The Road to Urbino

November 15, 2019
Lynton "Ras" Rasanagium is awaiting trial for his theft of The Flagellation of Christ by Piero della Francesca. While his guilt is not in doubt, his lawyer, Elizabeth, hopes that, if his motivations are known, he will receive a lesser sentence. So Ras begins with his tragic upbringing in Sri Lanka. Orphaned at an early age, Ras and his brother emigrate to London, and Ras tries to reinvent himself. He marries, finds a steady career, and has a daughter whom he adores. Unfortunately, his marriage is as short-lived as his career. Ras takes a job in the National Gallery, a decision that will put him on a collision course with the Piero. Tearne employs a unique narrative structure by using conversations that Ras and material witness Alex Benson have with Elizabeth. Her artistic background shows as she layers the stories of these men like paint on canvas, sometimes providing contrast, sometimes shading, and sometimes filling in blank parts. Once completed, the painting that emerges is one of loss, assimilation, and the lingering, generational effects of war. Recommended for all fiction collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)