One Woman Show

“It’s clear that Coulson is writing what she knows, and a passionate, lively imagination also pervades her prose. In One Woman Show, she sketches the outlines of a bourgeois 20th-century woman’s life with wit, exquisite detail, and poetic brevity… . The writer embraces delight. Her enthusiasm is infectious and propulsive. It does what a good wall label does: it helps her work come alive… . As Coulson revels in the decorative and in historical femininity, she evokes the films of Sofia Coppola… . Propulsive and highly enjoyable.” –Los Angeles Review of Books“A delight! This novel’s formal audacity–a book told in fragments culled from a museum’s walls–is an impressive feat of imagination. One Woman Show is a moving story of privilege, womanhood, and the sweep of the twentieth century told through a single American life. I loved this book.” –Rumaan Alam, author of Leave the World Behind“A highly original and imaginative work that captivates and intrigues. The book is so brief that it can be read straight through in an hour, but that is not to say it is slight. Kitty is a pinball that rebounds off the major historical events of the 20th century and this, as well as the inclusion of Kitty’s deeply personal struggles, results in a character of huge pathos and empathy… . Coulson’s unusual command of language rewards multiple readings. It is probably best summed up by her American publisher’s initial response to the manuscript–‘bananas brilliant.’” –The Irish Times“A jewel box of a novel … Coulson’s innovative form is the perfect vehicle for her wry commentary on the complexities of seeing and being seen… . She is gifted at conveying astute observations through small, often humorous details… . A pleasure to read.” –Kirkus Reviews“A lovely, smart, fun, and very funny new novel … If you love art and museums as well as brilliant and fun novels, this is one for you. I read it in one sitting… . It’s a zinger.” –Airmail“A modern masterwork.” –NPR“An extraordinary and deeply original way of telling a person’s story.” –BBC Wales (UK)“Elegantly wrought … Carefully arranged within Coulson’s precisely pointed prose, even strictly rationed words can deliver an abundance of meaning… . Her lapidary, impeccably composed labels typically finish with a punchline.” –The New Criterion“It’s a wonderfully clever concept, and a book that lends itself to being read in a single sitting, during which you’ll feel the corners of your lips curl upwards again and again… . Amid Coulson’s wry, often humorous, occasionally poignant commentary are moments of transgression and longing that show there’s more to our neoclassical heroine than her fine finish.” –The Spectator (UK)“Perfectly formed.” –Harper’s (UK)“Wildly original … A tiny but powerful novel … It’s sometimes snarky, sometimes sad, with enough poignant moments to make me wish it could go on and on… . You can sit down and read it in less time than it takes to drive to the art museum, but you’ll be thinking about it for far longer. If you appreciate truly original structure and storytelling, put this modern masterwork on your reading list.” –KMUW, Book Review with Suzanne Perez

Christine Coulson spent twenty-five years writing for The Metropolitan Museum of Art and left the Museum as Senior Writer in 2019. Her debut novel, Metropolitan Stories, was a national bestseller and is followed by One Woman Show.