Harrowing portrait of the artist who survived

The Jump Artist by Austin Ratner

**Penguin Viking, €16.35**

**Reviewed by Joanne Hayden**

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From the opening page, Austin Ratner's debut novel is marked by contrasts - most strikingly the contrast between the cruelty underpinning the story and the depth and sensitivity of the writing.

The Jump Artist is based around key events in the life of Philippe Halsman, the portrait photographer famous for his Life magazine shots of, among others, Albert Einstein ...