Type of Beauty

A Type of Beauty is the dramatised account of the life of Kathleen Newton (1854-1882) whose love affair with French artist Jacques Tissot scandalised Victorian society.A sweeping story set in London, Agra, Bombay and Paris, it brings to life the sights, scents and emotional landscape of the Victorian era.When Kate Kelly, beautiful and feisty, travels to India to marry a man she has never seen, she considers her life is over. But little does she know it is just beginning.She ends up back in London with an unconsummated marriage, a pending divorce and is pregnant by a man she despises. Despite the awfulness of her situation, she never loses hope of finding happiness which she does while holidaying in Paris with her sister. When she meets the sensual French artist Jacques Tissot it is love at first sight, for both of them.But complications test their love for each other until destiny steps in.A Type of Beauty was awarded Historical Novel Society's, Editor's ChoicePraise for A Type of Beauty:'In this one of the great romances of the Victorian era, Patricia O'Reilly has brought to live a past that is at once vivid and utterly credible. A joy to read' - Christine Dwyer Hickey'Patricia O'Reilly has woven a truly intriguing story. I was fascinated by this life of an unconventional woman who lived exactly as she wanted to, despite society's disapproval' - Lucinda Hawksley'An engaging and illuminating exploration of the intersection of these Irish, English, Indian and French worlds in the intriguing, tragic and very modern relationship of Jacques Tissot and Kathleen Newton' - Carlo Gebler'A beguiling tale and an imaginative melange of historical characters with a sharp insight into women's lives...Kate's story is most compelling and this an altogether fine literary accomplishment by Patricia O'Reilly' - Mary Kenny