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LET US BE TRUE by Alex Christofi, Serpent’s Tail, £14.99 (ebook £8.99)

A MAN falls in love with a mysterious woman in a bar, despite his better judgement. Set in Paris in 1958, it’s a tale as old as time, with the aftermath of the Second World War swirling around the German-born lovers like winds of repressed emotion and experience.

Elsa, in particular, strives to keep her secrets hidden, while Ralf finds himself caught in another conflict, this time between Algeria and his adopted France.

London-based author and editor Alex Christofi draws this political context of living with victory and defeat behind his characterfocused love story like a classical painter perfecting the backdrop to a portrait but Christofi’s pageturning second novel ensures their relationship is the focal point. Convincing, sympathetic and heartbreakingly inevitable, one to read with a tissue handy.

LONDON IN THE COMPANY OF PAINTERS by Richard Blandford, Laurence King, £40

SINCE the rise of the panoramic city view as a subject for art in the 17th century, London has inspired artists including Hogarth, Canaletto, Whistler and Ford Madox Brown.

Richard Blandford’s coffee table book, London In The Company Of Painters, draws together the full range of views of Britain’s capital city and its inhabitants. The book is arranged as a journey west to east, much of it along the all-important River Thames, pulling together paintings of different eras but similar subjects.

Despite the rise of photography in the 20th century, London still attracts painters, with the construction of Canary Wharf among the most modern subjects.

Blandford does sketch stories of landmarks and artists, peppered with quirky facts and quotes about the city. An enjoyable read for anyone who loves London and art.