Vincent van Gogh: The Desire for Life

Author: [US] Irving Stone (Author), Chang Tao (Translator)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-02-01
Features: Vincent van Gogh, the Dutch painter, was one of the most outstanding artists of the 19th century. He loved life but faced numerous setbacks and hardships. Dedicated to art, he boldly innovated, building upon the foundations of his predecessors like Rembrandt while absorbing the experiences of Impressionist painters in color, and was influenced by Eastern art, particularly Japanese woodblock prints. This led to the formation of his unique artistic style, creating many works brimming with passion for life and imbued with humanistic spirit. These works expressed his inner turmoil, sorrow, compassion, and hope, and have gained worldwide acclaim to this day. The renowned American contemporary writer, Irving Stone, who was hailed as the "father of biographical novels," wrote this literary biography when Van Gogh was still unknown, at the mere age of 26. Over the past six decades, Van Gogh's life story has moved countless readers, and its charm remains undiminished. This work has become the author's breakthrough success and has been translated into over 80 languages, with millions of copies in print. This translation was published in 1982 and has been reprinted repeatedly over the past 18 years. As translator Chang Tao has remarked: "It is Van Gogh's soul, which transcends the shackles of tradition and merges with eternal beauty amidst life's trials, that has captivated generations of readers. Perhaps The Life of Vincent van Gogh may thus be fortunate enough to become a timeless book."