The Last Nude

By: Ellis Avery

Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer, Barbara Caruso

Paris, 1927, a day in July. A destitute young American named Rafaela Fano gets into the car of a dazzling stranger, the Art Deco painter Tamara de Lempicka. Struggling to halt a downward slide toward prostitution, Rafaela agrees to model for the artist. The two become lovers, and Rafaela inspires Tamara’s most accomplished and prized works of art, including Beautiful Rafaela, “one of the most important nudes of the 20th century” (New York Times).

The relationship between the artist and her muse lasted less than a year, yet in 1980, just before Tamara died, she was working on a copy of Beautiful Rafaela. Author Ellis Avery imagines their affair from Rafaela’s point of view, and the final day of Tamara’s life from the painter’s point of view. A window into Jazz Age Paris as the forces of history close in, The Last Nude is a story of genius and craft, art and money, friendship and desire.

©2011 Ellis Avery. Recorded by arrangement with Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency, Inc. (P)2011 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

“As erotic and powerful as the paintings that inspired it.” (Emma Donoghue, author of Room)

“Seductive...intelligent...smoking hot.” (Emily Barton, author of Brookland)

Will listen again

This was amazing. It’s everything speculative fiction should be. Well researched, laced with and based on facts. Realistic, gut wrenching, heart breaking, and so realistic in every way. it’s just a brilliant piece of art.

atmospheric and lush

excellent story and performance. I did not want it to end. History, art and romance

Loved this book

Would you listen to The Last Nude again? Why?

Yes - The Performers were spectacular putting you in the story as if watching on a screen. Loved it Loved it.

a beautiful listen

This a beautiful story of Paris, art, sexuality and aging. I didn't want it to end.

Loved it

Didn’t want it to end, and it left me wanting to know if Rafaela made it out of Germany