Masterpiece: The sweeping historical literary novel about war, love and art from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Improbability of Love

From the bestselling, award-winning author of The Improbability of Love comes a sweeping historical novel inspired by the remarkable true story of Piero della Francesca’s Resurrection – a tale of art and war, forbidden love and personal heroism, following four people whose lives are bound together by a single masterpiece.

'An extraordinary feat of storytelling that is both fascinating and gripping' Sarah Winman

'Powerful and passionate, Masterpiece is a ravishing story about buried love and the art that might save us' Rachel Joyce

'Magnificent and transportative' Katy Hessel
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TUSCANY, 1470: in the bright light of a new day, an artist lies awake, imagining a fresco that will shape his future and echo down the centuries.

1922: A member of the Bloomsbury Group writes to her secret lover about a painting that changed her life; she believes it will change his too.

1944: A British army captain is ordered to bomb a Tuscan hill town. Inside it hangs a painting said to be the greatest ever made. To save it, he must disobey orders, risking his career and even his freedom.

2014: A young conservator arrives in Sansepolcro to restore Piero della Francesca’s Resurrection, and discovers she must preserve not only the painting but also the stories of those who saved it.

Drawing on real letters and unpublished diaries, this sweeping novel is based on the remarkable true story of four people who risked love - and even their lives - for one great masterpiece.

A captivating novel about the decisions that change our lives and the enduring power of art, Masterpiece is perfect for fans of Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch, Still Life by Sarah Winman, and There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak.

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Praise for Masterpiece:

'Dextrous, vivid and wise: a tonic and a celebration. My book of the year.' Cressida Connolly

‘An exquisitely unfolding story of love and art' Esther Freud

‘An enthralling meditation on the nature of art and the power of love’ Anthony Horowitz

'A page-turning, unforgettable story' Rosie Boycott

‘Hannah Rothschild’s best novel by far...both moving and convincing’ Antony Beevor

'A fast-paced, addictive page-turner, as gripping as the finest whodunnit' Geordie Greig

'A marvellous exploration of what art means to the individual...Rich and immersive: I loved it' Joanne Harris

'Hannah Rothschild proves herself a natural and addictive novelist' Andrew Marr

'A captivating, charming, heartbreaking novel’ Simon Sebag Montefiore

'Emotionally consuming and beautifully told' Jennie Godfrey

'Masterpiece maintains a sharp focus on the purest of painters and the transcendent power of art' Sebastian Faulks

'Rothschild's novel brings a 15th century masterpiece back to life. I loved it' Miranda Cowley Heller