{"title":"Rachel Halliburton","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRachel Halliburton\u003c\/strong\u003e crafts immersive historical fiction that transports readers to vivid, richly detailed worlds. Her storytelling deftly weaves intrigue, complex characters, and evocative settings, inviting readers to explore the shadows and secrets of past eras.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the captivating mysteries in \u003cem\u003eThe Optickal Illusion\u003c\/em\u003e to other gripping narratives, Halliburton's work engages with history's forgotten corners, blending suspense and drama with authenticity and emotional depth.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-optickal-illusion-by-rachel-halliburton-9780715653319","title":"The Optickal Illusion","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe Optickal Illusion\u003c\/i\u003e, Rachel Halliburton's meticulous recreation of Georgian society reveals the sordid details of a genuine scandal that deceived the British Royal Academy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHer debut novel questions the lengths women must go to make their mark on a society that seeks to underplay their abilities - a theme only too relevant today. It is three years from the dawn of a new century and in London, nothing is certain any more: the future of the monarchy is in question, the city is aflame with right and left-wing conspiracies, and the French could invade any day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAgainst this feverish atmosphere, the American painter Benjamin West is visited by a strange father and daughter, the Provises, who claim they have a secret that has obsessed painters for centuries: the Venetian techniques of master painter Titian. West was once the most celebrated painter in London, but hasn't produced anything of note in years so against his better judgment he agrees to let the intriguing Ann Jemima Provis visit his studio and demonstrate what she knows.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhat unravels reveals more than he has ever understood - about himself, about the treachery of the art world and the seductive promise of genius. The nature of truth itself is called into question in this story of envy, lust and corruption.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47384046043372,"sku":"9780715653319","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/21834013482442.jpg?v=1773399117"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/rachel-halliburton.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}