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The well-beloved
a sketch of a temperament
339 pages
A melancholic and restless exploration of an artist's lifelong, elusive quest for the perfect love.
What it feels like
This historical romance offers a meandering, reflective journey into the heart of a restless artist. The narrative wraps the reader in a wistful and melancholic atmosphere, tracing a sculptor's lifelong pursuit of an unattainable romantic ideal. As burning infatuations inevitably turn to ashes of disillusionment, the story explores the tension between innocent ties to one's birthplace and the magnetic pull of self-assured new encounters. It is less about plot mechanics and more a character-driven sketch of a temperament, capturing the fleeting nature of desire and the tragedy of shifting affections. Readers who appreciate earnest, introspective explorations of man-woman relationships and the elusive nature of the artist's muse will find themselves captivated by this poignant cycle of love and loss.
- Mood
- wistful
- restless
- disillusioned
- romantic
- Tone
- reflective
- melancholic
- earnest
- observant
- Pace
- meandering
- Themes
- the pursuit of an ideal · romantic disillusionment · the artist's muse · shifting affections · the pull of the past
- The writing
- A reflective, character-driven narrative that sketches the internal landscape of a restless temperament.
- The arc
- A restless journey from burning romantic idealism to inevitable disillusionment and shifting desires.
- Who it's for
- Readers who appreciate historical romances focused on the melancholic, internal struggles of artists seeking an unattainable ideal.
Content notes
- romantic disillusionment
- broken engagements
About the book
Jocelyn Pierston, a sculptor of growing fame, is determined to find his ideal in womanhood, a quest that has led to many fruitless encounters. For just as it seems he has found his heart's desire, disillusionment sets in and his burning love turns to ashes. Returning to Portland, his birthplace, he meets young, innocent Avice Caro. They are betrothed until a fateful meeting with the self-assured Marcia Bencomb changes the course of his life yet again. Please Note: This book is easy to read in true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher. The Microsoft eBook has a contents page linked to the chapter headings for easy navigation. The Adobe eBook has bookmarks at chapter headings and is printable up to two full copies per year. Both versions are text searchable.
Description from Open Library.
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