Costalegre
Costalegre by Courtney Maum, published by National Geographic Books on July 2, 2019, is an illustrated work that explores the complexities of a mother-daughter relationship against the backdrop of 1937 Europe, on the verge of war. The narrative follows Leonora Calaway, an American heiress and modern art collector, as she attempts to protect artists deemed undesirable by the Nazi regime by bringing them to a secluded resort in the Mexican jungle. The story is told through the eyes of Lara, Leonora’s fifteen-year-old daughter, who grapples with her mother’s eccentricities and the instability of her life.
Readers will find a poignant exploration of coming-of-age themes as Lara navigates her tumultuous existence among surrealist artists. The book delves into the emotional challenges faced by a young girl seeking connection and understanding in a world filled with chaos and artistic fervor. With elements of historical fiction and a focus on the impact of World War II on culture, Costalegre presents a unique perspective on the intersection of art, family, and identity. This edition spans 240 pages and is presented in English.
Official synopsis Publisher
It is 1937, and Europe is on the brink of war. Hitler is circulating a most-wanted list of “cultural degenerates”—artists, writers, and thinkers whose work is deemed antithetical to the new regime. To prevent the destruction of her favorite art (and artists), the impetuous American heiress and modern art collector Leonora Calaway begins chartering boats and planes for an elite group of surrealists to Costalegre, a mysterious resort in the Mexican jungle.
The story of what happens to these artists when they reach their destination is told from the point of view of Lara, Leonora’s neglected fifteen-year-old daughter. Forced from a young age to live with her mother’s eccentric whims, tortured lovers, and entourage of gold-diggers, Lara suffers from emotional, educational, and geographical instability that a Mexican sojourn with surrealists isn’t going to help. But when she meets the outcast Dadaist sculptor Jack Klinger, Lara thinks she might have found the understanding she so badly craves.
Heartbreaking and strange, Costalegre is inspired by the real-life relationship between the heiress Peggy Guggenheim and her daughter, Pegeen. Courtney Maum triumphs with this wildly imaginative and curiously touching story of a privileged teenager who has everything a girl could wish for—except a mother who loves her back.
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