Leonora in the Morning Light by Michaela Carter

 Leonora Carrington (1917-2011) was a British-born Mexican artist, surrealist painter, and novelist.

London, 1937. Leonora studies art in London, not something her father approves. She is introduced to “these Surrealists – not studying, but living their art.” One of them is Max Ernst, married and twice her age. She is captivated by his persona. When Max’s work is being seen as an immoral mind and having “bad influence on the good people of London,” he needs to leave London. When “Hitler declares Modern Art degenerate,” Peggy Guggenheim makes a bold move to support the Modern Art and the artists fleeing to safety. In Paris, despite the women not being able to fully join the movement of Surrealism, Leonora attends their meetings; followed by display of her paintings. She should be happy, but she feels some emptiness. A heart stolen by a man.

Southern France, 1940. Max once welcomed in France, now not so much. “Writers, artists, Jews.” All wanted by the Nazis. “They were enemies in a country that had welcomed them, a country they’d come to love.” From a camp, through an ordeal on a train, now on his feet, Max is making his way home, to freedom and to Leonora.

In the first half of the story, we get to know the Surrealist movement and its artists. Surrealism “was about breaking rules, living as no one had dared to live.” They rejected a rational vision of life in favor of the juxtaposition of uncommon imagery. Such artists as Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso make only a brief appearance in this story. I wished they were a bigger part of this story, adding more vibrancy as the story slows down in the middle. It feels stagnant for a moment.

In the second half, once Peggy Guggenheim takes part in the story it picks up in pace. Her appearance adds verve. She is an art collector, bohemian and socialite.

Leonora has some hallucinations and at some point is taken to an asylum. I wished that this part of her life was just mentioned rather than given a small chunk of this story. When I read about artists I want them to be remembered for their creativity rather than what personally inflicted them. Nevertheless, I applaud the author for creative way of showing it.

This story is very ambitious, dealing with a complex artistic movement, complex characters, and complex historical setting of WWII, where some of those artists were Jews. It encompasses a lot and at some moments slows the pace in the second half.

Overall, I did enjoy this story and getting to know Surrealism better and its artists. The writing is certainly of a talented writer.

Release date: 6 April 2021

Publisher: Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster