My best book, 09 Nov 2008
Quite simply the best book I have ever read and one I read again and again - I don't think I will ever get tired of it. I bought the paperback years ago but it is now so tatty that I bought the hard cover edition - that has also become well thumbed. I was lucky enough to get a copy signed by Stone (my most loved possession). Absolutely brilliant book about possibly the greatest artist that ever lived. Who cares about his sexual orientation? Stone is right to ignore - or 'gloss over' it, Michelangelo was a genius and the author manages to show you that. This book inspired me not only to read more about Michelangelo but also to travel to see some of his works for myself - I can't think of a greater accolade for any book! It's nothing like the film;it's much, much better. If I was able to give it 20 stars I would!!!!
Incidentally, Stone has written other great books - maybe not quite so good but still excellent; e.g. Lust For Life (Vincent Van Gogh)- also better than the film!!! The Agony and the Ecstasy
Brilliant on Michelangelo the artist, 30 Jun 2008
I read this some years ago and still remember how enthralling I found the evocation of Michelango as a passionate and committed artist. The descriptions of him carving were so real that I could feel the stone alive and warm beneath his hands, and the gradual revealing of what was inside.
I agree with the negative reviewers that there are some basic historical mistakes and a shying away from the sexuality of the subject; but both of those were forgiveable by me in the sheer ability to depict the artist. This is, after all, a novel rather than a historical work or biography and so I think some lenience is due to the story that the author chose to tell (regardless of whether the reader sees it as 'true' or not).
For me this was a brilliant novel that captured something of the despair and yet glory of the creative process; and led me on to more academic works on Michelangelo.
brilliant on Michelangelo the artist, 06 Jun 2007
I read this some years ago and still remember how enthralling I found the evocation of Michelango as a passionate and committed artist. The descriptions of him carving were so real that I could feel the stone alive and warm beneath his hands, and the gradual revealing of what was inside.
I agree with the negative reviewers that there are some basic historical mistakes and a shying away from the sexuality of the subject; but both of those were forgiveable by me in the sheer ability to depict the artist. This is, after all, a novel rather than a historical work or biography and so I think some lenience is due to the story that the author chose to tell (regardless of whether the reader sees it as 'true' or not).
For me this was a brilliant novel that captured something of the despair and yet glory of the creative process; and led me on to more academic works on Michelangelo.
Great Book and a very good introduction to the life and times of Michelangelo, 09 Jul 2006
This book is very high in my list of greatest works that I have read. I found the style very readable and full of great detail. At the end of the book there is a long list of source material that Stone has used in the preparation. I can not disagree more with one of the other reviewers who feels that the book has only lasted because of the film. I found the film to be leaded and over simplistic with some terrible miscasting. Since reading this book for the first time I have looked into the works of Michelangelo and have found that it is a great introduction to the great artist.
A Brilliant Study of a Revolutionary Artist, 09 Jun 2005
The lukewarm reviews seem to have missed the point: this is a biographical novel and that's how it should be judged. True, Michelangelo's sexual orientation may or may not have been different from Stone's interpretation but, unlike our present day obsession with this subject, Stone is far more interested in understanding the creation of the works themselves. His insight into the different problems (the political and social problems, yes, but more importantly the technical ones) presented by each sculpture project or painting is phenomenal. People tend to forget just how revolutionary every one of Michelangelo's major works was - Irving Stone gets to the heart of this. As a marble carver myself I have found more technical instruction in this book than in most manuals. In short, if you want great fiction read Anne Tyler, but if you want to read a brave and honest attempt to understand the brilliance of one man who overturned the conventions of Art with almost every work he made, read this.
Stone's Most Successful Bio, 01 Dec 2002
Irving Stone is not a "great" biographer. He doesn't provide copious bibliographic details or even pretend particularly to serious scholarship. But he does do his research. What Stone is is a very good storyteller. And the stories he tells, whether about Jack London, Heinrich Schleimann, Michelangelo or Freud, have always entertained and (yes) enriched me.
Van Gogh's biography, and it's companion-piece, Dear Theo, are particularly moving accounts of that great, tragic painter. I doubt if any artist ever despaired as deeply or more profoundly than Vincent. Stone captures the pathos of Van Gogh's few moments of exhiliration, followed always by days of dissilusionment and depression. Van Gogh was the saint and prototype of all struggling artists. The penury and neglect he suffered through shouldn't have to be endured by the mangiest stray animal.
It's one of God's great ironies (Faulkner's cosmic jester?) that Van Gogh's works are bought by Japanese investors and museum collections for umptold millions, whereas their creator, having climbed down to the last rung of despair, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
If you enjoy this book as much as I did, read Dear Theo. It reveals the extraordinarly tender love the two Van Gogh brothers had for each other. Theo was basically Vincent's sole means of support during the artists's latter years. Unfortunately, Theo was living in boderline poverty himself, had a family, and thus couldn't give much to Vincent save for a little bit of money and a great deal of moral encouragement.
Both of these books are infinitely sad, yet the redeeming aspect is that Vincent didn't live his life in vain, as he thought, and that the body of work which has survived ( many paintings were painted over - canvas was a luxury) is a testament to his genius.
The life & work of Van Gogh, 09 Jul 2001
This is a good summary of the life on Vincent Van Gogh. I read this book to get some background for an upcoming vist to the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, and it didn't disapoint. I would say that 90% of the things that happen in the book are true, the other 10% is made up of likely to occur dialog between Van Gogh and the other characters. Irving Stone did a great job of capturing the emotions of Vincent as he slowly progressed to madness. Also, as I hoped, the story is very focused in the art and how it developed throughout his life. If you are a Van Gogh fan or looking for a good introduction to his life and work, then this book is great. I can see how it would be boring for the person with no motivation to read it.
It is autibiogrpahy of Vincent van gogh., 01 Aug 2000
It is a very beautiful book and how the writer has narrated the incidents are amazing beautiful. The realtionship between van gogh and his brother is brought out beautifully in this book. I have read 3 times this book and it is truely inspirational. Infact this book lead me to read all books of Irving stone. Some of which i have read more than 2 times.
