Browsing the Bookshelves

The Hound in the Left Hand Corner by Giles Waterfield

I enjoyed this book from start to finish. On the surface it's the story behind a particular Gainsborough painting and the mystery behind the hound in the left hand corner of the painting which does look quite right. On another level it is a spoof very loosely based on Shakespeare's Midsummer's Night Dream - all frame by the Gainsborough which portrays an 18th century Lady St John dressed as Puck! There are multiple layers of deception both within the painting and the plot. The action takes place over the course of a single day, giving the book a very satisifying roundness. It's a light and easy read but full of black humour, wry and witty asides and ascerbic commentary on one particular aspect of the musuem world. At times, even, there are elements of slapstick humour - waiters and cheese come to mind. The characterisation is superb; a little stereotypical, but I'm sure that's intentional: for such a short book, the reader gets to know a remarkable number of characters very well and very quickly. Highly recommended.  After all, how can you resist a book with such a beguiling title>