Rebecca Godfrey – författare

A dazzling, richly imagined novel about Peggy Guggenheim-a story of art, family, love, and becoming oneself-by the award-winning author of Under the Bridge, now a Hulu limited series starring Riley Keough and Lily Gladstone

"Godfrey brilliantly resurrects the avant-garde adventurer Peggy Guggenheim as a feminist icon for our times."-Jenny Offill, author of Dept. of Speculation

"Magnificent . . . Readers will be won over by Godfrey's incandescent portrait of a singular woman."-Publishers Weekly, starred review

Venice, 1958. Peggy Guggenheim, heiress and now legendary art collector, sits in the sun at her white marble palazzo on the Grand Canal. She's in a reflective mood, thinking back on her thrilling, tragic, nearly impossible journey from her sheltered, old-fashioned family in New York to here: iconoclast and independent woman.

Rebecca Godfrey's Peggy is a blazingly fresh interpretation of a woman who defies every expectation to become an original. The daughter of two Jewish dynasties, Peggy finds her cloistered life turned upside down at fourteen, when her beloved father perishes on the Titanic. His death prompts Peggy to seek a life of passion and personal freedom and, above all, to believe in the transformative power of art. We follow Peggy as she makes her way through the glamorous but sexist and anti-Semitic art worlds of New York and Europe and meet the numerous men who love her (and her money) while underestimating her intellect, talent, and vision. Along the way, Peggy must balance her loyalty to her family with her need to break free from their narrow, snobbish ways and the unexpected restrictions that come with vast fortune.

Rebecca Godfrey's final book-completed by her friend, the acclaimed writer Leslie Jamison, following Godfrey's death in 2022-brings to life the woman who helped make the Guggenheim name synonymous with art and genius.

*Now a major TV series starring Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone - as seen on ITV*A future true crime classic featuring an introduction by Mary Gaitskill''Dreamy, mysterious and ultimately terrifying'' Megan Abbott, author of Dare Me ''A swift, harrowing classic'' Jenny Offill, author of Dept. of SpeculationBritish Columbia, 1997. One moonlit night, fourteen-year-old Reena Virk went to join friends at a party and never returned home.In Under the Bridge, acclaimed author Rebecca Godfrey takes us into the hidden world of the seven teenage girls - and boy - accused of a savage murder. As she follows the investigation and trials, Godfrey reveals the startling truth about the unlikely killers.Laced with lyricism and insight, Under the Bridge is an unforgettable look at a haunting modern tragedy.''A modern day Crime and Punishment that keeps you on the edge of your seat. A stunning book'' Gary Shteyngart, author of Lake Success''Under the Bridge is brilliant, enthralling, heart breaking and disturbing'' Nadine Matheson, author of The Binding Room''A tour-de-force of true crime reportage'' Kirkus Reviews''Mixes novelistic suspense with a journalist''s key eye for detail'' Bustle''Hypnotic, obsessive, wonderfully transformative'' John Guare, author of Six Degrees of Separation

''Intimate and urgent'' Financial Times''A vivid portrait of a tumultuous 20th century life'' Mail on Sunday''A rich and rewarding read'' Daily Telegraph''I was a liberated woman long before there was a name for it'' PEGGY GUGGENHEIM VENICE, 1958. Peggy Guggenheim, heiress and now legendary art collector, sits in the sun at her white marble palazzo on the Grand Canal. Hers has been a thrilling, tragic, near-impossible journey. She has defied every expectation, followed her heart, and finally found contentment. She is independent. She is a true original. And she''ll never stop believing in the transformative power of art.Peggy is fourteen when her father dies on the Titanic and her cloistered life is turned upside down. The youngest daughter of two Jewish dynasties, Peggy is determined to pursue a life of passion and personal freedom. But unexpected restrictions come with her vast fortune. As society changes and war sweeps through Europe, she navigates the decadent, sexist and anti-Semitic art worlds of New York and Paris. She loves and is loved - sometimes for herself, often for her money - yet no-one ever takes her intellect, talent or vision seriously. Until she learns to believe in it herself.Rebecca Godfrey''s final book - completed by her friend, the acclaimed bestseller Leslie Jamison, following Godfrey''s death in 2022 - brings to life the singular woman who helped make the Guggenheim name synonymous with art and genius.