The late Canadian/American novelist wrote this fictional story, imagining what it was like for the real Peggy Guggenheim to grow up in the moneyed aristocracy of New York and Paris before, during, and after WWl, and then up to 1958 for an Epilogue.
True to the facts, Peggy’s father, Benjamen goes down with the Titanic after working out the design of the Eiffel Tower. A variety of shallow meaningless rituals then consumes her life, with prescribed debutant balls and society feasts, until she rebels against the restrictions imposed by her mother.
Set in the moneyed world of Paris, London, New York, and Venice, Peggy flits back and forth, takes more lovers than anyone can keep track of, seeks meaning in life and finally seems to find it by establishing the surrealist art collection in Venice, also real and named after her.
The highly fictionalized story becomes nebulous and incomplete, in part perhaps because the primary author died before it was finished, leaving the final details to Leslie Jameson. But the picture presented is far from flattering with the heavy drinking, drug use and mental illnesses of the high profile Jewish families.
There are many loose ends left dangling. For example, what became of Peggy’s sister who, maybe accidentally, was responsible for two toddlers falling to their death from the thirteenth floor of a Manhattan apartment building.
I did not enjoy this book, but it is to be discussed at our book club meeting next month.
2.5/5
Thanks, Caroline.
The Passionate Reader 