The Painter's Friend

One of the books of the year. Cunnell's style is matchless: intimate, dark, sincere, wry and exquisitely beautiful * Irish Times * What a fine book The Painter's Friend is. At times, a beautiful meditation, at other times the prose ripples with tension and foreboding. Howard Cunnell is a wonderful writer who should be read by everyone -- Sarah Winman, author of <i>Still Life</i> [A] powerful new novel . . . The creation and consumption of art are the novel's major themes . . . Cunnell's writing is sharp and vivid, the highly coloured verbal pictures perfectly suited to an artist narrator . . . The most sustained portrayal is that of Terry's adopted dog, Red: the finest canine characterisation that I can recall * Financial Times * I loved it. Cunnell's writing has an unforgettable visual and moral clarity -- Melissa Harrison, author of <i>All Among the Barley</i> His finest and most important work to date -- Cathi Unsworth, author of <i>Weirdo</i> Cunnell's prose is elegantly punchy . . . The valour of his fight is revealed in a story of what can happen when truth is considered idealism and collides with the predatory designs of a property developer. A fine book -- John Healy, author of <i>The Grass Arena</i> Loving in its exploration of creative survival and loss of human habitat. Every fleck and dab of verbal pigment rewards the eye and enriches the design -- Adam Mars-Jones, author of <i>Box Hill</i> Brilliantly plotted and the final act knocked me sideways. Huge themes told through the personal stories of very real people. It was a delight and revelation to read -- David Morrissey, actor A novel of muscular, dark prose with more than a little compassion for damaged lives. I loved it -- Ned Boulting, author of <i>On the Road Bike</i> It's a timely novel, but it also seems to wear its big issues lightly. The particularity and peculiarity of the setting and cast really brought it to life and gripped me -- Sara Baume, author of <i>spill simmer falter wither</i>