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The Paris Muse

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The Paris Muse

By: Louisa Treger
Narrated by: Amy Noble
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Bloomsbury presents The Paris Muse by Louisa Treger, read by Amy Noble.

‘Living with him was like living at the centre of the universe. It was electrifying and humbling, blissful and destructive, all at the same time.’

Paris, 1936. When Dora Maar, a talented French photographer, painter and poet, is introduced to Pablo Picasso, she is instantly mesmerized. Drawn to his volcanic creativity, it isn’t long before she embarks on a passionate relationship with the Spanish artist that ultimately pushes her to the edge.

A wonderfully atmospheric, intense and astonishing novel about Dora Maar – the artist, creative genius and muse who inspired some of Pablo Picasso’s greatest work – and about their love affair that broke her.

Praise for The Paris Muse:

'An accomplished literary novel, and also an absolute page turner. Raw sexual charisma and its descent into toxic cruelty which is set – and artfully echoed – in times of peace and war.’ Essie Fox, author of the Sunday Times bestseller The Fascination

‘Dora Maar, “The Weeping Woman" of Picasso's famous paintings, steps out of the canvas in Louisa Treger's unforgettable new novel. Dora's passionate, obsessive relationship with the artist came close to destroying her, and Treger's beautifully written first-person narrative takes us deep inside her grief and torment. Picasso emerges as a controlling, sadistic man, who is single-minded in pursuit of his art first, his pleasure second. This is a powerful, absorbing read about a woman who was a talented artist in her own right, and it illustrates very graphically who was responsible for making the 'Weeping Woman' weep.’ Gill Paul, internationally bestselling author of A Beautiful Rival

'Gifted photographer and painter - and muse of Picasso - Dora Marr comes vibrantly to life in Treger's new novel, THE PARIS MUSE. A fascinating and heartfelt portrait of a female artist striving to succeed in the male-dominated Parisian art world, readers won't be able to resist rooting for Dora, or relishing every page until The End. A compelling and absorbing read!' Heather Webb, USA Today and International bestselling author of Queens of London ©2024 Louisa Treger (P)2024 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC 20th Century Biographical Fiction Entertainment & Celebrities Genre Fiction Historical Fiction War
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Critic reviews

This astonishing story about love and betrayal, creativity and genius is destined to become a classic among biographical novels... An unforgettable novel about an extraordinary woman. (Maggie Brookes, author of The Prisoner's Wife)
An unforgettable novel, beautifully written… This is a powerful, absorbing read about a woman who was a talented artist in her own right. (Gill Paul, internationally bestselling author of A Beautiful Rival)
An accomplished literary novel, and also an absolute page turner. Raw sexual charisma and its descent into toxic cruelty which is set – and artfully echoed – in times of peace and war. (Essie Fox, author of the Sunday Times bestseller The Fascination)
This absolute jewel of a novel shines a light on the tumultuous relationship between Picasso and Dora Maar. With profundity, grace and compassion, Treger probes the complexities of love, power and creativity. (Annabel Abbs, author of the international bestseller The Language of Food)
Captures Dora Maar’s passionate, angry voice, and the agony and ecstasy of a love affair with Picasso’s monstrous genius with energy and insight. It also asks good questions about the way too many women who are artists in their own right get shoved into second place by men, and demeaned as “muses”. (Amanda Craig)
Gifted photographer and painter - and muse of Picasso - Dora Marr comes vibrantly to life in Treger's new novel, The Paris Muse. A fascinating and heartfelt portrait of a female artist striving to succeed in the male-dominated Parisian art world, readers won't be able to resist rooting for Dora, or relishing every page until The End. A compelling and absorbing read! (Heather Webb, USA Today and International bestselling author of Queens of London)
This wholly immersive, vivid tale is a poignant evocation of the life of esteemed photographer and painter Dora Maar, no longer merely Picasso’s muse, her history reclaimed by Treger as the artist fully herself. (Janet Somerville, author of Yours, for Probably Always: Martha Gellhorn's Letters of Love & War 1930-1949)
A scintillating, emotional and irresistible reading experience… Magnificently depicted, The Paris Muse is a beautifully dignified and heartrending portrayal of Dora Maar, muse to Pablo Picasso but also a forthright and accomplished artist, who rightfully deserves her place in history as an enduring, talented and influential creative. (Mairéad Hearne (@swirlandthread))
My God, what a book! I devoured every page, hungry to know more about this fascinating couple: Maar, so extraordinary and talented and Picasso with his own obvious talents, but their union so toxic. A portrait of what it is to be in love with a narcissist. It is utterly compelling, the prose exquisite. Louisa Treger is at the top of her game. (Siobhan MacGowan, author of The Trial of Lotta Rae and The Graces)
All stars
Most relevant
Picasso was a nightmare. But Dora Maar was a talented photographer and artist who put up with appalling treatment, this book tells her story in a gripping and emotional way, expertly unpicking what she went through.
Strong sense of the times, Paris before the war, Paris during the occupation.
And the narrator was good too.

Fabulous read

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I have enjoyed reading (and listening to) Louisa Treger’s fascinating explorations of women lives. I knew of Picasso’s art but confess I knew almost nothing about Dora Maar. The Paris Muse revealed that Dora was photographer and artist with her own unique eye. An early surrealist, I soon checked out her visual work which is stunning. She was successful in her own right when she first pursued Picasso.
The scenes when the pair become lovers set in the south of France are beautifully rendered, capturing Dora’s powerful need for love and Picasso’s charm and charisma. The relationship starts to deteriorate as Picasso’s selfish need for multiple lovers emerges. The effect upon Dora is heart-breaking, as is his domineering effect on her artistic output. Throughout, I loved the deep immersion in another time, the fine food and idyllic villas of France. As time passes there is a sense of inevitability about Dora’s incapacity to live the life she deserves. The author’s sensitivity in capturing the emotional moods and currents in Dora’s life are exquisite.
I feel this is a cautionary tale for any woman setting out to explore her potential, be it in art or any other field, while seeking the life-affirming pleasures of romantic love. Dora experienced warning signs early on in her time with her lover and yet I could understand the hypnotic spell Picasso cast over her. Nevertheless, I loved this book; it’s the best yet from this talented author and also exceptionally well narrated.

Brilliant cautionary tale of a tragic artist

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Brilliant book. I couldn’t stop listening. A page turner. Well written and told, an insight into A great but complex artist

The whole book was really good

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