For readers interested in art and history, Girl in Hyacinth Blue is a "must read". Author Susan Vreeland traces ownership of a Vermeer painting in reverse chronology to the seventeenth century Dutch artist who created it. Each chapter of the book tells the story of a different owner of the painting, revealing its complex history and describing the profound effect it has had on various lives. These stories depict ordinary details with clarity of a Vermeer - each chapter could stand on its own, like a little gift to the reader. Vreeland is an extremely skilled historical fiction writer, but this books also challenges us to think about the function and purpose of art.
"A little gem of a novel...this beautifully written exploration of the power of art."
"Simple little stories adding up to a complex themed book, tracing the history of a Vermeer painting."
"Insightful observations about the worth and the truth of art."