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A gripping, provocative, and sensual debut novel about an art historian who journeys to a Greek island in pursuit of a found sculpture and quickly finds herself immersed in a cultural tug-of-war and a complicated love affair.

1999: An island off the southern coast of Greece. Art historian Elizabeth Clarke arrives with the intent to acquire a rare female sculpture. But what begins as a quest for a highly valued cultural artifact evolves into a trip that will force Elizabeth to contend with her career, her ambition, and her troubling history.

Disoriented by jet lag, debilitating migraines, and a dependence on prescription pills, Elizabeth turns to her charming and guileless translator to guide her around the labyrinthine island. Soon, the islands lushnessits heat and light, its textures and tastestake hold of Elizabeth. And when shes introduced to her translators inscrutable wifea subversive artist whose work seeks to deconstruct the female formshe becomes unexpectedly enthralled by her. But once the nudes acquisition proves to be riskier than Elizabeth could have ever imagined, Elizabeths and the statues fate are called into question. To find a way out, Elizabeth must grapple with her past, the role shes played in the global art trade, and the ethical fallouts her decisions could leave behind.

The Nudeis an evocative and intense exploration of art, cultural theft, and what it means to be a woman helming morally complicated negotiations in a male-directed world.