The Man in the Red Coat Summary
Julian Barnes

The Man in the Red Coat Overview

In this non-fiction exploration of the late nineteenth century in France, also known as the Belle Époque, Julian Barnes selects Dr. Samuel Pozzi, a celebrated gynecologist, society man, salon-goer, and lover, as the hero of his book. Through an investigation into the public and private lives of Dr. Pozzi, the man in a startlingly red coat in a portrait painted by John Singer Sargent, Barnes reveals the age's obsession with honor, its inherent violence and cruelty, its literary quarrels, and its explorations of sex and homosexuality. Barnes touches upon themes such as sexuality and marriage, father-daughter relationships, patronage, and more.