Sep 05, 2004 12:44 AM
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(Updated Sep 05, 2004 12:47 AM)
Lust for Life is biography of Vincent Van Gogh. It was written by Irving Stone.
Like most genius', he was often crazy. During his life he was lonely, poor and driven to despair.
Vincent Van Gogh was born in Holland. This book is based on Van Gogh?s three letters to his brother, Theo.
My Review:
The novel begins when he is 21 and travels to London and meets Ursula. He falls in love for the very first time. He thought that it would be wonderful, if he could wake up, beside Ursula for the rest of his life.
When he asked Ursula to marry him, she replied ?Do I marry every man that falls love with me?''
That is when the people who knew Vincent began calling him the red headed fool.
He then went to Borinage in the southern part of Belgium. The main industry was coal mining. Jean Baptist Danis owned the largest home in the village, and Van Gogh stayed with him.
He began to sketch the coal mines. His first drawing were all wrong. He had never study art, and he didn't know how to make the bone structure, in a person, look right.
He kept trying until he went to Neunan. This is when he painted a corn field.
He saw how he could use different tones of colour, to make his paintings look real.
He wanted to try this with people so he asked Rachael to be his model.
She said that she would if he would pay her five Francs. He didn't have the money, so Rachael said she would pose for him if he would cut off one of his ears.
Van Gogh took out his razor and slashed his ear off. It was dripping with blood when he gave it to Rachel.
Everything changes for him when he gets telegram from Gaachet that says, ?I am open a tiny gallery of my own , Vincent, I want to display your art at the opening.''
He takes a train for Pontoise and then a carriage to Auvers.
It took six men to hang his painting in the gallery. Vincent and Theo were watching them when he whispered, ?I wish I could die now Theo?
If you want to know what happens next you will have to read the book.
What I Thought:
Irving Stone created his character brilliantly. He made me feel that he knew Van Gogh.
I have been to the Van Gogh Museum, and have a copy of one of his sunflowers paintings hanging in my living room.
I knew he only had one ear, but didn't know how he lost it.
I wonder how much of this book was true?
The Author:
Irving Stone has been writing books since 1934. I have read a few of his books, and enjoyed Agony And The Ecstasy and Lust For Life.
Other Information:
The hardback was published in 1934. I bought the paperback book, that was published in 2001, by Penguin Books.
It has 430 pages.
I found it in a used book shop and paid $2.00 CAD for it.
ISBN # 0099416425
What I though:
If you enjoy reading biography's then I know you will like this book. It's an oldie but a goodie!
Thanks for reading my review.
©LL2004
