Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Developing a fictionalized account of how a woman saved the legacy of Vincent Van Gogh is clever and compelling. The novel is well structured and ably plotted.
Prose: The writing here is solid, clear, and effective. The book is well-researched and the author does a great job providing context.
Originality: As this isn't a topic people will have encountered, it feels like a fresh take on the history of a well-known artist. The way Van Gogh's pieces are included is a nice conceit.
Character/Execution: Jo starts as a bit weak and easily overwhelmed; seeing her gain strength and continue pushing toward something she feels is important helps the reader root for her. Some characters feel a little cliche, but Jo is a well rendered protagonist.
Date Submitted: August 31, 2024
Fernandez brings Jo's untold story to life with brilliant historical acuity. Relocating to Bussum, Jo defies societal expectations, running a guesthouse while relentlessly championing Vincent's work through art dealers and gallery curators. But her path is fraught with obstacles: dismissed as the dead art dealer's wife and unqualified in the world of art, Jo faces harsh critics who mock Vincent's paintings as lacking depth and atmosphere and attack his character as a "madman." Fernandez sketches the 20th century art world through the warring parties of dealers like Raulf—who purged the Montmartre Gallery of "avant-garde art" after Theo's death and is hellbent on sabotaging Jo’s efforts, convinced that modernism’s star is waning—and Vincent’s “spiritual battle against a materialistic age run by greedy moneymen,” who, in his eyes, consider art a political tool to flaunt French cultural dominance. For Vincent, art is personal—a soulful expression that Jo is resolute to share with the world.
Fernandez's portrayal of Jo as a strong, smart, and indomitable woman is both inspiring and empowering. She reveals that behind the global admiration of Van Gogh's art is an unsung heroine who believed in Vincent’s true skill and her husband’s vision, turning Vincent's near obscurity into a timeless legacy. Lovers of Van Gogh’s work will find this story intense, vibrant, and deeply moving.
Takeaway: Empowered story of the woman behind Vincent van Gogh's legacy.
Comparable Titles: Deborah Heiligman's Vincent and Theo, Irving Stone's Lust for Life.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
