"An equal stillness", Francesca Kay: an inspiring portrait of woman

In the fictive biography “An equal stillness” Francesca Kay brushes a vivid portrait of the acclaimed painter Jennet Mallow through her life, her struggle to balance her needs and that of others, and her search for space to become everything she is and can be as an artist, a daughter, a lover, a wife, a mother, and a woman.

It is hard to describe the feelings stirred by the striking images taking form page after page through Francesca’s beautiful writing. I felt a deep sense of intimacy and earnestness reading Jenner’s story, as if I were alternatively reading a poem, walking through an art gallery, flipping through old photographs or the pages of a diary. Many fictive paintings of Jennet are described in great details and the novel has itself something of a painting or rather a series of paintings made with words. Francesca may not be a painter, but she is a poet and she used her art in a magnificent way to craft the story of Jennet in this fictive biography.

Jennet’s turbulent relationship with her husband, the flamboyant David, another famous painter, as talented as tormented and self-destructive. The men in her professional life, gallerists, critics, mercenaries, who recognize and support her talent. Her struggles and relentless quest for space for herself and her art, while loving and caring for her children, husband and mother. “An equal stillness” is a truly compelling story. A brilliant first novel. It is maybe the first time that I read a book and feel the urge to read it again.

I bought this book used and from its cover I can tell that it passed through several hands before landing in mine. I wonder what the people before me felt about the book, but regardless, I am thankful it found me. Now, I shall keep it.

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