Female, Nude: A Seductive Drama of Art and Rivalry on a Greek Island
Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett's unsettling second novel, Female, Nude, transports readers to the sun-drenched Cyclades in the summer of 2019. The story follows Sophie Evans, a reckless and struggling artist, as she joins her wealthy university friends for a hen week celebration. The luxurious villa, with its "almost offensive" good taste, sets the stage for simmering tensions and deep-seated rivalries among the women.
A Clash of Worlds and Ambitions
Over the decade since their student days, the differences between Sophie and her friends have grown stark. Helena aspires to become a trophy wife surrounded by "nice things," while elegant Iris works in publishing and spoilt art dealer Alessia seems to own the very island they are visiting. In stark contrast, Sophie, daughter of an electrician and a full-time carer, works in a museum shop while fiercely pursuing her artistic dreams.
Sophie's reliable partner, Greg, pressures her to start a family, but she craves the freedom to paint. Alessia commissions a nude portrait from Sophie, to be created in her private studio during their holiday. However, the arrival of Ky, a captivating waiter and archaeologist, ignites toxic rivalries and dangerous desires, pushing Sophie to confront what she truly wants as an artist and a woman.
Artistic Introspection and Historical Echoes
The island narrative is interspersed with Sophie's future reflections, where she engages with female artists from history such as Artemisia Gentileschi and Francesca Woodman. These meditations, set in museums and galleries years later, deconstruct their experiences and mirror her own struggle for creative fulfilment. The novel skillfully weaves between these introspective passages and the escalating drama among the characters, building towards an inevitable disaster with the arrival of the men.
A Multilayered and Ambitious Work
Female, Nude is an energetic and ambitious novel that excels in sensual detail—capturing the light, food, and physical pleasures of its exotic setting. Cosslett, a Guardian columnist, creates a seductive drama reminiscent of White Lotus, while offering a serious-minded interrogation of art, motherhood, and the trade-offs women must make for creative fulfilment. However, the triple threads of hen-week drama, artistic analysis, and societal critique sometimes become unwieldy.
The artistic analyses, though interesting, can feel clunky, as if parachuted in to add gravitas to a millennial narrative. The future Sophie, wise and weary, is less convincing than the messy, resentful 31-year-old artist—a character who is ruthlessly selfish, entirely watchable, and utterly believable in her creative turmoil.
Characterisation and Romantic Fantasy
Characterisation is somewhat uneven: Helena's husband-to-be is splendidly unpleasant, but Iris remains a cipher and her partner Edwin almost theoretical. Yet, Ky embodies pure romantic fantasy, allowing Sophie a delightfully free rein that makes for a thoroughly enjoyable read. Cosslett's seriousness of intent commands respect, even as the novel navigates its complex themes with occasional turbulence.
Female, Nude by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett is published by Tinder (£18.99), offering a compelling exploration of art, identity, and the fierce rivalries that surface in paradise.
