The Vivisector

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The Vivisector
Author	Patrick White
Country	Australia
Language	English
Genre(s)	Novel
Publisher	Penguin Books
Publication date	1970
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	617 pp
ISBN	ISBN 0-14-003693-8
Preceded by	The Eye of the Storm
Followed by	The Solid Mandala

The Vivisector is a novel by Patrick White, first published in 1970. It details the lifelong creative journey of fictional artist/painter Hurtle Duffield. Named for its sometimes cruel analysis of Duffield and the major figures in his life, the book explores universal themes like the suffering of the artist, the need for truth and the meaning of existence.

[edit] Plot summary

Hurtle Duffield is born into a poor family who adopt him out to the wealthy Courtneys, who are seeking a companion for their hunchbacked daughter Rhoda. The all-knowing, precocious Hurtle gains artistic inspiration from Maman (his adoptive mother) and Rhoda, and this is a recurring theme that continues throughout the novel using later characters, the prostitute Nance, wealthy heiress Olivia Davenport, Greek mistress Hero Pavloussi and finally the child prodigy Kathy Volkov. He becomes quite famous and his paintings sell well, however he is largely unconcerned about the monetary and status gains this brings and continues to live a spartan life, beholden to nobody - even the Prime Minister. After a stroke causes partial paralysis, Duffield is drawn closer to sister Rhoda and reinvigorated to produce a huge, final magnum opus to God, accompanied by his psychopomp Don Lethbridge.