The Italian Teacher
by Rachman, Tom
- Used
- as new
- Paperback
- Condition
- As New
- ISBN 10
- 0385689624
- ISBN 13
- 9780385689625
- Seller
-
WESTBANK, British Columbia, Canada
Item Price
$19.95$17.96
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Other than a mark on the lower text block, this is a clean and tight copy-" A sparkling, propulsive new novel from the bestselling author of The Imperfectionists. Rome, 1955. The artists gather for a picture at a party in an ancient villa. Bear Bavinsky, the creator of vast canvases, larger than life, is at the center of the picture. His wife, Natalie, edges out of the shot. From the side of the room watches little Pinch--their son. At five years old he loves Bear almost as much as he fears him. After Bear abandons their family, Pinch will still worship him, striving to live up to the Bavinsky name; while Natalie, a ceramicist, cannot hope to be more than a forgotten muse. Trying to burn brightly in his father's shadow, Pinch's attempts flicker and die. Yet by the end of a career of twists and compromises, Pinch will enact an unexpected rebellion that will leave forever his mark upon the Bear Bavinsky legacy. A masterful, original examination of love, duty, art and fame, The Italian Teacher cements Tom Rachman as among this generation's most exciting literary voices. "
Reviews
On Mar 26 2018, a reader said:
"Pinch doesn't know. But he supposes that this is how culture works: the taste-makers call something important until it becomes so, making themselves important in the process."
The Italian Teacher is the fourth novel by British-born journalist and author, Tom Rachman. Charlie Bavinsky (Pinch to his parents) always seemed to exist in the shadow of his father, renowned mid-twentieth century artist, Bear Bavinsky. Pinch was always trying to measure up, always failing to make the grade. And yet, he became his father's chosen heir.
As a teenager in Rome, Pinch tried to put into practice the one lesson in painting that Bear had given him, but: "To succeed as an artist demands such a rare confluence of personality, of talent, of luck – all bundled into a single lifespan. What a person Dad was! Pinch decides that perhaps he himself had ability too, but this was insufficient: he lacked the personality. The art world was always beyond him. For the first time, he accepts this."
Bear Bavinsky was larger-than-life; arrogant but oh so charismatic. Pinch's mother, Natalie was Bear's third wife of many, wives and lovers alike: "When a woman sits for Bear, Pinch knows, it's nearly a sexual act and often leads to one." Bear's many children all experienced the same neglect and longing for attention during childhood. Despite this, and failing personally at art, Pinch vows to produce a Bear biography that lauds the man and his work, that exalts his memory.
While he never writes it, ending up as a poorly paid Italian teacher in London, he does manage to secretly do something about his father's work that has his half-sister telling him: "'When you see what he accomplished, what he left behind,' Birdie continues, 'maybe he was right how he acted. Would it be better if he'd shown up for softball games, only to die without doing what he knew, knew, would be so great? It's bigger than us. Bigger than us, Charlie… Oh, Daddy! The art was so much better than the man.'"
This is a story that meanders along Pinch's life, following this frustrating and often seemingly hopeless character along his lacklustre path, watching as he seizes mediocrity from the jaws of even mild achievement. This is likely to have readers wondering where it's all going, and some patience is definitely required as Rachman creates the circumstance and the mindset for the final scene. And that final scene has an exquisite twist, thus generously rewarding that patience.
Rachman's characters are a little quirky; his settings (Rome, Toronto, the Pyrenees, London) are well rendered. Rachman's University experience in Toronto, his time as an AP correspondent in Rome and his knowledge of London are apparent in the story, which also highlights the insincerity and pretentiousness of the art world. This is a moving tale contained within an utterly gorgeous cover.
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- MAD HATTER BOOKSTORE (CA)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 14965
- Title
- The Italian Teacher
- Author
- Rachman, Tom
- Book Condition
- New As New
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0385689624
- ISBN 13
- 9780385689625
- Publisher
- Anchor Books,
- Date Published
- 2018
- Size
- 8 vo
Terms of Sale
MAD HATTER BOOKSTORE
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
MAD HATTER BOOKSTORE
Biblio member since 2019
WESTBANK, British Columbia
About MAD HATTER BOOKSTORE
Established 1983. All genres of used books.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- Tight
- Used to mean that the binding of a book has not been overly loosened by frequent use.
- Text Block
- Most simply the inside pages of a book. More precisely, the block of paper formed by the cut and stacked pages of a book....