Second Place

"Second Place" is the first novel by Canadian-British writer Rachel Cusk (b. 1967) after the resounding experimental trilogy "Outline," inspired by the memoirs of patron and arts benefactor Mabel Dodge Luhan "Lorenzo in Taos" about D. H. Lawrence's visit to Mexico in the 1920s. It continues the theme of blurring the lines between fiction and documentary. The main character invites a famous painter to stay in a remote spot on the coast where she lives with her family. Passionately enamored with his paintings, she believes the artist's vision can penetrate the mystery at the heart of her life. But as the long, dry summer sets in, his provocative presence becomes a challenge and disrupts the tranquility of her secluded home. A psychodrama with elements of social comedy turns into an exploration of female destiny and male privilege, the geometry of human relationships, and the moral questions that fill our lives. Cusk's novel, nominated for numerous literary awards, speaks to the complexity of the human soul, the essence of artistic genius, and reminds us of the ability of art to transform and destroy.