The Muralist

B.A. Shapiro

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The Muralist by B.A. Shapiro is a historical novel set in pre-WWII New York City, intertwining the stories of a young artist, Alizee Benoit, who disappears in 1940, and her modern-day great-niece, Danielle Abrams, who uncovers hidden pieces of artwork by famous Abstract Expressionist painters. The book delves into themes of art, history, the Holocaust, and the struggles faced by Jewish refugees during WWII, while also exploring the artistic innovation and political landscape of the time. The narrative alternates between past and present, building tension through a mystery plotline and vivid descriptions of the art world in both eras.

Characters:

The characters are well-drawn, with Alizee embodying the struggle of artists and refugees during WWII and Danielle highlighting the ongoing legacy of that time.

Writing/Prose:

Shapiro's prose is captivating and descriptive, engaging the reader with both historical detail and intricate storytelling.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative follows two timelines, focusing on Alizee's desperate attempts to help her family escape Nazi persecution in the late 1930s and her niece's quest to uncover Alizee's story in 2015, interwoven with historical injustices regarding immigration.

Setting:

The novel's settings transition from the artistic and politically charged atmosphere of pre-WWII New York to the more subdued contemporary art scene.

Pacing:

The pacing fluctuates between engaging historical content and the less compelling contemporary storyline, leading to mixed reader impressions.

It was there when I arrived that morning, sitting to the right of my desk, ostensibly no different from the other half-dozen cartons on the floor, flaps bent back, paintings haphazardly poking out. As...

Notes:

The Muralist is set in two time periods: 1939-1940 and 2015.

The protagonist, Alizee Benoit, is an artist trying to save her Jewish family from the Nazis.

Alizee works for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression.

She befriends famous artists like Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Lee Krasner in New York.

Eleanor Roosevelt is portrayed as a supportive figure for artists and the Jewish cause in the story.

Alizee uses art to illustrate the plight of the Jews and secure visas for her family.

The character’s efforts to obtain visas face political opposition from figures like Breckinridge Long and Joseph Kennedy.

Danielle, Alizee's niece, discovers hidden murals that may have been created by Alizee while cataloging art at Christie's in 2015.

The book addresses themes of anti-Semitism and the U.S. government's restrictive immigration policies during WWII.

The story touches on the historical event of the SS St. Louis, which was turned away from U.S. ports with Jewish refugees aboard.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains discussions about anti-Semitism, the Holocaust, mental health issues, and political oppression, which may be triggering for some readers.

From The Publisher:

Don't miss B. A. Shapiro's new novel, The Collector's Apprentice, coming October 16, 2018! "Vibrant and suspenseful . . . Like The Art Forger, this new story takes us into the heart of what it means to be an artist." -The Washington Post "B. A. Shapiro captivated us in 2012 with her 'addictive' novel The Art Forger. Now, she's back with another thrilling tale from the art world." -Entertainment Weekly When Alizée Benoit, an American painter working for the Works Progress Administration (WPA), vanishes in New York City in 1940, no one knows what happened to her. Not her Jewish family living in German-occupied France. Not her artistic patron and political compatriot, Eleanor Roosevelt. Not her close-knit group of friends, including Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, and Lee Krasner. And, some seventy years later, not her great-niece, Danielle Abrams, who while working at Christie's auction house uncovers enigmatic paintings hidden behind works by those now-famous Abstract Expressionist artists. Do they hold answers to the questions surrounding her missing aunt?

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