“Second Place” is the first novel by Canadian-British writer Rachel Cusk (b. 1967) after the acclaimed experimental “Contour” trilogy, inspired by the memoirs of philanthropist and art patron Mabel Dodge Lujan “Lorenzo in Taos” about the visit of D.H. Lawrence to Mexico in the 1920s, continues the line of blurring the line between fiction and documentary. The main character invites a famous artist to stay in a remote place on the coast where she lives with her family. Passionate about his paintings, she thinks that the artist's vision can penetrate the mystery that lies at the heart of her life. But as the long, dry summer sets in, his provocative presence becomes a challenge and disturbs the tranquility of her secluded home. A psychodrama with elements of social comedy turns into an exploration of women's fate and male privilege, the geometry of human relationships and the moral questions that fill our lives. Cusk's novel, nominated for a number of literary awards, tells the story of the versatility of the human soul, the essence of artistic genius and reminds us of the power of art transform and destroy. The publishing layout of the book is saved in PDF A4 format.