book.
August 6, 2014
Debating one or two stars. I finished it, so that's something, but the book felt half-done. It should have been twice as long as it was there were so many awkward jumps and so much missing information. The story has promise, but it was poorly executed. Steer clear of the fiction by this author. I see she has coauthored books on prayer - perhaps those are better.
June 29, 2010
Great beginning, unfinished ending and unanswered questions.
January 14, 2016
I found this to be a very enjoyable, enlightening story revolving around the restoration of a painting in an ancient chapel in Rome. An understated love story. This is a nice, easy read.
March 27, 2017
My rating for this book is less about the book itself and more about my trust in the author and my hopes for the books she is yet to write.
I was not disappointed, exactly, but I wasn't blown away. When I read a book like this, one that is reasonably predictable, I might be tempted to avoid this author in the future, but instead I find myself eager to read her next novel. A mediocre novel can be a sign of an author lacking talent, but it could also be a sign of an author en route to finding her voice. I choose to think it's the latter.
First, because I've read her husband's essays in "Intruding Upon the Timeless" and started following the Image journal they founded and I know the Wolfes are asking the most interesting questions about how culture is made. I couldn't agree more enthusiastically with their vision for the role of faith and art in culture.
Second, because this book was actually good. It wasn't great, wasn't memorable, wasn't a "wow!" book, but it was a solid story with solid characters. The most lively parts of the book were her descriptions of the city of Rome and of the art the character encounters. Actually, now that I think about it, I am pretty impressed with her ability to translate visual art to written description. But the characters never really came to life for me, and the plot seemed fairly predictable from the moment the main character figured out the main conflict in the story.
The heart of the story is the question "What is art for?" As an art restorer, the main character questions whether she ought to restore sacred art simply so it can be displayed and admired, or whether her art ought to be restored and allowed to reside where it was originally installed, even if that means being exposed to the same environmental factors (like candle wax) that compromised the art in the first place and necessitated a restoration.
It's a question worth asking and I hope she finds new ways to explore the role of art in future novels.
I was not disappointed, exactly, but I wasn't blown away. When I read a book like this, one that is reasonably predictable, I might be tempted to avoid this author in the future, but instead I find myself eager to read her next novel. A mediocre novel can be a sign of an author lacking talent, but it could also be a sign of an author en route to finding her voice. I choose to think it's the latter.
First, because I've read her husband's essays in "Intruding Upon the Timeless" and started following the Image journal they founded and I know the Wolfes are asking the most interesting questions about how culture is made. I couldn't agree more enthusiastically with their vision for the role of faith and art in culture.
Second, because this book was actually good. It wasn't great, wasn't memorable, wasn't a "wow!" book, but it was a solid story with solid characters. The most lively parts of the book were her descriptions of the city of Rome and of the art the character encounters. Actually, now that I think about it, I am pretty impressed with her ability to translate visual art to written description. But the characters never really came to life for me, and the plot seemed fairly predictable from the moment the main character figured out the main conflict in the story.
The heart of the story is the question "What is art for?" As an art restorer, the main character questions whether she ought to restore sacred art simply so it can be displayed and admired, or whether her art ought to be restored and allowed to reside where it was originally installed, even if that means being exposed to the same environmental factors (like candle wax) that compromised the art in the first place and necessitated a restoration.
It's a question worth asking and I hope she finds new ways to explore the role of art in future novels.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews