Justine

Justine, Alice Thompson's debut novel and joint winner of the 1996 James Tait Black Memorial Prize, reimagines the Marquis de Sade's infamous work in contemporary London. The story centers on an art collector in Kensington Gardens who becomes fixated on a portrait titled "Justine." After glimpsing the portrait's real-life subject at his mother's funeral, he launches into an obsessive search, leading him to the woman's twin sister Juliette. What begins as a collector's passion transforms into a dark exploration of identity, as the protagonist's pursuit leads him through London's shadowy underbelly and into increasingly complex relationships with both sisters. The novel examines power dynamics, desire, and the relationship between art and reality, while challenging traditional narratives about gender roles and moral absolutes.

Readers describe this book as a surreal, gothic homage to the Marquis de Sade, though many note the connection feels tenuous. Readers appreciated: - The dreamlike atmosphere and psychological horror elements - The short length (160 pages) that maintains intensity - The writing style, which one reader called "hypnotic and poetic" - The blurring of reality and fantasy Common criticisms: - Characters feel underdeveloped and hard to connect with - The plot becomes confusing and hard to follow - Several readers felt the ending was unsatisfying - Some found it pretentious or trying too hard to be avant-garde Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (89 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.1/5 (11 reviews) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (6 ratings) One Amazon reviewer wrote: "Beautiful prose but ultimately style over substance." A Goodreads review noted: "The atmosphere is perfect but the story left me cold."

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde A portrait becomes inextricably linked to its subject's moral decay in Victorian London, mirroring themes of art, identity, and corruption.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier The presence of an absent woman haunts the protagonist through portraits and memories, creating a psychological exploration of identity and obsession.

Possession by A.S. Byatt Two scholars pursue an investigation into the past that becomes an obsessive quest, linking parallel narratives through art and literature.

The Collector by John Fowles An art collector's obsession with a woman leads to a disturbing examination of power dynamics and control.

Venus in Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch A man becomes entranced by a painting in a gallery, leading to an exploration of desire and power relationships that blur reality and fantasy.

🎨 The portrait of "Justine" in the novel draws parallels to Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray," exploring similar themes of art's influence over life. 🖋️ Alice Thompson worked as a keyboard player for the post-punk band The Woodentops before becoming a novelist. 📚 The book's inspiration, "Justine" by the Marquis de Sade, was written while the author was imprisoned in the Bastille and published in 1791. 🏛️ The novel's Kensington Gardens setting has a rich literary history, featuring in works like J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan" and Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway." 🎭 The twin characters Justine and Juliette mirror the duality found in de Sade's works, where he wrote companion novels titled "Justine" and "Juliette."