Review:
Everyone knows the name of Vincent Van Gogh; fewer people know the name of his brother, Theo Van Gogh. Theo and Vincent were best friends throughout their lives, and each had a deep and lasting impact on the other. In this joint biography, Deborah Heiligman uses the 658 letters that Vincent wrote to Theo throughout his lifetime to explore the relationship between the brothers, as well as the course of each man’s life. I listened to this as an audiobook, and Phil Fox did a masterful job of narrating. This is a great way to add some history into your summer reading list!
Favorite Passage:
“Who a person becomes later in life, how he lives, how he dies, cloud’s people’s memories of him, spinning and skewing-distorting-their portraits of him as a child. But we will draw Vincent as clearly as we can using not only impressions but also strong lines, sharp details. A picture will emerge.”
What I Loved Most:
I really enjoy art, and I think it’s fascinating to learn the history behind one of the most famous artists of all time. Van Gogh is the first artist I remember hearing about; even elementary school children learn about Starry Night. Learning about his relationship with his brother, and how Vincent became the artist he was, helps create new appreciation for his art. Due to her honest exploration of Vincent’s suicide attempts, I would recommend that only older high school students or adults read this. However, I’m glad she didn’t pull any punches in her description of how devastating depression and mental illness can be.
Read this book if you like:
Biographies, family relationships, mental illness, classic art
Book Details:
- Author: Deborah Heiligman
- Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
- Date of Publication: April 18, 2017
- Age Recommendation: 11th Grade – Adult
- Find Vincent and Theo on Amazon if you’d like to own a copy!
- Check out Vincent and Theo on Worldcat to find it at a library near you!
The Lamp Post 