The Improbability of Love, by Hannah Rothschild

The Improbability of Love by Hannah Rothschild

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s a rich man’s world…!





I didn’t want this entertaining dramedy to end! I laughed, I gustily sighed, and then watched in horror as the lovable but “love-broken” heroine, Annie McDee, got totally shafted by one of the many ruthless antagonists in this riveting race to the art auction house moneypot. What a colourful cast of characters – I was entertained by them all!

The author starts off with a third person omniscient narrator, plunging us immediately into a description of the frenzied preparations on auction day for a much coveted painting. My jaw dropped when the narration was commandeered by the imperious voice of the portrait in question, hilariously self-referred to as “moi!” Cracked me up every time. Such a pompous, self important, world weary but highly intelligent portrait! Oh, the stories it could – and did – tell!!

The writing style had a vibe that hinted at an early Jilly Cooper and the incomparable Nancy Mitford. I guffawed when Rothschild used an obscure French or technical word and in brackets once wrote “(get a dictionary).” What a sly, wicked sense of humour! A very down to earth but highly intelligent writer. She is a keen observer of human nature and all of our foibles.

The fictional painting titled “The Improbability of Love” – attributed in this story to the famous painter, Jean-Antoine Watteau – does not in fact exist. To quote Google: “Watteau is credited with the creation of the 18th-century fête galante painting style, defined primarily by costumed figures flirting and cavorting in parklands.” This romping comedy lampooning the world’s rich and famous probably revolves around a picture that might look like this…



or this…



For those of us who like a bit of romantic intrigue mixed in with our social satire, Jesse – a promising young abstract painter – delivers, and then some. Oh, those hopeful, pining passages! Jesse was a lovable, love-struck puppy. Adorable, and so heroic when all hell broke loose in that heart stopping, breath taking, mind-blowing final quarter!! (There, I just had to use all of these superlatives to relieve my pent up emotions – the situation totally demanded it!

If you are in need of a highly entertaining, well written social satire with a cheer out loud ending, then this one is for you! Highly recommended!!!



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