Gluck by Diana Souhami

Her torrid personal life shocked her prominent and wealthy family, who nonetheless allowed her to live in style and pursue her art. In the 1920s and 30s Gluck's portraits, flower paintings, and landscapes, set in frames she designed and patented, were coveted by the rich and famous. Yet, at the height of her fame she stopped working...until, at nearly 80, she returned to the limelight in a burst of newfound creative energy. 'A fine balance of revelation and restraint...chronicles a life characterized by intense feeling and...a lot of bad behavior.'--Janet Walls, Observer.