Sacre Bleu

A Comedy d'Art

By: Christopher Moore

Narrated by: Euan Morton

Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

It is the color of the Virgin Mary's cloak, a dazzling pigment desired by artists, an exquisite hue infused with danger, adventure, and perhaps even the supernatural. It is... SacrÉ Bleu.

In July 1890, Vincent van Gogh went into a cornfield and shot himself. Or did he? Why would an artist at the height of his creative powers attempt to take his life... and then walk a mile to a doctor's house for help? Who was the crooked little "color man" Vincent had claimed was stalking him across France? And why had the painter recently become deathly afraid of a certain shade of blue?

These are just a few of the questions confronting Vincent's friends - baker-turned-painter Lucien Lessard and bon vivant Henri Toulouse-Lautrec - who vow to discover the truth of van Gogh's untimely death. Their quest will lead them on a surreal odyssey and brothel-crawl deep into the art world of late 19th century Paris.

Oh la la, quelle surprise, and zut alors! A delectable confection of intrigue, passion, and art history - with cancan girls, baguettes, and fine French cognac thrown in for good measure - Sacre Bleu is another masterpiece of wit and wonder from the one, the only, Christopher Moore.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2012 Christopher Moore (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

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Would you consider the audio edition of Sacre Bleu to be better than the print version?

I had a hard time reading the print version this time. I just couldn't pick up on Moore's flow this time. The audiobook made it possible to finish.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Well, I am going to school for art and art history at the moment. This book made learning the names of artists and adding wild stories about their encounters with a deadly muse a little more entertaining.

Did Euan Morton do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Although I am both a fan of fine art, history and Christopher Moore this book was a little difficult to get through. But once I got past a point, it was an interesting read and unique twist on all the artists I learned about in my art history class.

Maybe the best book I've read in a decade

I simply can't exaggerate the greatness of this book.

Art, history, mystery, paint. The supernatural. Trances. Possession. Immortality.

Am I making sense?

The book itself is a history of blue paint, but not just ANY Blue: The Sacred Blue, made in exactly the same enchanted way since the dawn of time. Bawdy and hilarious yet also compelling and romantic.

Euan Morton is so gifted - you can almost feel the characters in the room with you.

DON'T MISS THIS PERFORMANCE!

What a great lark!

This was such a cool book and Euan Morton is a fantastic narrator. I really loved that fact that Moore brought in all the famous artists of the time -- from Renoir, Toulouse Lautrec, Pisaro, Van Gogh, Manet, Monet .... He brings them all to life and even if it is a fiction, he's obviously done his research about the impressionist and post-impressionist period. You really felt you were part of that wild life and the mystery of the sacred blue is intriguing. But what really made it was Morton's narration. His characterization is fantastic. I enjoyed every minute.

Magnifique!

Funny, clever, and as colorful as Montmartre on a spring day. Painted with broad strokes of history and wit, Moore crosses every fine line of the imagination. I will never view blue quite the same again.

My favorite book.

This was my first Christopher Moore book, and I listened to it while I was studying abroad in Barcelona (after visiting Paris a few weeks before). I didn't even know Art Historical Fiction was a thing before this book, but now (especially as an art nerd!) I wish it was a bigger genre. Christopher Moore's prose is captivating, clever and totally hits you off guard with the funniest lines and moments. Anyone who is a comedy fan with absolutely any interest in Paris, Art History or Historical Fiction needs to listen to this book.

Three years after my first listen and about 15 Christopher Moore books later, I listened to it again. It was just as hilarious (if not more so!) and captivating as the first time I listened.

Bawdy art history fantasy

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book made me giggle out loud and then do further research on impressionist painters. Who couldn't use a good laugh while learning something?

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sacre Bleu?

When musing over a painting, a woman remarks that she thinks the model is smiling because she 'bonked' the two men in the bushes. Scandalous!

What about Euan Morton’s performance did you like?

Great comic timing & voice control- perfect

Who was the most memorable character of Sacre Bleu and why?

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec-he was the naughtiest of the painters and loved the ladies and booze

Not the best Moore

Moore is such an amazing writer on his own, I feel that A Dirty Job was a perfect work of fiction. I dont know why he feels the need to jump into historical figures whom have well known personalities of their own. He does such a great job in his own universe.
The women in this story, including Blue, are literally hand puppets. And the story jumps all over the place. It gives details that do not need to be given, and then repeats them. Everything is revealed in flashback, there was no mystery

It is a good book, but by Moore's very high ability, not a great one.

Not Moore's best work. While some of it was amusin

While some of it was amusing it lacked the laugh out loud quality of earlier works.

The bad boys of Montmartre in their own time

Murder mystery, historical fiction, family dramas with a little magic. Compelling and expertly narrated. Love it.

Fun With The Impressionist

Van Gogh doesn't inspire mirth normally, but this novel will tickle your fancy. This novel will have you looking at Impessionism in a while new light