The Fountain of St. James Court; or, Portrait of the Artist as an Old Woman

A novel within a novel—hmm. Writer Kathryn "Ryn" Callaghan, age 70 and now thrice divorced, has given the manuscript of her latest work to friend Leslie to read. The novel depicts the life of French artist élisabeth Vigée-Le Brun, who narrates her life from rags to riches as she becomes portraitist of Queen Marie Antoinette, then flees France because of the Revolution. (Vigée-Le Brun is also a character in Naslund's novel Abundance.) There's the making of pathos and much excitement here, but élisabeth relates her story in a monotone that keeps her life from coming alive and would have made for rather tedious reading had it been book length. Meanwhile, Ryn spends her time ruminating over her past and her three failed marriages (and she's not the only character in The Fountain who's married abusive or otherwise unsuitable men). The only drama in Ryn's life is the return of her son's ex-lover Jerry, who is truly menacing. Fortunately for Ryn and son Humphrey, Jerry is married and living in Sweden with his hubby.