Van Gogh's Untold Journey

About this book

William J. Havliceks revealing book is based largely on Vincent van Goghs astonishing letters of which over 900 exist. This important workthe result of over 15 years of researchprovides new insight into the artists true character nurtured from his abiding faith the influence of family and the tender solicitude he felt for mankind. Havliceks book holds some compelling revelations among them the role played by Johanna van Gogh-Bonger his sister-in-law without whom little of the inimitable Vincent would ever have been known; and the artists vicarious relationship with Charles Dickens. But perhaps most revealing is Havliceks discovery of how the inspired words of Victor Hugo embodied in one of his characters in Les Misrables gave Van Gogh the idea for one of his most celebrated paintings of all The Starry Night. This particular revelation is sure to astound the art world. The book also dispels much of the myth that has come to surround Vincents tumultuous life. In the words of the author the book illuminates instead an unknown adventurous deeply compassionate man whose essence seems to have been lost in the dramatic and often apocryphal stories surrounding his illness and early death. My effort is to resurrect an unknown aspect of Vincentone that is even heroic and certainly praiseworthy.