Frida Slattery As Herself A Novel

"Frida Slattery As Herself is a deft, profound, and seemingly effortless portrayal of how a series of artworks-as well as the personal and professional lives of the artists-takes shape over fifteen years, spanning the 2008 financial crisis, Me Too, and COVID. Ana Kinsella manages to deliver all the pleasures of a comic-romantic novel while thinking through a satisfying number of big themes: gender politics and financial precarity, the mysteries of artistic collaboration, and the relentless tug-of-war between freedom and security. Moving, thought-provoking, and utterly delightful." - Elif Batuman, author of Either/Or and The Idiot

"Kinsella's fascinating tale of the struggle for self-determinism in art and life offers a sharp, beautifully nuanced insight into inspiration, the push and pull of the long ties that bind, and who owes whom what in pursuit of personal and creative freedom." - Marie Claire (UK)

"An effortless, elegant, and impressive debut from a promising young writer." - The Irish Times

"A sexy, sprawling epic." - Glamour (UK)

"Kinsella is particularly alert to the seductions of what might be called a work romance: the thrill of building ideas together, of being seen not just as a person but as potential, material, muse. . . . What sustains Frida Slattery As Herself for 500 pages is its commitment to emotional complexity. Kinsella is interested not only in the drama of the relationship but in its subtler recalibrations as well as the way artistic collaborations can illuminate and obscure emotional truth." - Sunday Times (UK)

"A terrific read." - Irish Independent

"A virtuosic and assured journey through two entwined lives - I was so wholly and breathtakingly invested in each character that I felt genuinely bereft when I was finished. It has such heart and vibrancy, and an abundance of style." - Sophie Mackintosh, author of The Water Cure and Permanence

"This is a real treat of a novel: a gorgeous, immersive story that manages to be both epic and intimate, funny and wise. It is, among many things, a beautiful portrait of Dublin, and a story about difficult love, the lure of ambition, and finding your creative voice. Tender and unexpected, the story of Frida Slattery and John Reddan will stay with me for a very long time." - Roisín O'Donnell, author of Nesting

"An expansive, deeply felt love letter to artistic expression, Frida Slattery As Herself is as compelling and ambitious as it is beautifully written. Ana Kinsella handles big themes-power, desire, success-with great subtlety and skill. I loved it." - Lisa Owens, author of Not Working and Natural Disaster

"Sublime." - Jessica Stanley, author of Consider Yourself Kissed