Review: The War Artist by Jan Casey*

 *I received a copy of this book in eBook format via NetGalley in return for this review. All reviews published on Yours, Chloe are completely honest and my own, and are in now way influenced by the gifting opportunity.

Title: The War Artist
Author: Jan Casey
Genre: Historical Fiction

Trigger warnings:  War, Bombs, (Assumed) Death Of A Spouse

Rating: ★★★★ 

‘Excuse me,’ the man interrupted her as if there was absolutely nothing she could say to comfort him. ‘I have to get on with my digging.’ Then he stabbed violently at her sketchbook with his finger. ‘Get it all down,’ he snarled. ‘Every single disgusting, pathetic detail. And shove it in their faces.’

London, 1940 Following a chance meeting with her former teacher, young painter Sybil Paige wins a coveted assignment from the War Artists' Advisory Committee, and so begins her journey across the length and breadth of the country, sketching everything from airfields and assembly lines to farms and factories.

Sometimes it’s milkmaids and poultry keepers, brave and hopeful; sometimes it’s the harrowed faces of those digging through the rubble to find their loved ones and livelihoods. But armed with her sketchbook, Sybil captures it all, determined to tell the stories of the thousands of women fighting their own battles on the home front. Above all, she wants the voices of her subjects to shine through.

But amidst the scenes of despair and courage, the one picture Sybil cannot paint and yet cannot purge from her brain, no matter how hard she tries, is the image of a woman folded into a chair, the crumpled telegram about her missing husband clasped in her hand. Because a self-portrait, Sybil well knows, requires the artist to find her own voice.

With each new commission, Sybil grows in confidence. But, like the many people she meets and sketches, she fears the future: will it bring hope or heartbreak?

The War Artist is the latest novel from historical fiction author Jan Casey. After reading and reviewing her last book The Letter Reader last year (click here to read my review), I was highly anticipating the release of The War Artist and it certainly did not disappoint.

The War Artist would be perfect for anyone wanting an easy and more light-hearted World War Two historical fiction read. The narrative was very well paced, covering Sybil’s experiences throughout the majority of the war. Jan Casey has a really engaging writing style and her storytelling immerses you in the story. I also liked the choice to have characters speaking with the local dialects of the different places Sybil visits, such as Cornwall, which really helped you to feel immersed in the story and its many settings. I do, however, wish the book had been slightly longer and covered Sybil’s work at Nuremberg as that could have been really interesting so it was a shame that this was missing from the story.

As always with Jan Casey, the history was clearly very well researched. Despite considering myself well read around the Second World War, I’d not heard of the War Artists' Advisory Committee (WAAC) before so I found the exploration of their work to be truly fascinating. I also liked the authentic touch of including redactions within letters, in accordance with censorship within the war.

Sybil was a likeable protagonist and the exploration of her mourning the loss of her husband, who was missing in action, was particularly powerful. I also enjoyed the romantic subplot she had. The theme of strong female friendships was really well explored within the book. Sybil has a fantastic friendship with Ellen and Blanche, strengthened by their shared passion for art. She also had a fantastic relationship with Dame Lily, her old art professor turned friend.

Overall, The War Artist is an interesting, enjoyable and easy historical fiction read.