Brighten the Corner Where You Are: A Novel Inspired by the Life of Maud Lewis

Carol Bruneau has a giant story to tell about Maud Lewis, internationally lauded folk artist. Bruneau, known for her indefatigable research, creates a novel that is in itself a literary work of art and history. Maud Lewis, suffering from birth rheumatoid arthritis, grows hands that close permanently as clubs instead of wandering fingers. Unable to hold a paintbrush in any conventional way, Maud never-the-less finds in her love of color and nature, a passion for painting. Abused in childhood as a freak, Maud suffers gross cruelty from her husband, but not without determination to find bits of joy in corners, especially in making others happy. Painting her entire house (a shack, really) with folk art seems natural. When kindness comes her way, Maud is almost overwhelmed and grateful. Maud and her great love, a crow Maud names Matilda, accept nature and events like existentialists, observing, talking, helping each other at critical times. Maud Lewis paintings hang in museums all over the world. (The best are in Halifax.) Although each work is now worth many thousands of dollars, the Maud we meet typically charges $4 to tourists for her housepaint-on-board paintings. How beautiful is Bruneau's writing, a masterpiece of clear, unjudgmental storytelling! The narrative compels page-turning. Additionally, the author is gifted with hearing the many dialects of Nova Scotia, creating with precision her own painting in words. I think of this book every day and am likely to read it many times.