The Diver and the Lover- Jeremy Vine- Historical fiction
This book is about a famous Dali painting- Christ of St John on the Cross, a painting which in
itself is controversial and has its own chequered history. The painting , of which I learnt so
much as well as about Dali himself of course a controversial character of his time, shows
Christ on the cross from above- however no-one should be “above” him. Dali used a
stuntman for the pose and the story is of how he was introduced to a diver to be used
in the stuntman's place introduced by two sisters who were travelling having only just
found each other as one had been in a mental asylum having suffered temporary
blindness and mutism due to stress and trauma. This is my first book by Jeremy and I
found it very well written and very interesting. I had to keep stopping to look things up-
for example Dali’s famous pool shape (If you don’t know- look it up) and his dream ball.
A book which has been very carefully researched, although I know Jeremy has a keen
interest in both Dali and especially this particular painting. He describes the book as
“ A work of fiction based on a real painting and a real story that means so much to
me” and his passion shows in the writing. A wonderful summer read, brilliantly written.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
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