The summer of 2019 saw Sophie Evans arrive on a picturesque island in the Cyclades with her university friends, Helena, Iris, and Alessia, ostensibly for a pre-wedding celebration, but with a simmering undercurrent of tension that would soon boil over.
A Greek Island Retreat Masks Deep-Seated Rivalries
Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett’s new novel, “Female, Nude,” explores the complexities of female friendship, artistic ambition, and societal expectations against a backdrop of sun-drenched luxury.
- The novel contrasts the lives of four women whose paths have diverged since university, highlighting the impact of wealth and privilege.
- Sophie, an aspiring artist, grapples with creative fulfillment versus societal pressures, including her partner’s desire for a child.
- A commissioned nude portrait and the arrival of a captivating stranger ignite a series of events that expose the fragility of their friendships.
- “Female, Nude” interweaves the present-day narrative with Sophie’s reflections on female artists throughout history.
The villa, described as possessing an “almost offensive” good taste, sets the stage for a holiday where appearances mask deeper anxieties. Ten years after first meeting as students, the women’s differences have become starkly defined by financial circumstances. Iris, now working in publishing, benefits from her parents’ purchase of a flat in Peckham. Alessia, a patrician art dealer, seems to have a familial claim to the island itself. And Helena aspires to a life as a trophy wife, surrounded by “nice things.”
What does a woman sacrifice to pursue her art, and how does society dictate the terms of that trade-off? Sophie, working in a museum shop while pursuing her painting, feels the weight of these questions acutely. Her electrician father and mother, a full-time caregiver for Sophie’s disabled sister, represent a different world than the one her friends inhabit. She also faces pressure from her partner, Greg, to start a family, a desire that clashes with her need for artistic freedom.
Alessia commissions Sophie to paint a nude portrait during their stay, providing a creative opportunity but also a potential catalyst for conflict. The arrival of Ky, a waiter, archaeologist, and “extraordinary lover,” further complicates matters, turning simmering rivalries into something dangerous. Cosslett excels at portraying the sensual details of the setting—the light, the food, the physical pleasures—drawing readers into a drama reminiscent of a glamorous, yet unsettling, locale.
Cosslett is excellent at the sensual detail of light and food and physical pleasure.
The narrative shifts between the present-day events on the island and Sophie’s later reflections, as she visits museums and galleries, contemplating the work of female artists like Artemisia Gentileschi and Francesca Woodman. These interludes offer a historical context for Sophie’s own struggles, examining the challenges faced by women seeking artistic fulfillment. The impending arrival of the men looms over the idyllic setting, foreshadowing a disruption of the fragile peace.
“Female, Nude” is an ambitious novel that tackles complex themes. While Cosslett’s prose shines in its depiction of sensory experiences, the novel occasionally struggles to balance its multiple threads. The historical analyses, though interesting, sometimes feel imposed upon the narrative, disrupting the flow of the story. The author’s portrayal of the future Sophie feels less convincing than the raw, resentful 31-year-old grappling with her desires on the Greek island.
Character development is somewhat uneven. While Greg is “splendidly unpleasant,” Helena remains a largely superficial figure, Iris is an “ice queen” lacking depth, and Edwin, Iris’s partner, is barely present. Ky, however, is presented as a romantic ideal, allowing Sophie a degree of freedom that adds to the novel’s enjoyment. Ultimately, Cosslett’s serious intent and exploration of female experience command respect.
Female, Nude by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett is published by Tinder (£18.99).
