"Beautifully written, wise, funny, and all so true." — Esther Freud, author of Hideous Kinky
"Both sides of the fashion world told by a true 60s icon. I loved it." — Kate Moss
"A vivid picture of one woman’s extraordinary life. I read this book in one sitting. It’s a triumph.” — Jasper Conran
Set in the beating heart of the 1960s fashion scene, Piece Of My Heart is the brilliant new novel by the supermodel who lived through it all, Penelope Tree.
Fame. Money. Beauty. Sex. Love. Ari wants them all. But at what cost?
Trapped between the suffocation of English boarding school and a chaotic home-life dominated by her eccentric, aristocratic mother, Ari longs for a different kind of life – one lived in the glamour of Swinging '60s London, with its pop stars and fashion icons. When she is discovered at sixteen by star photographer Bill Ramsey, she gets her chance.
Suddenly, Ari's life is transformed into a dizzying whirlwind of drugs, photoshoots, and parties, all with Ramsey by her side. The couple are the darlings of the media. But in the fickle world of fashion nothing lasts forever, and Ari's addiction, her eating disorder, and her increasingly dysfunctional relationship with Ramsey send her life spinning out of control.
A Vogue cover shoot in Nepal offers Ari a make-or-break chance – not just to revive her ailing career, but to win back Ramsey's love. And yet, in the captivating surroundings Ari finds herself wondering how much more of herself she must lose to keep the things she always thought she wanted.
PRAISE FOR PIECE OF MY HEART
“Not only is Penelope one of the most impressive beauties of the late 20th century, but her words are completely immersive, transporting you instantly to the magical moment.” – Manolo Blahnik
“It had me intrigued, then gripped, then up ‘till the early hours desperate to follow Ariadne’s journey. Beautifully written, wise, funny and all so true.” – Esther Freud, author of Hideous Kinky
“Set against the backdrop of the worlds of fashion and pop, from Swinging London to the Paris of the evenements, from New York to Kathmandu, Piece of My Heart is a vivid, compelling and beautifully written roman a clef about the dreams and excesses of the 60s, and of a love lost and a life found, written by one of the most fascinating figures of the era.” – Mick Brown, Daily Telegraph
“Penelope Tree’s assured debut novel artfully interweaves elements of an extraordinary life with a cast of sharply observed fictional characters. I devoured it in a sitting and felt as though I’d been swept off on a magic carpet. Truth, as we learn from one of the most celebrated models of all time, is always stranger than fact.” – Miranda Seymour, author of I Used To Live Here Once
“Piece Of My Heart shows both sides of the fashion world – the highs and the lows – told by a true 60s icon – I loved it.” – Kate Moss
“Penelope Tree paints a vivid picture of one woman’s extraordinary life from a childhood marred by maternal neglect through to a life of dazzling fame, glamour and success and back out the other side. I read this book in one sitting. It’s a triumph.” – Jasper Conran
Model, writer and activist, Penelope Tree is the ultimate Sixties It girl. Born to a Conservative MP and an American socialite, she was discovered at the age of 13 by the photographer Diane Arbus and became an overnight sensation after an appearance at Truman Capote's Black and White Ball. A career in modelling followed - as David Bailey's muse, Penelope appeared on the cover of Vogue and travelled around the world. Now a practicing Buddhist and charitable ambassador, Penelope has two adult children and splits her time between Sussex and London. Piece Of My Heart is her first novel.
