The Competition edition by Caroline Miley Literature Fiction eBooks
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“To take a sheet of paper and a pencil and make something where before there had been nothing; to feel the paper under my fist and the sound of the crayon's whisper across the page; to bring to life on the blank surface line, light and shadow…”
Two hundred years ago, Edward Armiger stood at his easel and wondered what to paint. His problems are contemporary, even if his setting is different. His was a world in the grip of war, change and radical new ideas, but what was his place in it?
He and his friends enter a painting competition at the Royal Academy that will establish the winner professionally, but when he’s pitchforked into the gritty world of northern woollen mills, frame-breaking and food riots, his ideas are disrupted by Luddites and progressive political thinkers. When he returns to London, his new beliefs put career and friendships in jeopardy and his pursuit of love falters. Total failure is never far away. But what constitutes success?
Written in a lucid style laced with fascinating period detail and vivid descriptions, The Competition takes the reader on a meticulously-researched but lively journey through the art and industrial worlds of Georgian England.
“The Competition is a novel of astounding verisimilitude it seems incredible that Miley was not present at these events. Yet Edward Armiger’s struggles are of our own times too.” Judith Lukin-Amundsen
The Competition edition by Caroline Miley Literature Fiction eBooks
The Competition is the story of 31 year-old artist, Edward Armiger, who makes his living painting landscapes. He is good at what he does but has not attracted a rich patron who will take him to the next level. So he lives day-to-day or one could say painting-to-painting. He has to produce a painting that someone wants to buy or he will go hungry. One day an announcement is made by the British Institution, a society formed in 1803 o promote the art works of living and dead artists, that there will be a grand art competition. Its theme would be “The Spirit of the Present Age”. Any artist could enter a painting and all paintings would be judged on its merit and how it captured the theme. To ensure fairness, the judges would not know who painted any of the entries. The winner would receive a major commission and most likely an invitation to join the Institution.The book is set during the Napoleonic Wars specifically during the first half of 1812. Except for about one year of peace in 1803, England has been at war with France for 18 years. Despite all its victories at sea, the country has had only limited success on the European continent. Wellington has forced France and its allies out of Portugal, but the reign of Napoleon is at its zenith, stretching from the Straits of Gibraltar to the Vistula River. With no end to the war in sight and the people have become war-weary. . . not so much because of the casualties or even defeats, but the effect of it on the economy. British manufacturers, especially those in textile industry, are greatly dependent on foreign trade and most of the European markets have been closed to them by the French.
The time is also the beginning of Industrial Revolution. One of the book’s subplots is the impact of the mechanization of the textile industry on the life of the traditional workers who are being replaced by machines. Many are thrown out of work. Suddenly they find themselves and their families hungry and eventually evicted from their homes when they cannot pay their rent. Soon the desperate workers take matters in their own hands and begin destroying the machines, burning mills, and even attacking the factory owners. These disaffected workers become known as Luddites. Eventually the military was brought in to restore order and lives are lost.
The author does a superb job of recreating life in the Regency Era. She uses Edward Armiger as bridge between not only the upper and middle classes, but also the working class and the poor. Early in the book he accepts a commission to document the building of an industrialist’s new mansion in a series of paintings. His new patron is one of the nouveau riche who has made a fortune in the textile industry. While Edward is painting landscapes he also does drawings of the new machines and meets many of the workers. The more he sees their plight, the more he wants to help. Almost by accident he becomes involved with the Luddites. Soon Mr. Armiger has a problem. He earns his living by selling paintings to the upper class, to do this he has to paint things they want to buy. Yet as he is drawn into the changing world of the workers, the less interest he has in painting things that will sell.
Two things makes The Competition makes the book stand out. The first is the immense amount of research Ms. Miley has done to create the little details of life during that period. By doing so, she puts the reader in the shoes of the artist. You see him in the countryside searching for the perfect landscape to paint as well as in his studio. He visits the homes of his rich clients as well as the middle class and the poor. But you also see him with his contemporaries in the coffee houses and taverns. There he and his fellow artists meet for meals and drinks, but also to discuss the latest news of the day, especially that which will affect them. It is the place where Mr. Armiger catches up on the latest gossip and the politics of the world of art, such as who will be invited to join the British Institution this year? Whose work is considered too mundane or controversial for society? And what will be next year’s trends?
The second strength of the book is the author’s knowledge of art of the period and the techniques use do create it. Ms. Miley does this by taking the reader through Mr. Armiger’s process from the moment he has the idea for the painting to its final framing. For example there are anecdotes about Mr. Armiger visiting shops that sell the pigments that the he needs for his paints. The conversation with the merchant centers around which pigments will work the best for the effect he is trying to achieve with the painting, but also which ones he can afford. Once the pigments are bought the author returns to his studio and the narrative then describes the various methods he uses to grind the pigments and mix with a variety of oils to produce the paint. Because the authors spends so much time on these details, the reader is left with a greater appreciation of what it took to make the great paintings of the time.
The Competition is not just a book. In addition to being an extremely talented story-teller, the author has not limited her tale to just words. Ms. Miley has also created a website that allows the reader to see the many famous paintings and places that she writes about. One of the paintings that is mentioned many times in the book is Benjamin West’s painting of “Christ Healing the Sick” which debuted in 1812. Another is a contemporary painting of the interior of the British Institution by Thomas Rowlandson showing art students making copies of the art hanging there. She even gets a bit whimsical and has a contemporary print of the Old Slaughter Coffee House, where Mr. Armiger spends much of his free time meeting with his friends. You can access the website at Caroline Miley Writer.
Caroline Miley has crafted a superb story about art and politics in England during the early 19th Century. Her passion for art and history comes through in every paragraph and because of it, the reader will be drawn in to the story from the start!
Highly recommended.
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The Competition edition by Caroline Miley Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews
This is a fabulous book for anyone who enjoys a convincingly written historical fiction about art. Actually its a fabulous book for anyone who just enjoys a great story!
The Competition brings the Georgian period alive. This meticulously researched and minutely detailed account of the ups and downs of Edward Armiger is a page turner. If you love art you’ll be soaking up all the detail about pigments and techniques and advancement of style within social contexts. If you enjoy history you’ll be engrossed by the way the connection between international politics affects the everyday lives of working and middle class people. And who doesn’t enjoy some drama. Edward’s social life is up and down like a yoyo despite his best efforts to do the right thing and make life a bit more comfortable for himself and maybe make a contribution beyond his own self interests?
I finished The Competition far too quickly and was left hoping Caroline Miley was working on the sequel!
Really enjoyed this book. It's not often an artist is the protagonist and the author takes us into the heart of the art world. There isn't much in the way of derring-do, villains lurking in dark alleys; instead, there's a detailed and wholly believable panorama of the ins and outs of the life of an artist in the time of Turner and Constable. I love art so I was carried away by the descriptions of painting, technique etc. In many ways, very like today - ordinary people trying to get ahead, worrying about the power of the establishment, falling in love. It's more like Jane Austen (who's mentioned briefly) than some of the more Gothic novels about the period. Edward Armiger, the protagonist, needs to make money but is tired of doing the same old thing. That's when the book jumps straight from the coffee-shops of London into a northern town (not identified, but could be any of the growing industrial centres - Leeds, Manchester?). Magnificent description of a woollen mill and steam engine - I really felt I was there. The book deals with the insecurities of the time, the political background, and I think succeeds in avoiding sentimentalising the Luddites although our sympathies are definitely with them.
This is a great book for people who love art and/or are interested in the nitty-gritty of the Industrial Revolution. An interesting juxtaposition and a good read.
I will admit I thought I had bought a romance and though I will read one occasionally, its not my favorite genre. Still, I set aside time to read a bit of everything. I was pleasantly surprised to find this book to be quite a bit more than falling in/out of love. I have never before read anything concerning the workings of a painters mind. It was amazing. I actually slowed my normal reading speed to soak up more of the imagery and stretch the story out. I hate it when a good story ends. The picture the writer paints of the historic period was excellent also. Social and economic struggle is real down through ages. Well done Caroline Miley. An excellent first work. I look forward to more from you. Highly recommended to anyone who loves to read an outstanding story.
The Competition is the story of 31 year-old artist, Edward Armiger, who makes his living painting landscapes. He is good at what he does but has not attracted a rich patron who will take him to the next level. So he lives day-to-day or one could say painting-to-painting. He has to produce a painting that someone wants to buy or he will go hungry. One day an announcement is made by the British Institution, a society formed in 1803 o promote the art works of living and dead artists, that there will be a grand art competition. Its theme would be “The Spirit of the Present Age”. Any artist could enter a painting and all paintings would be judged on its merit and how it captured the theme. To ensure fairness, the judges would not know who painted any of the entries. The winner would receive a major commission and most likely an invitation to join the Institution.
The book is set during the Napoleonic Wars specifically during the first half of 1812. Except for about one year of peace in 1803, England has been at war with France for 18 years. Despite all its victories at sea, the country has had only limited success on the European continent. Wellington has forced France and its allies out of Portugal, but the reign of Napoleon is at its zenith, stretching from the Straits of Gibraltar to the Vistula River. With no end to the war in sight and the people have become war-weary. . . not so much because of the casualties or even defeats, but the effect of it on the economy. British manufacturers, especially those in textile industry, are greatly dependent on foreign trade and most of the European markets have been closed to them by the French.
The time is also the beginning of Industrial Revolution. One of the book’s subplots is the impact of the mechanization of the textile industry on the life of the traditional workers who are being replaced by machines. Many are thrown out of work. Suddenly they find themselves and their families hungry and eventually evicted from their homes when they cannot pay their rent. Soon the desperate workers take matters in their own hands and begin destroying the machines, burning mills, and even attacking the factory owners. These disaffected workers become known as Luddites. Eventually the military was brought in to restore order and lives are lost.
The author does a superb job of recreating life in the Regency Era. She uses Edward Armiger as bridge between not only the upper and middle classes, but also the working class and the poor. Early in the book he accepts a commission to document the building of an industrialist’s new mansion in a series of paintings. His new patron is one of the nouveau riche who has made a fortune in the textile industry. While Edward is painting landscapes he also does drawings of the new machines and meets many of the workers. The more he sees their plight, the more he wants to help. Almost by accident he becomes involved with the Luddites. Soon Mr. Armiger has a problem. He earns his living by selling paintings to the upper class, to do this he has to paint things they want to buy. Yet as he is drawn into the changing world of the workers, the less interest he has in painting things that will sell.
Two things makes The Competition makes the book stand out. The first is the immense amount of research Ms. Miley has done to create the little details of life during that period. By doing so, she puts the reader in the shoes of the artist. You see him in the countryside searching for the perfect landscape to paint as well as in his studio. He visits the homes of his rich clients as well as the middle class and the poor. But you also see him with his contemporaries in the coffee houses and taverns. There he and his fellow artists meet for meals and drinks, but also to discuss the latest news of the day, especially that which will affect them. It is the place where Mr. Armiger catches up on the latest gossip and the politics of the world of art, such as who will be invited to join the British Institution this year? Whose work is considered too mundane or controversial for society? And what will be next year’s trends?
The second strength of the book is the author’s knowledge of art of the period and the techniques use do create it. Ms. Miley does this by taking the reader through Mr. Armiger’s process from the moment he has the idea for the painting to its final framing. For example there are anecdotes about Mr. Armiger visiting shops that sell the pigments that the he needs for his paints. The conversation with the merchant centers around which pigments will work the best for the effect he is trying to achieve with the painting, but also which ones he can afford. Once the pigments are bought the author returns to his studio and the narrative then describes the various methods he uses to grind the pigments and mix with a variety of oils to produce the paint. Because the authors spends so much time on these details, the reader is left with a greater appreciation of what it took to make the great paintings of the time.
The Competition is not just a book. In addition to being an extremely talented story-teller, the author has not limited her tale to just words. Ms. Miley has also created a website that allows the reader to see the many famous paintings and places that she writes about. One of the paintings that is mentioned many times in the book is Benjamin West’s painting of “Christ Healing the Sick” which debuted in 1812. Another is a contemporary painting of the interior of the British Institution by Thomas Rowlandson showing art students making copies of the art hanging there. She even gets a bit whimsical and has a contemporary print of the Old Slaughter Coffee House, where Mr. Armiger spends much of his free time meeting with his friends. You can access the website at Caroline Miley Writer.
Caroline Miley has crafted a superb story about art and politics in England during the early 19th Century. Her passion for art and history comes through in every paragraph and because of it, the reader will be drawn in to the story from the start!
Highly recommended.
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