The Blue by Nancy Bilyeau

 

• Paperback: 448 pages
  
• Publisher: Endeavour Quill (3 Dec. 2018)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1911445626
• ISBN-13: 978-1911445623

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

In eighteenth century England, porcelain is the most seductive of commodities.

In eighteenth century London, porcelain is the most seductive of commodities; fortunes are made and lost upon it. Kings do battle with knights and knaves for possession of the finest pieces and the secrets of their manufacture.

For Genevieve Planché, an English-born descendant of Huguenot refugees, porcelain holds far less allure; she wants to be an artist, a painter of international repute, but nobody takes the idea of a female artist seriously in London. If only she could reach Venice.

When Genevieve meets the charming Sir Gabriel Courtenay, he offers her an opportunity she can’t refuse; if she learns the secrets of porcelein, he will send her to Venice. But in particular, she must learn the secrets of the colour blue…

The ensuing events take Genevieve deep into England’s emerging industrial heartlands, where not only does she learn about porcelain, but also about the art of industrial espionage.

With the heart and spirit of her Huguenot ancestors, Genevieve faces her challenges head on, but how much is she willing to suffer in pursuit and protection of the colour blue?

 

Review 

The Blue is a historical novel set in the eighteenth century and centres around the periods obsession with porcelain.  Porcelain was a luxurious commodity, very much in demand for those who could afford it, and there was great rivalry between the different potteries.  The Blue follows Genevieve, a descendant of Huguenot refugees, whose dream it is to become an artist.  Following her dream is not that easy, so her cousin gets her a position as a decorator at a pottery in Derby.  A chance encounter with Sir Gabriel Courtney sets her about obtaining a secret of the colour blue being developed in Derby and in return he will send her to Venice to train as an artist. Little does she realise how much danger she is putting herself and those she loves in danger.

The Blue is a beautifully written book with some wonderful and memorable characters.  Genevieve is an interesting character, she is twenty four, opinionated, unmarried and her life ruled by men.  Her dream of becoming a serious artist, a History Painter, drives her but in the eighteenth century women were not permitted to be part of the Art Academies.  History painting required the study of the human form and it was not deemed appropriate for women to enter a life class.  There were some exceptions to the rule, Angelica Kauffman was a female History Painter and did study at the Royal Academy as was Mary Moser.   Genevieve’s only option is to be a decorative artist, and this is what takes her to Derby, where she finds herself embroiled in industrial espionage. She comes across as very naive, she has not thought through the consequences of her actions, and she is far too trusting of people.  She finds her fate in the hands of two very different men, whilst in love with a third.

The Blue seamlessly combines detailed historical fiction with the suspense and drama of a thriller. There are secrets, lies, murder, kidnapping, espionage, romance and a secret chemist set within the confines of the eighteenth century industrial revolution.  Nancy Bilyeau’s writing really captures the zeitgeist of the period; the class divide, the effects of war on country, the Huguenot refugees and their legacy to the silk industry, workers rights and the role of women.  She writes with incredible understanding and detail of these issues which adds to the enjoyment of the novel. At the centre of this novel is the idea of perfection and how far people will go to attain it.  The elusive Derby Blue is seen as the new perfect blue for pottery, but is it worth loosing your life for and endangering the life of those you love.

I loved reading The Blue, and found it engaging from start to finish.  It did appeal to my love of history and art, and I found myself  feeling annoyed on Genevieve’s behalf at the restrictions placed on her and how she was treated. As a lead characters she is opinionated, strong willed and willing to fight for that she believes in and I really wanted a happy ending for her. If you love historical fiction that is well researched, with plenty of detail and the suspense and tension of a thriller then I highly recommend this book; A scintillating and gripping read.