A stunning debut novel about the intertwining lives of four remarkable women, the muses who inspired the artist Egon Schiele. For fans of THE PARIS WIFE, THE FAMILIARS, THE MINIATURIST and THE DUTCH HOUSE.
'Fascinating & compelling. I loved all four women' ELODIE HARPER, author of THE WOLF DEN
'MAGNIFICENT...It's simply too good' KATIE LOWE, author of THE FURIES
'Utterly compelling...four muses who refuse to be remembered as just that' KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE, author of THE MERCIES
'Intoxicating and evocative...full of controversy and drama. We loved it' Woman & Home
'Thought provoking and illuminating - I so enjoyed discovering the world and the women behind works of art I adore' KATE SAWYER, author of THE STRANDING
'An exquisite sense of place and era with a passion and sensuality that transcend time altogether.' ISABEL COSTELLO, author of SCENT
'Confident...urgent...illuminating' Sunday Times
___________________________________________
Every painting tells a story, but what if the women on the canvas could speak? This is the story of the charismatic - and controversial - artist, Egon Schiele, and his four muses, set against the vibrant backdrop of Vienna in the 1900s, a time when the city was the epicentre of art, music, and ideas.
ADELE- passionate, fierce, obstinate. The unconventional daughter of a wealthy family.
GERTRUDE- spirited, single-minded, possessive. Egon's younger sister who yearns for more.
VALLY- determined, independent, proud. Egon's model, carving her way out of poverty.
EDITH- Adele's sister. Quiet and conventional. Or was she?
Four women, four flames, all longing to be known. In an electrifying, bohemian city like Vienna, anything seems possible. But when they meet the man whose work is sending shockwaves through the establishment, their lives are set on a collision course. Because just as a flame has the power to mesmerize, it can also destroy everything in its path.
_______________________________
'Impressive' The Times
'A stunning story of love, art and betrayal' RED magazine
'Full of scandal, love, betrayal, and heartache' Cosmopolitan
'Mesmerising' Good Housekeeping
'A drama of love, loss, rivalry and betrayal. A terrific debut, brilliantly imagined' Saga Debut of the Month
'An unforgettable book about wanting more for ourselves than we are told we are allowed' Ericka Waller, author of Dog Days
Author Biography:
Sophie Haydock is an award-winning author living in east London. The Flames is her debut novel. She is the winner of the Impress Prize for New Writers. Sophie trained as a journalist at City University, London, and has worked at the Sunday Times Magazine, Tatler and BBC Three, as well as freelancing for publications including the Financial Times, Guardian Weekend magazine, and organisations such as the Arts Council, Royal Academy and Sotheby's. Passionate about short stories, Sophie also works for the Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award and is associate director of the Word Factory literary organisation.
Her Instagram account @egonschieleswomen - dedicated to the women who posed for Egon Schiele - has a community of over 100,000 followers. For more information, visit- sophie-haydock.com.
