Name: The Italian Teacher
ISBN: 9781786482600

Tom Rachman

As a child Pinch loves Bear almost as much as he fears him. As an adult, trying to live up to his father's name — one of the twentieth century's fiercest and most controversial painters — Pinch never quite succeeds. Yet by the end of a career of twists and compromises, he enacts an unexpected rebellion that will leave forever his mark upon the Bear Bavinsky legacy. With his signature humour and humanity Tom Rachman delivers a masterpiece of a novel that challenges the very idea of greatness.

The Italian Teacher

Trying to burn brightly under his father's shadow - one of the twentieth century's fiercest and most controversial painters - Pinch's attempts flicker and die. Yet by the end of a career of twists and compromises, Pinch will enact an unexpected rebellion that will leave forever his mark upon the Bear Bavinsky legacy

The Costa Award Shortlisted Novel

Antonella Romani

I really enjoyed the plot, characters, and writing. While this book can be a bit of a dense read, it had some interesting insight on the commercial art world and what it means to have a successful life within it.
I appreciated how the main character, Pinch, was detailed and made an authentically flawed character, always trying to please his too self-important father, a famous artist. He is a much better person but lives in obscurity, kept there by the man he admires most. 
What Pinch undertakes near the end of the story is genius and actually extremely satisfying. I think Pinch got it just right. :)

Les Reynolds

Tom Rachman's grand and moving family drama set against the pretention, prestige and pomp of the international art world, now in a new format edition

Chuck D'Antonio

"A masterful novel that moves from Roman apartments to SoHo galleries to the South of France and tells the story of the son of a great painter striving to create his own legacy, by the bestselling author of THE IMPERFECTIONISTS. Rome, 1955. The artists gather for a picture at a party in an ancient villa. Bear Bavinsky, creator of vast canvases, larger than life, is at the centre of the picture. His wife, Natalie, edges out of the shot. From the side of the room watches little Pinch - their son. At five years old he loves Bear almost as much as he fears him. After Bear abandons their family, Pinch will still worship him, striving to live up to the Bavinsky name; while Natalie, a ceramicist, cannot hope to be more than a forgotten muse. Trying to burn brightly in his father's shadow, Pinch's attempts flicker and die. Yet by the end of a career of twists and compromises, Pinch will enact an unexpected rebellion that will leave forever his mark upon the Bear Bavinsky legacy. A masterful, original examination of love, duty, art and fame, The Italian Teacher cements Tom Rachman as among this generation's most exciting literary voices"--

The Italian Teacher

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