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The Mirror
Erik Satie - composer, dandy, eccentric - is dead. Told to select one memory to take with him into the afterlife, he finds himself in limbo with a community of the deceased, looking back at his fifty-nine years for its most precious moments. Evenings of absinthe at the Chat Noir? Friendships with Debussy, Duchamp and Man Ray? What of his great musical triumphs and disasters? How will he choose his own legacy before silent whiteness descends?
Venice, 1511. In the convent of Sant' Alvise, Oliva is about to take the veil and become a bride of Christ. When her world is shaken - first, literally, by an earthquake, and then, spiritually, by forces that threaten to change the convent for ever - she begins to ask questions about her faith and her future. When she agrees to sit for Signor Av�lo, the renowned portrait painter, he brings with him a diabolical object: a mirror. And reflections can be dangerous.
Told with playful elegance, these are two utterly original tales of art and devotion, of religious and creative fervour. They contemplate the eternal in different ways - one examining a life only just beginning, tentatively; the other a life lived without compromise as it reaches its close.
Venice, 1511. In the convent of Sant' Alvise, Oliva is about to take the veil and become a bride of Christ. When her world is shaken - first, literally, by an earthquake, and then, spiritually, by forces that threaten to change the convent for ever - she begins to ask questions about her faith and her future. When she agrees to sit for Signor Av�lo, the renowned portrait painter, he brings with him a diabolical object: a mirror. And reflections can be dangerous.
Told with playful elegance, these are two utterly original tales of art and devotion, of religious and creative fervour. They contemplate the eternal in different ways - one examining a life only just beginning, tentatively; the other a life lived without compromise as it reaches its close.
336 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 2013
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July 27, 2014In this pair of novellas, I have to confess that The Velvet Gentleman EASILY gets my 5 star vote - a most elegantly playful story of Erik Satie in not-quite-the afterlife (you have to read it) which entertains and ends too soon. The Mirror, the other novella, beguiles and seduces with its febrile convent atmosphere - but I wanted more, literally, in terms of pages. I wanted it to go on as a full novel, and so it was all over too soon for me. But as I found myself booking a trip to its setting of Venice soon after reading it, I think it probably had more sway over me than I realised.
I look forward to whatever Richard Skinner writes next.
I look forward to whatever Richard Skinner writes next.
April 28, 2021
This book found me in a popular bookshop, in the wrong shelf, when I was looking at classics, and I am surprised more people do not know of it.
For me both stories included here achieve and fail at something, albeit in a different way.
The first one, which in my opinion belongs to the gothic genre, was rather fast-paced and had a mysterious side. However, whether because of its limited length or its lack of depth, the story does not have a satisfying build-up; it does not ooze with profound psychological terror, nor does it resonate philosophically by the end. Perhaps the author wanted to follow the gothic genre's infamous "low-browness" but the narrative feels incomplete and ripe with potential, like a very interesting first draft. The characters were a bit rushed too and the dialogue inexpertly relayed. This story is strikingly different to the one that follows it.
The story about Erik Satie is certainly more complete and impactful. Dancing between modernism and postmodernism - and not at all to my taste for that matter - it gets inspired perhaps by its subject matter. On a sidenote, I very much appreciate the hard work of a writer who chooses to tell the story of real people, and I even more applaud literary fiction about art. And while this narrative took a while to pick up, and occasionally its style of narration kicked me out attention-wise, still it gradually gained strength and the focus on the character(s) did pay off. One last remark, I detected a concluding reference on mirrors in the Satie story, which felt a bit like a last minute inclusion, to fit the shared title of the publication. It felt a little forced, not necessarily in relation to the musician himself, at whose history I am not well-versed, but with the rest of the narrative, in which the theme was not as prominent, unless we take it metaphorically - reflection and self-reflection.
The unevenness and striking differences between the two tales make it rather unexpected that they should share a publication; it does neither story any favour. However, this feels like an author willing and capable of adapting his style to his material, and that is ok with me.
For me both stories included here achieve and fail at something, albeit in a different way.
The first one, which in my opinion belongs to the gothic genre, was rather fast-paced and had a mysterious side. However, whether because of its limited length or its lack of depth, the story does not have a satisfying build-up; it does not ooze with profound psychological terror, nor does it resonate philosophically by the end. Perhaps the author wanted to follow the gothic genre's infamous "low-browness" but the narrative feels incomplete and ripe with potential, like a very interesting first draft. The characters were a bit rushed too and the dialogue inexpertly relayed. This story is strikingly different to the one that follows it.
The story about Erik Satie is certainly more complete and impactful. Dancing between modernism and postmodernism - and not at all to my taste for that matter - it gets inspired perhaps by its subject matter. On a sidenote, I very much appreciate the hard work of a writer who chooses to tell the story of real people, and I even more applaud literary fiction about art. And while this narrative took a while to pick up, and occasionally its style of narration kicked me out attention-wise, still it gradually gained strength and the focus on the character(s) did pay off. One last remark, I detected a concluding reference on mirrors in the Satie story, which felt a bit like a last minute inclusion, to fit the shared title of the publication. It felt a little forced, not necessarily in relation to the musician himself, at whose history I am not well-versed, but with the rest of the narrative, in which the theme was not as prominent, unless we take it metaphorically - reflection and self-reflection.
The unevenness and striking differences between the two tales make it rather unexpected that they should share a publication; it does neither story any favour. However, this feels like an author willing and capable of adapting his style to his material, and that is ok with me.
August 31, 2016
Two novellas with big contrasts. 'The Mirror' is the story of naive and dedicated Olivia, about to become a Bride of Christ in a Venetian convent (1511) and 'The Velvet Gentleman', set in early 20th century Montmartre, narrated by avant-garde composer and eccentric, witty Erik Satie, who after death has to choose one memory to take into the afterlife, from a life filled with music, women, drinking in Le Chat Noir and the company of Debussy, Ravel et al. Interesting and very 'atmospheric' reads...prefer to be in Paris though!
September 13, 2019
Two short novels: The Mirror, an eerie drama about a young nun in a 16th Century convent; and The Velvet Gentleman, an otherworldly confessional from the (fictionalised) composer, Erik Satie.
I liked the narration in both. It drew me in. Had a mellow scarcity that left me wanting more.
I preferred the first novella, it had more interpersonal conflict and I enjoyed its mild hues of suspense – horror, even. And hints of erotica too! The storytelling was purposefully subdued, plating little seeds and leaving your imagination do the work.
The second novella is more mature – existential, even. It has a very appealing introspectiveness regarding work, art, and a life’s legacy. I would’ve enjoyed it even more had it been about a historical figure that I was more familiar with or interested in. That being said, I’m glad I was introduced to Erik Satie. I’d heard some of his songs before, I just never knew anything about him. His voice was quirky and funny. After reading this book I definitely wanted to meet him and see his umbrella collection.
Anyway, I recommend you read this book, and I recommend you do it home alone late at night or early in the morning when everyone else is asleep.
—Amos Ruiz, author of SPILT PEPPERCORNS
I liked the narration in both. It drew me in. Had a mellow scarcity that left me wanting more.
I preferred the first novella, it had more interpersonal conflict and I enjoyed its mild hues of suspense – horror, even. And hints of erotica too! The storytelling was purposefully subdued, plating little seeds and leaving your imagination do the work.
The second novella is more mature – existential, even. It has a very appealing introspectiveness regarding work, art, and a life’s legacy. I would’ve enjoyed it even more had it been about a historical figure that I was more familiar with or interested in. That being said, I’m glad I was introduced to Erik Satie. I’d heard some of his songs before, I just never knew anything about him. His voice was quirky and funny. After reading this book I definitely wanted to meet him and see his umbrella collection.
Anyway, I recommend you read this book, and I recommend you do it home alone late at night or early in the morning when everyone else is asleep.
—Amos Ruiz, author of SPILT PEPPERCORNS
January 5, 2018
One of those books that I will treasure and think of fondly over the course of my life, despite it not being a widely-read or accepted "modern classic". Skinner is a master when it comes to weaving characters and scenarios that draw the reader in, which is exactly what happened in these novellas. It was astounding that, despite how different in tone, theme, and their choice of protagonist "The Mirror" and "The Velvet Gentleman" were, both had the same mesmerizing quality to them. Whereas I was focused on understanding and trying to form a connection with Oliva in the former, I was able to love Satie's brilliantly imagined character, based partly on biographical facts, without any effort. It helps to take a breather between these two novellas, to read them with attention and meditate on one before moving on to the other, as both require a different kind of relationship when it comes to reading them. There were several moments in both that can be raised in terms of how exactly they talk about gender, race, and religion, and whether the historical past and the contemporary reality can be separated and evaluated differently or not, but these I thought existed as an additional layer to the work, one of many, in fact. Multifaceted, witty, and gripping, I will remember both of these for a long time to come, and add them to my list of personal favourites.
November 3, 2023
The author delivers two narratives that have elements of the Gothic, the mysterious and even the surreal about them, yet he manages to write with notable poise and clarity. Even more impressive is his ability to perform a stylistic metamorphosis write from the point of view of two very different narrators, both with different narrative voices - a young nun in the first novella, the considerably older (dead, in fact) Eric Satie in the second.
March 1, 2017
4.5*
2 unusually intriguing and well written novellas.
2 unusually intriguing and well written novellas.
March 7, 2017
As there are two novellas in this book, rating is really three and a half stars: three for "The Mirror" and four for "The Velvet Gentleman" (which has made me want to find out more about Erik Satie).
May 24, 2017
Richard writes beautiful prose, I lost myself in the pages, and characters. A real gem, I would highly recommend
July 23, 2019
The Mirror and Velvet Gentleman were very enjoyable to read. Both stories deal with life and experiences during ones life. It was two extremes of what it means to live.
January 17, 2016
So, I've found it very difficult to rate this book. To be clear, the first story, the book's namesake, 'The Mirror', was not a challenge. It is an enjoyable, well written story with a nice, if predictable, but totally tonally and contextually legitimate twist at the end. I enjoyed, but didn't love it. A solid 3/3.5 out of 5.
The second story however, The Velvet Gentleman, is far more inscrutable. And I can't decide if that is deliberate or not. First off, there is no doubt at all, I am sure, in anyone's mind; this book is pretentious. It's clearly meant to be, it's about a very pretentious man. But is it too pretentious? I have struggled with this since I finished the book & I think the answer is yes.
The problem I have is that I feel it is just too unclear at certain points whether the author was making a point, was making the point he thought he was making, or whether he was just trying to sound clever. Clearly he thinks he is, and clearly this is a very well researched piece of work. But again, perhaps too well researched and only fully accessible to those who know Satie's life and work inside and out.
It was an interesting concept, if, as the author himself admits, a little derivative, but ultimately failed to be as clear or accessible as it might have been to make it truly great. It is too full of its own self-importance, which is probably why it was so critically acclaimed. Read the first story if you wish to be entertained in an intelligent and thought provoking, if a little obvious way. Read the second if you want to look intelligent and well read in front of your peers, but really aren't.
The second story however, The Velvet Gentleman, is far more inscrutable. And I can't decide if that is deliberate or not. First off, there is no doubt at all, I am sure, in anyone's mind; this book is pretentious. It's clearly meant to be, it's about a very pretentious man. But is it too pretentious? I have struggled with this since I finished the book & I think the answer is yes.
The problem I have is that I feel it is just too unclear at certain points whether the author was making a point, was making the point he thought he was making, or whether he was just trying to sound clever. Clearly he thinks he is, and clearly this is a very well researched piece of work. But again, perhaps too well researched and only fully accessible to those who know Satie's life and work inside and out.
It was an interesting concept, if, as the author himself admits, a little derivative, but ultimately failed to be as clear or accessible as it might have been to make it truly great. It is too full of its own self-importance, which is probably why it was so critically acclaimed. Read the first story if you wish to be entertained in an intelligent and thought provoking, if a little obvious way. Read the second if you want to look intelligent and well read in front of your peers, but really aren't.
July 24, 2016
I found these two novellas quite interesting reading as they dealt with themes linked to faith and religion, death and the meaning of life. Serious subjects and yet written in a very accessible fashion, especially the second novella titled The Velvet Gentleman.
The first reminded me of Sarah Dunant's Sacred Hearts as it explored the life of a young woman in a convent in 16th Century Venice at the point when restrictions were increasingly placed upon the nuns. There was an interesting twist in the tale.
The second novella was set in a place between life and death and was excellent as it explored the life of the composer Erik Satie in a fictional autobiography as he sought to find a memory to take into the afterlife. There were plenty of references to modern artists, music and various movements so was a bit of a treat for me.
The first reminded me of Sarah Dunant's Sacred Hearts as it explored the life of a young woman in a convent in 16th Century Venice at the point when restrictions were increasingly placed upon the nuns. There was an interesting twist in the tale.
The second novella was set in a place between life and death and was excellent as it explored the life of the composer Erik Satie in a fictional autobiography as he sought to find a memory to take into the afterlife. There were plenty of references to modern artists, music and various movements so was a bit of a treat for me.
June 8, 2016
I read The Mirror only, and not the other story in the book as I found The Mirror interested but not gripping and I've decided that life is too short for half-hearted reading! It was interesting learning about life in the convents, but the ending was not what I'd hoped for.
January 10, 2014
intriguing......
May 24, 2016
A friend recommended it and I'm not sure I'd pass the recommendation on. I mean it's alright but for me it didn't match the blurbs on the cover. I would have rather read something else.
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