Portrait of the Artist's Wife

by Barbara Anderson

New Zealand in the 1950s is a place where men do the work and women have the babies. Sarah Tandy is a young wife & mother, & also a painter - while her husband Jack is a struggling, & eventually highly acclaimed, novelist.

Portrait of the Artist's Wife follows Sarah's determined & successful efforts to keep her talent alive & growing, in the meantime contending with two daughters & her amiably selfish & philandering husband.

Genres: Fiction

309 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Carol, She's so Novel ꧁꧂ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5★

Overall I loved this book, which got stronger as it went along. I don't know whether to be sad that Ms Anderson started her writing career so late in life, (she was first published when she was 63) or glad for her that she had such a full & interesting life before that.

I have not given this one 5★ only because I didn't like the beginning. I think beginning with the end & starting with such a huge caste of characters was a mistake & I think the book would have had more of an impact if Jack's death at only 51 came as a surprise Even so, this book kept getting stronger & stronger as it went on & ended up being a quite wonderful character study of Sarah & Jack, & full of authentic Kiwi touches.

The ending genuinely touched me & I strongly recommend this book!

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[jeniwren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was chosen for my online group where we read predominantly Australian and New Zealand fiction. I have been grateful to have been introduced to many NZ authors and Barbara Anderson is now a favourite on reading this novel and for which I will search out more of her work.

This was such a joy to read about the artistic lives of a couple both searching for recognition in their craft. Sarah is a painter and her husband Jack is a writer. Spanning lives from childhood through to marriage , children, life at home and abroad this novel is one that stays with you for the beautiful language and believable characters.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barbara Anderson (who died a few years ago) was a highly regarded New Zealand novelist but one new to me until I was introduced to her through my online discussion group. I've read so much Australian literature but relatively little from our neighbour with which we share so much history and culture but whose differences we acknowledge and value.

This novel, published in 1992, is a study of a marriage, of women's roles, of creativity and of an era when New Zealand (and Australia) were emerging from cultural Eurocentrism.

The first chapter is the 1980s book launch of a book by Jack Macalister, who has recently died. We are introduced to his widow, Sarah and to their daughters (aged 16 and 36) and to a man called Charles (with whom we learn Sarah had an affair in the past). We learn that Jack was a drinker and a womaniser and that Sarah is herself an artist - a painter.

Through this device, Anderson ensures that we are not reading this book for plot but rather to find out how Sarah and Jack lived and loved together, how each made their art and how they navigated the decades of the 50s onwards.

Sarah and Jack's work is grounded in their own country and community, even though they travel to Europe and live for a period in London. The author makes references to actual writers and painters to extend her fiction and to make readers think about culture, how it develops and changes through individuals and artistic movements.

This is a wonderful novel, enriched for me by online discussions. Barbara Anderson writes with great insight into her characters and shows how tenacity and tolerance is needed to survive as an independent person and artist within a marriage, a family and a community.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story. Nice to read a book partly set in Wellington too :) I found Anderson's writing style a bit hard to follow for the first chapter but it cleared up after that and by the end I really appreciated her way with words. Great to find another brilliant NZ author. Will definitely check out some of her other novels.

If you like Fiona Kidman then this will probably be up your alley :)

[Jennie Walker Knoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down. Really heart-wrenching parts throughout but in the end and underneath everything else, a really beautiful picture of love and a marriage.

"Later that evening, he sat in the bar, pint in one hand, pipe in the other, with good food beneath his belt and listened to the natural harmony of the Welsh fishermen singing their songs of Wales and the sea"

[Annwykes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy reading the book and following Sarah's and Jack's artistic journey.
I just couldn't get my head around someone as smart as Sarah letting herself be treated so badly and "getting over" each incident with Jack.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books that stay with you for ever. I loved everything - the language, the characters, the pace. Will definitely want to reread it in a couple of years. Brilliant.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling. And one hell of an ending.

[Anne Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and inciteful novel unpicking the relationship between the artist Sarah Tandy and her husband, author Jack Macalister... the title aptly describes the premise. Sarah is as talented as Jack - they come from conservative rural roots and marry young in the days when that's what you did when you found yourselves pregnant. Jack forges ahead with his career as a writer despite a lack of early recognition given the inaccessibility of his style, Sarah compromises her arguable more commercial artistry to shoulder the responsibility of raising their daughter - her saving grace is her "adoption" by retired European artist who mentors and nutures her talent. The novel traces their lives, the compromises Sarah makes, the lack of fidelity and loyalty shown by Jack as he searches for recognition and endorsement. Why does she put up with it? With his self absorption and selfishness comes a freedom from domestic expectations that enables her creative spirit to develop within the margins as the Artist's wife.

[Cheryl Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the imperfections of the characters, especially the way they manifested the ideal of the artist in conflict with the social expectations of marriage and relationships in the mid-20th century. Even when I found the behavior of characters outrageous (especially Jack and Jane), I believed it. Anderson made their behavior understandable. The sense of place (especially New Zealand, both rural and urban) was a delight.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad I stumbled on this book - another of my op shop finds - I really enjoyed it. I found the story engaging, the prose beautiful, and the characters convincing, engaging and well developed. I, too, am glad I have discovered Barbara Anderson. I was not familiar with her until I read this book and am keen to search out more.