Boston Book Festival 2019

The two novelists whose work we’ll explore in this session craft amazing stories of visual artists who had to fight to pursue their art. In a unique hybrid of biography and fiction, Catherine Cusset tells the Life of David Hockney, daring to imagine the psyche of the groundbreaking gay artist. The result, according to the New York Times, is “an affirming vision of a restless talent propelled by optimism and chance.” In The Age of Light, debut novelist Whitney Scharer illuminates the life of Vogue model turned photographer Lee Miller, who had to struggle to achieve respect as an artist in her own right--including from her lover, Man Ray. These two beautifully wrought novels—both works of art in their own right—offer insights into the artistic drive of their subjects. Moderating their conversation is Dawn Tripp, whose most recent novel is Georgia: A Novel of Georgia O’Keeffe. Sponsored by Other Press.