Will & Tom
By: Matthew Plampin
Publisher: The Borough Press
Published: 2015
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 321
ISBN-13: 9780007560868; 9780007413935; 9780007413928
Subjects: Fiction; History
Description: Will & Tom is a glimpse into the life of the infamous artist William Turner as a young man during a week spent at Harewood House fighting for a commission against his childhood friend and rival Tom Girtin. 1797, West Yorkshire. Young artist Will Turner arrives at sumptuous estate, Harewood House, at the invitation of aristocratic bounder Beau Lascelles believing he will do no more than sketch the house and grounds, receive his commission, and return back to London. But his new patron has other plans, his family's luck with the sugar trade means he can do something a little grander. Will is not the only artist here, he is actually one of two men that will make up the Cockney Project. His fellow artist is none other than childhood playmate and current rival, Tom Girtin, who has, to Will's shock, ingratiated himself to their patron. Tom is already dressed up as much as his meagre wallet can allow, billing and cooing amongst the esteemed guests. Will is not so easily distracted, he wants to get the job done and get out. As neither servant nor hallowed guest, Will has few allies in this house until Mrs. Smalls, a maid the servants choose to ignore, befriends him. But, hidden away in his tiny room as Tom and the guests make merry, Will is glad of her small gifts - the good candles by which he can paint - ensuring the expedience of his work and departure from this place. But the servant halls are alive with whispers, Beau's youngest sister Mary Ann is fresh from a rumoured scandal. And when Will ventures to sketch the great ruins in the grounds and instead witnesses something he shouldn't, he cannot know the importance of what he has seen and how it will change all of their lives. Alive with intrigue, artistic rivalry and society scandal, Will & Tom is a glimpse into the life of the infamous artist William Turner as he makes his mark and fights for his place in the London art scene against his greatest competitor. It is story of how we are liberated from the shackles of our masters at a time when England is awakening to its crimes of slavery and servitude.