Dear Theo: The Autobiography of Vincent Van Gogh Paperback – September 1, 1995

"Admire as much as you can; most people do not admire enough." Vincent Van Gogh, Book II page 12, "Dear Theo." Vincent Van Gogh's letters to his younger brother Theo, which were originally published in a roughly 1,600 page three-volume set, is now placed in my fingertips at just the well abridged version of only 480 pages. In this book, we see Vincent Van Gogh as one who was just as exceptionally gifted to write as he was to draw; you truly sense the loneliness and sorrow which encompassed and molded his life, and his sentiments are as they were the verbial explanations of his most famous paintings which display the profound depths of human expressions and feelings. We love when writers are transparent and vulnerable; here is a book in which we see someone whose conscience makes him no coward; for if all the world turn a deaf ear towards us, how can we deal in hypocrisy towards the only people who seem willing enough to listen to our grievances? Highly recommended book to anyone, anyone that is a human.

It is not as easy a read as Stone's van Gog biography Lust For Life, but for fans, it's a deep book.Vincent tells of how he went into the fields to paint, and then a rain storm came. He sought meager shelter behind a big tree while it lasted, and then resumed. And because he had started with a low vantage point, he now had to stand on his knees in the mud! He seems to merely mention this to point out why he considers common workman's clothes to be the artist's best friend...He also tells how he went out to paint the sea, in a storm so strong he could barely stay on his feet. One painting got so full of sand from the beach that he went to a nearby inn and retouched it... and then went back out into the storm to finish it with fresh impressions!Today, most of us: "Go out with the camera today? Nah, it's a bit nippy, and I just got the Sopranos on DVD..."Irving Stone edited Dear Theo, and while he may have done a good job generally, I think it was a disservice to the material to not indicate where he cut it. It is just one long text, no dates and no indication where each quote starts or ends.

These letters are will make you smile and break your heart.

pretty sure this was a counterfeit print, but it's still a great book

The edges were a little bent and I'm not sure if it's this company or all publishing of this book, but the text is thick And some looks kind of smeared on almost every other page. Is still readable but I just wasn't expecting that I guess. Anyway, good book. A nice read he lived an intriguing and sad life

I gave this as gift to my mother who has told me that she is reading it very slowly. She is savoring each word. She reads lots of biographies but said this one is so very different, because they are letters. She is so happy that I bought this for her.

It is a lovely book. Not one I read cover to cover - no need, they are letters - not a story. The letters combined do tell a story so I will pick up and read on occasion to understand the changes The Artist was going through.

I recommend this book to all who love the works of Van Gogh. This goes more into his thought and feelings and his relationship with his brother Theo. Loved the book!