Paperback, 464 pages
Published Oct. 8, 2019 by Square Fish.
"The true story of the relationship between brothers Theo and Vincent van Gogh"--
The deep and enduring friendship between Vincent and Theo Van Gogh shaped both brothers' lives. They shared everything, swapping stories of lovers and friends, successes and disappointments, dreams and ambitions. Heiligman draws on the letters Vincent wrote to Theo during his lifetime to weave a tale of two lives intertwined as Theo supported Vincent's struggles to find his path in life.
I enjoyed the book, but the fragmented style was a little frustrating. There were 121 chapters, so each chapter was so short that the book didn't flow together. There also seemed to be a lot of inferences and assumptions -- nothing too outlandish, but enough to make me double-check that it was actually non-fiction.
This is a great book on not just Vincent but also his brother. The stories that I have heard about Vincent Van Gogh seem tame as to who this painter was. First and foremost he doesn't come across as someone who is just 'mad'. He is a brother who loves his own brother more intensely than others, and who is loved back by Theo.
The author does a wonderful job and using letters, stories that have been discussed for years, compiling them all and presenting them in a timeline that makes the time come alive. I was a fan of Van Gogh's work but now that I know more of him, I want to go and see his paintings again, armed with this new knowledge of the pain, love, and passion that went into them.
