The Anatomy Lesson

Praise

“A literary page-turner that captures a story behind a masterpiece. . . . [An] intricate work of historical fiction.” —Oprah.com

“Fascinating. . . . Conveys the pomp, graft, bustle and rough justice of 17th-century Holland through a multitude of voices.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Siegal succeeds in the task she has set herself—to transmute her material into a work of art.” —The New Yorker
 
“Nina Siegal’s lovely novel dissects the dissection, evocatively translating the painted narrative into words.” —Russell Shorto, author of Amsterdam

“Brilliantly structured. . . . Filled with vivid characters. . . . Dazzling.” —Margot Livesey, author of The Flight of Gemma Hardy

“Once in a rare while, you get to read a story of such breathtaking beauty and intelligence that you remember why you love to read. The Anatomy Lesson is just such a novel. In stunning prose, Nina Siegal animates Rembrandt’s first masterpiece, spinning a deeply affecting tale of love, loss and redemption as she reveals the secrets of the human soul. It is a gorgeous literary page turner of immense sympathy and elegance, equal in artistic élan to its inspiration. Brava!” —Robin Oliveira, author of My Name is Mary Sutter

“A thought-provoking and richly populated novel by a talented new voice.” —Shelf Awareness

“Virtually every sentence is drenched in the atmosphere of 17th-century Amsterdam. We feel as if we are walking at Rembrandt’s side, in a cell awaiting the execution of a thief, rushing through the streets with the condemned’s lover in hopes of saving him. This is a novel to be absorbed for its rich evocation of a single day when one man died and another rose to fame for his art.” —Historical Novel Society

“Splendid. . . . Through masterful use of subtle details, embroidered into beautiful writing, Siegal suggests that art and violence often intertwine.” —Publishers Weekly