Great book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.  
Thanks to the Publisher for giving me the opportunity to read it in advance

It was hard to get too excited about this book about artists Christopher Pratt and Mary West Pratt. Maybe I'm just not that interested in art. Looking at their paintings online didn't make me any more interested, either. Can two talented artist make a good marriage? The Pratts did for a while, with Mary Pratt's art being pushed into the background for years, since she was doing all the homemaking and child care for four children. Even when she started painting again and getting attention, the marriage seemed solid.

At some point, however, Mr. Pratt wanted to paint nudes, and started painting young girls who came to work in the Pratt home. One named Donna, who was like a member of the family, became his muse and lover. Mrs. Pratt finally figured out what was going on, and got her "revenge" by also painting pictures of Donna nude, using photographs taken of her by her husband. Sounds sort of kinky, doesn't it? Author Carol Bishop-Gwyn doesn't make it sound kinky, but seems to be understanding about the situation.  Mary West was a woman fighting for what was hers, including her own artistic talent.

Donna left one day and interestingly remained a family friend. The next serious threat was Jeanette and that broke up the marriage. Jeanette was quiet and not well educated, but she would become a big help to Christopher Pratt's art production, travelled places with him,and eventually married him much later. It didn't last. Throughout this all, both Mary and Christopher Pratt created art that got a lot of attention and sold well. All in all it was a somewhat interesting story, but I'm glad it wasn't any longer.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.  Art and Rivalry The Marriage of Christopher and Mary Pratt by Carol Bishop-Gwyn is well written and meticulously researched and strives to present facts without making judgment.  I recently was following a discussion about famous males and that the reason that they are able to accomplish their great deeds of discovery and art is because they had someone at home taking care of life’s necessities leaving them with the free time to create. 
I would say that this would definitely be the case for Christopher Pratt, without Mary he would never have succeeded as an artist. Mary on the other hand was not only capable of taking care of life’s necessities but also of creating a career as an artist while raising 4 children and having an extremely selfish husband who required a lot of care as well. I did find it difficult not to judge both Mary and Christopher Pratt by today’s standards especially with regard to Chrisopher’s habit of sleeping with the teenage mother helpers they employed and Mary not doing more to protect these young woman from her predator husband. Definitely not a comfortable read but interesting all the same.  Publishing Date October 8, 2019 #NetGalley #ArtAndRivalry #CarolBishopGwyn #Biography #PenguinRandomHouseCanada #Bookstagram

When it is hot as heck outside and there is nothing "cool" to do but reading sitting in front of the a/c as everything else makes you end up a sweaty mess, it is the perfect day for a speed reader. (Yes it is hot and humid in Canada!)			
			
I received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  			
			
From the publisher, as I do not repeat the contents or story of books in reviews, I let them do it as they do it better than I do 😸.			

The unauthorized biography of Canada's most famous artist couple and the rivalry that drove them.

She painted as if with pure light, radiant colours making quotidian kitchen scenes come alive with sublimated drama. He painted like clockwork, each stroke precise and measured with exquisite care, leaving no angle unchecked and no subtlety of tone unattended. Some would say Mary Pratt was fire and Christopher, ice. And yet Newfoundland's Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera (or Jackson Pollack and Lee Krasner...) presented their marriage as a portrait of harmony and balance. But balance off the canvas rarely makes great art, and the Pratts' art was spectacular.

     As a youth at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Mary pursued her future husband, a prodigious art talent, and supported his determination to study painting instead of medicine. They married and removed themselves to a Newfoundland outport where his painting alone provided the means to raise a family. But as Mary's own talents became evident and she sought her own hours at the easel, when not raising their four children, and as rumours of Christopher's affair with a young model spread, the Pratts' harmonious exterior slowly cracked, to scandal in Newfoundland and fascination across the country. A marriage ended and gave way to a furious competition for dominance in Canadian art.

The Pratts and their art are famous here in Canada for many reasons: one being that Mary's still life paintings are so gobsmackingly real looking and often mistaken for photographs.  The book covers their courtship and marriage in a time where the 1950's housewife was expected to wear pearls, lipstick and high heels all while taking care of the kids and kowtowing to her husband. (Even in outpost Newfoundland?) Life on the rock is tough but leads to the beautiful landscapes Christopher was known for along with portraits.

Christopher was encouraged to paint by Lawren P. Harris and Alex Colville, both seriously great artists in their own rights which I had no idea about. I love both Mary and Chris' works and have seen them in museums but I had no idea the story behind their facade.  The book has some exceptional research but does not read like a boring textbook - it is a story that every Canadian should know and this book will be recommended to every reader in search of a good read and for book clubs, as they tend to be housewives and would love to talk about marriages now and then! 

			
As always, I try to find a reason to not rate with stars as I love emojis (outside of their incessant use by "Social Influencer Millennials" on Instagram and Twitter) so let's give it 🎨🎨🎨🎨🎨			
	
p.s. see my facebook review as I added photos of some of their paintings there - their styles could not be more different!