Novel library / English / Historical fiction
The Artist
By Lucy Steeds
Historical fiction · United Kingdom · 2025
Summary
The Artist is a historical literary novel set in Provence in 1920. Ettie quietly keeps the household and studio of her reclusive painter uncle Édouard Tartuffe functioning while maintaining creative ambitions of her own. Joseph arrives hoping an interview with the celebrated artist will establish his career, and the heat of the summer brings artistic ownership, secrecy and desire into conflict.
Book details
- Author: Lucy Steeds
- Original language: English
- Genre: Historical fiction · Historical literary fiction, art and female agency
- Publisher: John Murray Press
- Status: Published
NovelRove does not host pirated text or downloads. Rights remain with the author, publisher and respective owners.
Themes
Artistic ownership · Female agency · Ambition · Secrecy · Creative labour
Reading highlights
- A 1920 Provence setting built around art, food and landscape
- Ettie and Joseph provide contrasting perspectives on the famous painter
- The US edition is titled The Artist and the Feast
Main characters
- Ettie — Artist’s niece and emerging creator
The woman whose labour enables her uncle’s studio while she cultivates a private creative life.
- Joseph — Aspiring writer and interviewer
A young English writer who hopes access to the famous painter will establish his own career.
- Édouard “Tata” Tartuffe — Reclusive painter
A celebrated artist whose reputation, methods and control shape the lives around him.
Character notes are limited to names and relationships disclosed by the publisher or author. They avoid unverified fan claims.
About the author
Lucy Steeds
Lucy Steeds studied English Literature and World Literatures and trained through the Faber Academy and London Library Emerging Writers Programme. The Artist is her debut novel and won the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize.
Official editions and reading
- ISBN
- 9781399819565
- Publication date
- 2025-01-30
The UK first-edition hardcover is ISBN 9781399819565. The current Hachette UK paperback has a different ISBN, and the US edition is published as The Artist and the Feast, so page count and metadata should always name the market and format.
- Hachette UK official book page — Verify publication data and find current authorised formats for The Artist.
Content notes
Controlling relationships · War aftermath · Adult themes
Frequently asked questions
What is The Artist about?
Joseph travels to interview Édouard Tartuffe and enters a household sustained by the largely unseen labour of the painter’s niece Ettie. As both younger characters pursue recognition, secrets about creation and control become harder to contain.
Who wrote The Artist?
The Artist was written by Lucy Steeds. This page links its factual claims to the publisher or author source.
Do I need to read another book first?
This is a standalone work and can be read without another book first.
How many pages is The Artist?
The UK first-edition hardcover is ISBN 9781399819565. The current Hachette UK paperback has a different ISBN, and the US edition is published as The Artist and the Feast, so page count and metadata should always name the market and format.
Is The Artist the same book as The Artist and the Feast?
Yes. Hachette’s US edition uses the title The Artist and the Feast. They are market titles for Lucy Steeds’s same novel, not a sequel.
What book-club topics does The Artist support?
Useful discussion topics include invisible creative labour, who receives credit for art, the ethics of artistic possession, the effect of post-war expectations, and how Ettie and Joseph interpret ambition differently.
Where can I read or buy The Artist legally?
Use the Hachette UK page to see the authorised print, ebook, audiobook or sample options available in your market. NovelRove does not host the book text or unauthorised downloads.
Sources and verification
- Hachette UK official book page — 2026-08-30
- Hachette · Lucy Steeds profile — 2026-08-30
- Hachette US · The Artist and the Feast — 2026-08-30
