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

So funny!

Moore creates a crazy explanation that ties together many events in art history. Loved it!

A New Review of Bleu

What made the experience of listening to Sacre Bleu the most enjoyable?

The narration is outstanding, the voice dialects superb.

What does Euan Morton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The incredible voices were so entertaining! Broke into laughter time and again.

Any additional comments?

Overall I loved the book, some of the story was hard to follow, perhaps a bit tedious but being a painter and loving the color it was a fascinating capture of history, mystery and fantasy. My first Christopher Moore book.

Toulouse-Lautrec, My Kinda Buddy Movie Sidekick

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

Loved Toulouse-Lautrec as the libertine/amateur detective/sidekick! Also enjoyed the inventive and funny mcguffins -- Vernesque steampunk stilts, witch-burning in Chartres, the nutrition in cemetery snails. Jumped the shark a couple times, as with Oscar Wilde and his inspiration for Dorian Gray. Still, all in good fun.

Any additional comments?

I'd love to see a sequel where Toulouse-Lautrec solves other fin de siecle mysteries, murders and scandals.

Give it a chance!!!

The first 30 minutes or so I wasn’t thrilled. It felt mehhh... However, I gave it more time and I became engrossed! I felt all the feels and really laughed at some of the scenarios or scenes. Well done! I am definitely checking out more from this author.

Outstanding!

This has been, so far, one of my favorite Christopher Moore stories. Good story and performance!

Now that’s entertainment

Sacre Bleu is fun, funny, bawdy, sweet, clever, inspirational, disturbing and at times disgusting. Love the book, love the author, love the narrator.

Old Memories

I loved the part about the ear. It brought back old memories of the Vietnam War. In a Funny way.

Art and mystery

His listen mixes the world of art-artists and their paintings- with a mystery,and fantasy. the PDF is a nice touch to ground the story. the story itself captures the life in France and the effect of the sacred bleu.

For fans of Fool

If you liked Christopher Moore's remake of McBeth then you'll likely enjoy this story. If his other books are more your flavor then you might struggle with Sacre Bleu. The story is well written and well performed but it was like listening to a story that you understand is meant to be amusing but you don't have enough knowledge of the subject matter to enjoy its humorus intent.

Dirty Jokes and Fine Art

At last, that year I spent studying art history pays off!

Not that you need to know anything about art history to enjoy this book. The chapter guide is very helpful. Well, I discovered it just after I'd finished the book, but it LOOKS helpful. Have it handy while you listen.

So, here is Moore doing what he does best, crafting a story that is intelligent and moving, but also bawdy and goofy. There's that mystery I mentioned, and some romance, lots of sex and other "vices", and thoughtful ruminations on the nature of inspiration and the sacrifices that must be made for art.

The main character, baker/painter Lucien Lessard, is great, but it's Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec who steals the show as Lucien's drunken horndog sidekick. We need another book about him!

The narration is superb. I loved what Euan Morton did with Fool, and his performance here is just as lively.

I can't give Sacr?? Bleu a full five stars for the story. I want to, but it doesn't quite equal Moore's masterpieces Lamb and Fool. There are some aspects of the story that don't quite gel, and maybe it gets a bit too complicated for its own good. But it's really, really close. I've already started listening to it for a second time.