Van Gogh

The Life

By: Steven Naifeh, Gregory White Smith

Narrated by: Paul Heitsch

Length: 44 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith galvanized audiences with their astonishing Jackson Pollock: An American Saga, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for biography, a book acclaimed for its miraculous research and overwhelming narrative power. Now Naifeh and Smith have written another tour de force - an exquisitely detailed, compelling, and ultimately heartbreaking portrait of creative genius Vincent van Gogh.

Working with the full cooperation of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Naifeh and Smith have accessed a wealth of previously untapped materials. While drawing liberally from the artist's famously eloquent letters, they have also delved into hundreds of unpublished family correspondences, illuminating with poignancy the wanderings of Van Gogh's troubled, restless soul. Naifeh and Smith bring a crucial understanding to the larger-than-life mythology of this great artist - his early struggles to find his place in the world; his intense relationship with his brother Theo; his impetus for turning to brush and canvas; and his move to Provence, where in a brief burst of incandescent productivity he painted some of the best-loved works in Western art.

The authors also shed new light on many unexplored aspects of Van Gogh's inner world: his deep immersion in literature and art; his erratic and tumultuous romantic life; and his bouts of depression and mental illness.

Though countless books have been written about Van Gogh, and though the broad outlines of his tragedy have long inhabited popular culture, no serious, ambitious examination of his life has been attempted in more than 70 years. Naifeh and Smith have re-created Van Gogh's life with an astounding vividness and psychological acuity that bring a completely new and sympathetic understanding to this unique artistic genius whose signature images of sunflowers and starry nights have won a permanent place in the human imagination.

©2011 Woodward/White, LLC (P)2019 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A tour de force . . . an enormous achievement . . . [A] sweepingly authoritative, astonishingly textured book." (Los Angeles Times)

Thorough and heart wrenching

I have loved the work of Van Gogh for a long long time. This book filled in all the gaps of my knowledge. I leave his story with a richer understanding of his creative passion, his struggle with sanity, his relationship with his bother Theo, and painful isolation from society. I especially loved hearing of his interactions and opinions of the other artists of his time.

Very detailed

Went on too long at points, but it gave a clear picture of the relationship between Theo and Vincent .

Excellent book!

I really loved this book. I’ve always been fascinated with Vincent Van Gogh and this book truly allowed me to get to know the artist as a human being and not just a legend. Highly recommend!

A Must Read

This is a thoroughly researched and EXTREMELY WELL-WRITTEN book. The writing, in itself, is truly a beautiful piece of art. The character development is so good that the listener will become Vincent’s and Theo’s family member. As a psychotherapist, I wanted to reach through the story, back in time to befriend Vincent. This is one of the best books I’ve ever encountered.

long but worth it

I saw the Van Gogh immersive experience and wanted to learn more about Vincent. I'm not a bug art fan, don't go to museums, but references in show piqued my curiosity. At over 44 hours I figured I would not make it through but I did and thoroughly enjoyed it. Was he mad was he a genius, a master, that's for others to decide. but his life was hard and seemingly with very little happiness. Jumping from one vocation to another with intense fervor only to quickly sour, just as with his art, he would fully commit to portraits then flowers, black and white, then color. It was really good listen and I would recommend the book.

Gut, heart, throat punch

I feel like I just got punched with a huge artistic dysfunctional fist. Vincent was so messed up and so broken and so lost in so many ways. On the other hand, he was so beautiful and I couldn’t help it. I have agony and pity and mercy inside of me for him. Author did amazing.

Completely captivating

Before I started this book, I really didn’t like Vincent van Gogh’s work however, throughout listening to this book, I’ve grown to admire him and now see the beauty in his artwork… I highly recommend this!

Surprisingly fulfilling listen.

I've long had an interest in art but not particularly in van gogh, or his work.
Thats now changed after having listened to this work.

Fantastic biography

Meticulously detailed, lovingly rendered story of the reclusive tortured soul of Vincent Van Gogh. An artistic genius.

Not just a tragedy

Gives you the whole Vincent. He was probably obnoxious as a kid but had a lot to deal with. Later had serious medical problems. It was not madness or romantic excess that drove him. It was his love of art and the people around him.

I would like to know more about his painting. This book describes him as an expressionist and a symbolist, but also committed to life, and its every day appearance.

Great, well written, and an absorbing story. I would recommend to anyone who is interested in Vincent van Gogh.