Description

Blisteringly passionate, Venus, Vanishing by Rebecca Birrell is a page-turning debut novel of desire, art, and the stories lost to the darkness of history.

‘Gripping, gorgeously written . . . I couldn’t put it down’ – Joanna Quinn, author of The Whalebone Theatre

‘This vivid novel of 1930s Berlin asks what it means to make art in an emergency’ – Eleanor Catton, author of Birnam Wood

Berlin, 1928. Hannah is new to the pleasures and freedoms of the city. She is a fledgling artist, a runaway, building a new life for herself in its galleries and clubs, and, at last, loving without boundaries.

But soon the party will be coming to an end. A consuming affair with her patron, Elke – the imperious wife of a powerful man – is reckless, yet life-changing, and it threatens to do more than ruin both of their reputations. Around them, people are disappearing. The shadows of something unspeakable are growing darker in the city. Hannah’s art could be the thing that secures her survival – or denies her any chance of escape.

‘A radiant vision of art against evil . . . a bold, moving novel’ – Megan Hunter, author of Days of Light

‘Wonderful. Alive with a deep, resonant tenderness’ – Elizabeth O’Connor, author of Whale Fall

‘Extraordinary. I didn’t want it to end’ – Doireann Ni Ghriofa, author of A Ghost in the Throat

Publisher Review

A gripping, gorgeously written debut that I couldn’t put down — Joanna Quinn, author of The Whalebone Theatre This vivid novel of 1930s Berlin asks what it means to make art in an emergency. A skilful and loving restoration of Jewish art and women’s lives — Eleanor Catton, Booker Prize winning author of Birnam Wood A story of queer desire and artistic coming of age . . . devastating . . . Here are fleshy encounters, full of stockings draped on the floor, sketchbooks, swims in a lake and postcards scribbled with cryptic notes of love * Literary Review * A rare and precious combination of emotional warmth and cleverness — Sarah Moss, author of Ripeness This book offers us a radiant vision of art against evil, of the endurance of love, ambition and vitality amidst the worst of atrocities and betrayal. A bold, moving novel — Megan Hunter, author of Days of Light Venus, Vanishing floored me. It is utterly captivating, from first to last — Lauren Elkin, author or Scaffolding Wonderful. Sharp and deft, yet alive with a deep, resonant tenderness. I absolutely LOVED Venus, Vanishing — Elizabeth O’Connor, author of Whale Fall Extraordinary. Venus, Vanishing moved me deeply; I didn’t want it to end. The rare sort of book that brings the past back to trembling life — Doireann Ni Ghriofa, author of Said the Dead and A Ghost in the Throat A page-turner that crackles with menace and humanity . . . A deeply satisfying novel — Bea Setton, author of Berlin A deeply felt debut — Chloe Ashby, The Art Newspaper There’s a combre gorgeousness to Birrell’s smart, sensuous debut . . . Vital, luminous * Daily Mail *