The Miniaturist: A Richard and Judy Book Club Pick and Beautifully Atmospheric Historical Novel
As seen:
By Jessie Burton
avg rating
1 review
The phenomenal number one bestseller and a major BBC TV series.
A Richard and Judy Book Club Pick.
Winner of the Specsavers National Book Award and Waterstones Book of the Year.
Beautiful, intoxicating and filled with heart-pounding suspense, Jessie Burton’s historical novel set in Amsterdam, The Miniaturist, is a story of love and obsession, betrayal and retribution.
On an autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman knocks at the door of a grand house in the wealthiest quarter of Amsterdam. She has come from the country to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt, but instead she is met by his sharp-tongued sister, Marin. Only later does Johannes appear and present her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. It is to be furnished by an elusive miniaturist, whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in unexpected ways . . .
Nella is at first mystified by the closed world of the Brandt household, but as she uncovers its secrets she realizes the escalating dangers that await them all. Does the miniaturist hold their fate in her hands? And will she be the key to their salvation or the architect of their downfall?
‘My first instinct on finishing this book was to immediately read it again’ – Hannah Kent, author of Burial Rites
TweetReviews
In the Miniaturist the insights into the Brandt family in the 17th Century and the prosperity of Amsterdam were fascinating. The freedom offered to women in being able to walk along the streets of Amsterdam, unaccompanied, contrasted with life in London and Paris where this was not allowed. Freedom and family respectability were strong themes in 'The Miniaturist' and initially it seems as though Amsterdam is quite progressive.
Petronella Oortman was the main character who married Johannes Brandt, a wealthy merchant. Her hope was for love and prosperity whilst her husband's family were hoping for a cloak of respectability from the marriage and the good name of Nella's well-connected but poor family. The marriage gift of a cabinet house that Nella receives from her husband becomes a mirror into life by revealing to her what was initially concealed within the Brandt's house and is seen by Nella as providing her with insights and empowerment.
Early on in the novel, Johannes says that the city of Amsterdam was not a prison "if you plot your path correctly," and so from the story we learn that outward respectability is all important. As a consequence, people only had freedom to act as they wished behind closed doors provided their secrets were not allowed to escape into the outside world. Nella's bird, Peebo, flew out of a window to almost certain death and we felt that this was symbolic of the Brandts being unable to contain everything they wished to within their house.
Sugar rotting and going to waste in a warehouse was another recurring feature in the novel and we wondered if this was a reference to the decay that was judged by the puritanical leaders to exist in society.
Jealousy, loyalty and betrayal were major influences in the outcome of events. Some of these events appeared to be predicted by the miniaturist, also called Petronella, who provided gifts to furnish the cabinet house. Towards the end, through the miniaturist's father, we learn that Petronella is not psychic but instead had acute powers of observation and from that comment we can deduce that it is not possible to conceal all behind closed doors.
The book was well-crafted and provided many historical details regarding the history of the Dutch East India Company, a cabinet house that is now displayed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the cabinet owner's family. The book was peppered with many phrases taken from those highlighted in the Brandt's own bible such as the portentous "Be not desirous of his dainties: For they are deceitful meat."
