The Sensualist

by Barbara Hodgson

Book Overview

This novel is a potent exploration of the limitations of looking and the boundless power of seeing, a mystery that weaves together the unseemly history of anatomical art with a gruesome modern day murder.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 081181906X
• ISBN13: 9780811819060
• Release Date: August 1998
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (CA)
• Length: 295 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.3" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

loved it

Barbara Hodgsons attention to detail made this page turner impossible to put down. It was like a twist a plot book, taking unexpected turns throughout this murder mystery told through ghosts. It left me thirsty for more.

A wonderfully indulgent read

The Sensualist is one of those books to get lost in. Especially if you enjoy art, travel, history & human anatomy. The story takes you into a dream world of interesting characters and landscapes. Full of Hodgson's wonderful illustrations I found myself tied at wanting to follow the story to it's end and going deeper into "her" reality. A must read for dreamers and artists!

Strangely involving, unnecesarily weird

After the first 50 pages, the books suddenly draws you in. Helen is in search of her husband, so she can put an end to a dead marriage. Following his steps, she becomes teh center of a strange mystery, sought after by weird characters whose interst in her is never quite explained. The novel is a page-turner. The descriptions of European cities is detailed and alive. However, a lot of circumstances remain unclear. The reader is left with a lot of whys and how comes. Yet, that said, the novel is so unique that is worth the read.

Very clever, subliminally educational, interesting character

Hodgson has divided her chapters into each of the human senses. Very clever idea...and it works. The mystery is not as interesting as the characters she writes about or as interesting as the historical anatomy lesson.

She is one of the most unique authors I've ever encountered.

Barbara Hodgson does it again! The Tattoed Map was absolutely amazing and her newest work is just as good. A woman goes to Europe in search of her estranged husband and ends up re-discovering herself through her senses. She is aided in her quest by a menagerie of quirky characters. The coloured pictures throughout the novel add to the enchantment. I would more than recommend this novel to anyone looking for something a little out of the normal.