The Wayward Muse by Elizabeth Hickey

Just finished a great book that I just had to let you all know about, it is The Wayward Muse by Elizabeth Hickey. It is the story of Jane Burden, considered one of the plainest and ugliest girls on Holywell Street, an Oxford slum, in 19th century England. It would be a tall order for Jane to marry well with this dubious distinction, as well as coming from an extremely poor family. A fortuitous visit to the theater with her sister Bessie leads Jane to be discovered by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, a famous, and scandalous, painter, who today is known as one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Rossetti sees through her coarse hair and severe expression to proclaim her “the most beautiful girl in Oxford. Maybe in all of England.” She begins modeling for him and they soon begin a passionate affair (to the right is a painting he did of Jane). When Rossetti leaves abruptly, with no plans to return, Jane is heartbroken, and marries one of Rossetti’s friends, William Morris, who is known today as the Father of the Arts and Crafts Movement, and they have a passionless, but stable marriage. Very entertaining quick read, with an appealing blend of history, art, and romance.

This book started me thinking about friendships amongst famous people like Rossetti and William Morris. Most of their circle of friends went on to become artists of some distinction. And there are other famous friends such as Truman Capote and Harper Lee, who were childhood friends, Emile Zola and Paul Cezanne, Thoreau and Emerson, Tolkien and Lewis, the list could go on. Is this just coincidence or do people these people inspire each other to do great things? Hmmm...I think it is a bit of both, but what do you think?