War's Unlikely Meeting

In 1944, amidst the chaos of World War II, art historian Evelyn Skinner and young British soldier Ulysses Temper meet by chance in the Tuscan hills. Their conversation, sparked by a shared love of art and the fate of Florence's masterpieces, forges a deep, immediate connection. Evelyn, wise and witty, imparts her philosophy on art's power to heal and endure, while Ulysses, open-hearted and resilient, absorbs her lessons. Their night together—drinking wine, discussing paintings, and surviving shellfire—becomes a touchstone for both, a moment of beauty and hope amid destruction. This fleeting encounter will ripple through their lives, shaping destinies and relationships for decades to come.

Homecoming and Loss

After the war, Ulysses returns to a battered East London, finding his father dead, his marriage to Peg strained, and his old pub, The Stoat and Parrot, a shadow of its former self. The city is scarred, its people hardened by loss and deprivation. Ulysses reconnects with friends like Col, Cress, and the ever-complicated Peg, who now has a child, Alys, fathered by an American soldier. The war's aftermath lingers in every relationship, and Ulysses, though gentle and optimistic, struggles to find his place. The memory of Evelyn and Florence haunts him, a reminder of a world where beauty and meaning still exist.

East London Ties

The postwar years in London are marked by hardship but also by the fierce bonds of friendship and chosen family. Ulysses, Peg, Col, Cress, and others form a makeshift clan, supporting each other through poverty, heartbreak, and the daily grind. The pub becomes a sanctuary, filled with music, laughter, and the eccentric parrot Claude. Peg's restlessness and Ulysses' quiet yearning for something more create tension, but their loyalty endures. The city's grit is softened by moments of grace—shared meals, songs, and the cherry tree Cress tends as a symbol of hope and survival.

Love's Complications

Love in this world is messy and mutable. Peg and Ulysses' marriage dissolves, but their connection persists in new forms. Peg's affairs, Ulysses' gentle patience, and the presence of Alys complicate the web of relationships. Old Cress, ever the fixer, dispenses wisdom and comfort, while Col's gruff exterior hides deep wounds. The community weathers betrayals, deaths, and disappointments, but forgiveness is always possible. Through it all, the memory of Florence and Evelyn's words about art and love linger, guiding Ulysses toward a future he can't yet imagine.

Art, Memory, and Grief

Ulysses' fascination with globes—his father's craft—becomes a metaphor for his search for meaning. Art, in all its forms, is a balm for grief and a bridge between past and present. Evelyn's stories of Florence, her lost love Livia, and her encounters with artists and poets shape Ulysses' understanding of beauty and loss. The narrative weaves together personal and collective memory, showing how art preserves what war and time threaten to erase. Grief is ever-present, but so is the possibility of transformation through creativity and connection.

The Gift of Florence

Years after the war, Ulysses learns that Arturo, a Florentine he once saved, has left him a house in Florence. This windfall is both a gift and a dilemma, offering escape from London's stagnation and a chance to build something new. With Cress and Alys, Ulysses sets out for Italy, leaving behind the familiar for the unknown. The journey is both literal and emotional, a leap of faith inspired by Evelyn's belief in fate and the enduring power of art. Florence, with its light and history, beckons as a place of healing and possibility.

New Beginnings Abroad

Arriving in Florence, Ulysses, Cress, and Alys are welcomed by the city's beauty and eccentricities. They settle into Arturo's old apartment, gradually transforming it into a pensione—a guesthouse that becomes a hub for travelers and locals alike. The trio navigates language barriers, cultural differences, and the challenges of starting over. Cress finds purpose in hospitality, Alys flourishes in the city's artistic atmosphere, and Ulysses reconnects with his love of globe-making. The found family expands, embracing new friends like Massimo and the ever-present Claude. Florence becomes not just a backdrop but a character in their story.

Found Family Forms

The pensione thrives as a gathering place for misfits, dreamers, and seekers. Ulysses, Cress, and Alys create a home defined by acceptance and generosity, welcoming guests from around the world. Old friends from London visit, bringing with them memories and unresolved tensions. Peg's absence is keenly felt, but her spirit lingers in Alys and in the songs sung at the piano. The lines between blood and chosen family blur, and love takes many forms—romantic, platonic, parental, and communal. The city's rhythms—markets, festivals, and daily rituals—anchor the family in a new sense of belonging.

The Years Unfold

The narrative spans decades, tracing the evolution of relationships and the passage of time. Children grow up, elders age, and the city itself transforms. Ulysses and Alys deepen their bond, Peg finds new love, and Cress experiences both joy and heartbreak. The pensione weathers ups and downs, but its spirit endures. Art, music, and storytelling remain central, connecting generations and bridging gaps. The characters confront loss, regret, and the inevitability of change, but also discover resilience and the capacity for renewal. The past is never far, but the future is always being written.

The Flood and the Angels

In 1966, Florence is devastated by a catastrophic flood. The city's treasures are imperiled, and its people face ruin. Ulysses, Alys, and their community join the "mud angels"—volunteers from around the world who come to save art and rebuild lives. The crisis tests their strength and solidarity, but also reveals the best of humanity: compassion, ingenuity, and hope. The flood becomes a crucible, forging deeper bonds and reaffirming the importance of art, memory, and mutual care. Out of the mud, a new Florence emerges, scarred but unbroken.

Healing and Return

In the aftermath of the flood, the pensione becomes a haven for those displaced and those seeking purpose. Old friends return—Peg, Col, Pete, and even Evelyn, now elderly but undiminished in spirit. Wounds are tended, both literal and emotional, as the family gathers to heal and remember. Stories are shared, songs are sung, and the past is honored without being allowed to dictate the future. The city's recovery mirrors the characters' own journeys toward wholeness. Love, in all its forms, is the thread that binds them.

Generations and Goodbyes

As the years pass, the family faces inevitable losses—Cress's death, the end of old ways, and the dispersal of friends. Each farewell is marked by ritual, memory, and gratitude. Alys comes into her own as an artist, Ulysses finds peace in his craft, and Peg discovers new love. The pensione endures as a symbol of resilience and hospitality. The city, too, changes, but the spirit of community persists. The characters learn to let go without forgetting, to honor the dead by living fully, and to find meaning in continuity and change.

The Art of Living

Evelyn, now in her nineties, becomes the family's matriarch and sage. Her lessons—about art, love, and the necessity of astonishment—shape the younger generation. She reflects on her own life, her loves and losses, and the ways in which art has been both solace and challenge. The pensione becomes a place of learning, where stories are passed down and creativity is nurtured. The characters grapple with questions of purpose, legacy, and what it means to live well. The answer, Evelyn suggests, lies in openness, curiosity, and the willingness to be changed by beauty and love.

Love's Many Shapes

Throughout the decades, the story celebrates love in its many forms—straight, queer, platonic, and familial. Alys and Romy's relationship flourishes, Peg and Glen find happiness, and Massimo and Jem's partnership endures. The family's acceptance of difference is radical for its time, offering a vision of community built on empathy and inclusion. The narrative honors the struggles and joys of queer love, the importance of safe spaces, and the power of chosen kin. In Florence, the characters find the freedom to be themselves, to love without shame, and to create a home where all are welcome.

Endings and Continuities

As the elders pass—Cress, Evelyn, and others—the family gathers to mourn and celebrate. Each death is marked by ritual, storytelling, and the reaffirmation of bonds. The younger generation steps into new roles, carrying forward the lessons and legacies of those who came before. The city, too, endures, its beauty and history a testament to survival and renewal. The final chapters are suffused with gratitude, acceptance, and the recognition that life, like art, is both fleeting and eternal. The story ends not with a conclusion, but with an invitation to keep living, loving, and creating.

Characters

Ulysses Temper

Ulysses is the heart of the novel—a kind, open, and quietly resilient man shaped by war, loss, and the search for beauty. His journey from war-torn London to Florence is both literal and metaphorical, as he seeks a place where he can belong and create. Ulysses is defined by his loyalty to friends, his capacity for forgiveness, and his deep appreciation for art and craft (especially globe-making). His relationships—with Peg, Alys, Evelyn, and his found family—are marked by tenderness and complexity. Over time, he grows from a passive observer to an active creator of his own destiny, embodying the novel's themes of hope, transformation, and the redemptive power of love.

Evelyn Skinner

Evelyn is a force of intellect and compassion, a woman who has lived boldly and loved deeply. Her early love affair with Livia in Florence shapes her understanding of art, desire, and loss. As a mentor to Ulysses and others, she imparts lessons about the importance of beauty, astonishment, and living authentically. Evelyn's wit, curiosity, and refusal to be diminished by age or convention make her a model of resilience. Her psychoanalytic insight and openness to queerness and difference set the tone for the family she helps create. In her later years, she becomes the matriarch, guiding the next generation with wisdom and grace.

Peg Temper

Peg is a survivor—tough, sharp-tongued, and magnetic. Her beauty and charisma mask deep wounds, and her relationships are marked by both passion and volatility. Peg's journey is one of self-discovery and hard-won acceptance. She struggles with motherhood, love, and the legacy of trauma, but ultimately finds peace in music, friendship, and new love with Glen. Her bond with Ulysses is complex—part love, part rivalry, part kinship—and her relationship with Alys is fraught but ultimately redemptive. Peg embodies the novel's refusal to judge, showing that even the most damaged can find healing and joy.

Alys

Alys, Peg's daughter, grows from a precocious child into a talented artist and independent woman. Her journey is shaped by questions of identity, belonging, and love—especially her queer relationship with Romy. Alys is fiercely intelligent, observant, and sensitive, often serving as the family's emotional barometer. Her art becomes a way to process trauma and connect with her heritage. Through her, the novel explores generational change, the challenges of coming of age, and the importance of chosen family. Alys's story is one of self-acceptance, creativity, and the courage to love on her own terms.

Cress (Alfred Cresswell)

Cress is the glue that holds the family together—a practical, resourceful, and deeply caring man who finds purpose in helping others. His illiteracy and humble background are sources of shame, but he overcomes them through kindness and determination. Cress's love for Peg, his friendship with Ulysses, and his role as surrogate grandfather to Alys make him indispensable. His care for the cherry tree symbolizes his belief in resilience and renewal. Cress's death is a profound loss, but his legacy endures in the family's rituals, stories, and acts of service.

Col

Col is the archetypal East Ender—tough, blunt, and often abrasive, but with a deep well of loyalty and love. His struggles with alcohol, loss, and fatherhood (especially to Ginny) are handled with humor and pathos. Col's pub is a central gathering place, and his resistance to change mirrors the challenges of postwar Britain. His eventual embrace of new love and nonviolence shows growth and adaptability. Col's friendship with Ulysses, Peg, and Cress is marked by banter, brawls, and unwavering support.

Pete

Pete is the family's bard—a pianist and songwriter whose music provides comfort, celebration, and catharsis. His struggles with mental health and employment are offset by his generosity and humor. Pete's friendship with Peg, Ulysses, and the others is a source of joy and stability. His songs become the soundtrack of the family's life, marking milestones and farewells. Pete's journey from outsider to beloved member of the community exemplifies the novel's embrace of difference and the healing power of art.

Massimo

Massimo, the Florentine notary, becomes a close friend and advisor to Ulysses and the family. His warmth, intelligence, and openness to love (including his relationship with Jem) make him a vital link between the English expatriates and the local community. Massimo's humor, style, and culinary skills enrich the family's life, and his struggles with loss and identity mirror those of the others. He embodies the novel's themes of hospitality, acceptance, and the blending of cultures.

Romy Peller

Romy, Alys's on-and-off partner, is a symbol of the changing times—bold, unconventional, and unapologetically herself. Her relationship with Alys is passionate, tumultuous, and ultimately enduring. Romy's journey from American expat to living statue in Florence reflects the novel's celebration of reinvention and self-expression. Her presence challenges Alys and the family to embrace change and to love without fear.

Claude (the parrot)

Claude, the blue-fronted Amazonian parrot, is more than a pet—he is a mascot, confidant, and sometimes oracle. His longevity, resilience, and occasional bursts of wisdom (often quoting Shakespeare) provide levity and perspective. Claude's migrations mirror those of the human characters, and his presence at key moments underscores the novel's themes of survival, adaptation, and the unexpected forms love can take.

Plot Devices

Interwoven timelines and perspectives

The novel employs a non-linear structure, moving fluidly between decades, locations, and points of view. This allows for a rich tapestry of memory, anticipation, and reflection. Letters, songs, and stories within stories deepen the sense of lived experience and collective history. The use of art and music as recurring motifs ties together disparate threads, while the city of Florence serves as both setting and symbol—a place where past and present, beauty and suffering, converge.

Art as metaphor and catalyst

Paintings, globes, music, and poetry are not mere background but active agents in the characters' lives. The fate of Florence's masterpieces during the war, the restoration after the flood, and the creation of new art all serve as metaphors for healing, transformation, and the persistence of hope. Art is both a source of solace and a challenge, demanding engagement and response. The characters' relationships to art mirror their relationships to each other—complex, evolving, and essential.

Found family and chosen kin

The novel foregrounds the idea that family is not just blood but the people we choose and who choose us. The pensione becomes a microcosm of acceptance, where misfits, exiles, and seekers find belonging. Rituals—meals, songs, celebrations, and funerals—anchor the family and provide continuity amid change. The narrative resists traditional hierarchies, embracing queerness, difference, and the messiness of real love.

Foreshadowing and echoes

The story is rich in foreshadowing—early encounters and conversations reverberate decades later. The violet pressed in a book, the cherry tree, the recurring phrase "to this moment," and the image of the globe all serve as touchstones. The flood, both literal and metaphorical, is anticipated and then revisited as a moment of crisis and renewal. The characters' journeys are marked by echoes—of past loves, lost opportunities, and the enduring possibility of change.

Analysis

Still Life is a luminous meditation on art, love, and the families we create. Through its interwoven narratives and richly drawn characters, the novel explores how beauty and connection can endure even in the face of war, loss, and the relentless passage of time. At its heart, the book is about the redemptive power of chosen family—how strangers become kin, how wounds are healed not by erasing the past but by embracing it, and how art offers both solace and challenge. The story's embrace of queerness, difference, and the messiness of real love feels especially resonant in a modern context, offering a vision of community built on empathy, acceptance, and the courage to be changed by beauty. The lessons of Still Life are clear: astonishment is necessary, art matters, and the only thing worth saving is each other. In a world marked by uncertainty and upheaval, the novel's insistence on hope, generosity, and the art of living is both timely and timeless.

Last updated: November 18, 2025