An ideal fiction read for art history lovers, The Vanitas is an intriguing collection of short stories by Jake Kendall which includes atmospheric illustrations by Simona Slavova and Emily Tahaburt. It’s dedicated ‘to all the suffering artists’.
I enjoyed these stories, which engaged with the creative impulse and the value of art. I liked that they were unpredictable and spanned a variety of eras. They also had a mix of real and fictional artists. My favourite was ‘Composition #5’, which is narrated by a gallery attendant who becomes the muse of a famous artist, but they are all good reads. It’s a book of two halves, however, because the second half is one long story. Although it’s accomplished and well-researched, it was my least favourite, because the writing style and subject matter didn’t appeal to me as much.
In summary, if you’re into art and short stories, this is the read for you.
Published in 2024. Thank you to Neem Tree Press for the review copy. Part of TheWriteReads blog tour.
