The Quality of Love- Blog Tour

 

Author: Ariane Bankes
Publisher: Duckworth Books
Publishing Date: 2nd May 2024 

Many thanks to the publishing team and Random Things Tours for my copy of the book and a spot on the tour

Blurb 

An unseen family archive reveals the lives and loves of two glamorous sisters who captivated Europe’s intelligentsia

When her mother Celia Paget died, Ariane Bankes inherited a battered trunk stuffed with photographs and letters belonging to Celia and her twin sister Mamaine. This correspondence charted the remarkable lives of the Paget girls and their friends and lovers, including Arthur Koestler, Albert Camus, Sartre and de Beauvoir, and George Orwell.

Out of this rich unseen archive, The Quality of Love weaves the story of these captivatingly beautiful – all the more so for being identical – twins who overcame a meagre education to take 1930s London society by storm and then move among Europe’s foremost intellectuals during the century’s most dramatic decades. Above all, it is a sparkling portrait of the deep connection between two spirited sisters.

My Thoughts 

This cover is just  poetic towards the book that it is perfect!

This appeared to be a wonderful homage to the twin sisters as family started to put together the jigsaw pieces to their life. 

Celia and Mamaine certainly lived a colourful life with  meeting and mingling with a variety of artist and intellectuals which creates a cultural shift in both work and personal lives. Both women offered so much more than being a muse to the men that entered their lives such as their lives started to take a fascinating turn. 

Both twins complemented each other and those around them as they were compassionate and committed to people and learning which led them to be engaging and inspiring. 

The pictures and letters brought the book to life and gained a better perceptive to the book. 

The plot encounters lots of characters alongside the main characters so at times can get a bit overwhelming but it is not a long read so it is easy to overcome this part. 

This was a fun read and I wound recommend.