New sapphic novel Venus, Vanishing takes readers to 1920s Berlin
Rebecca Birrell's debut novel Venus, Vanishing follows a Jewish artist navigating sapphic desire, artistic ambition and betrayal in 1928 Berlin.
A new historical novel by Rebecca Birrell explores sapphic desire, artistic ambition and betrayal in Berlin's underground art scene in 1928.
Venus, Vanishing follows Hannah Sherman, a Jewish artist who has rejected the conventional path expected of women of her time. Working as a tailor while studying art, Hannah becomes immersed in the city's creative world and begins to imagine a future built around her own ambitions.
Her prospects change when a wealthy female art collector commissions a series of nude portraits. The paintings bring Hannah closer to the recognition she wants, but she discovers that her work has been altered and exhibited under a man's name.
The betrayal becomes a turning point in the story. As Hannah's artistic reputation and personal relationships become increasingly entangled, she begins to consider how to reclaim control over her work and respond to those who have taken advantage of her.
Birrell sets the novel against the cultural energy of interwar Berlin, a city associated with experimental art, nightlife and changing social attitudes. The setting provides space for Hannah to explore her independence and relationships, while the political dangers surrounding Jewish life add tension to the story.
The novel combines an art-world drama with a relationship-driven narrative, examining who gets recognition for creative work and how power can shape the lives of artists. Hannah's experience also raises questions about the treatment of women's work and the vulnerability of those whose ambitions depend on wealthier patrons.
Birrell is an art historian whose professional background informs the novel's attention to paintings, artistic reputation and cultural institutions. Venus, Vanishing is her debut novel and is scheduled for publication on 27 October 2026.
For readers interested in sapphic historical fiction, the book offers a story of desire and artistic independence set against a period of both cultural experimentation and growing political danger.
Venus, Vanishing by Rebecca Birrell is available in hardback from UK booksellers, including Bookshop.org UK, Foyles and Daunt Books.
