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S'està carregant… Mr Lear: A Life of Art and Nonsense (2017)de Jenny Uglow
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Apunta't a LibraryThing per saber si aquest llibre et pot agradar. No hi ha cap discussió a Converses sobre aquesta obra. What an endearing man, what an enjoyable biography! This wonderfully written, beautifully illustrated biography tells the life history of Edward Lear, known principally to me as the author of the poem, The Owl and The Pussycat. That poem is well known and was judged to be England’s favorite poem. It is certainly one of mine. But there was so much more: Lear’s nature illustrations, his travels and gorgeous scenic drawings and paintings, his limericks, his alphabets, his gift for friendship. All of this is marvelously well told by Jenny Uglow, and set within the context of both Lear’s time and family background. Lear was a courageous and intrepid traveler as well as an often insecure, indecisive, and needy man. He had both physical and psychological challenges, which are sympathetically told. What shines through though, and no doubt sustained his many friendships, was his humor and affection which he bestowed upon the adults and children around him. He would have been lovely to know and I highly recommend this biography. Lear was a name familiar to me, but I knew nothing of his life, and nonsense verse has little appeal to me. I read this book by chance, and am really pleased I have. The book is beautiful, and wonderfully illustrated. Occasionally I thought the detail was more than sufficient, but then I got sucked into the travels and revelled in them, desperate now to follow in Lear's footsteps to India, Corsica, San Remo, and so on. I can recommend this biography. Bought this because of the good reviews and the absolutely gorgeous presentation. It's a beautiful book to hold and flick through with lots of illustrations and reproductions. As a biography, it's about as straightforward a history of a life as it's possible to imagine. That's not necessarily a criticism, but, as with any life, there are longueurs and repetitions. The analysis of Lear's nonsense is deft and illuminating (like the Dong's nose) and probably the best thing here. Mostly, though, I just like how the book feels in my hands. This is by far the best biography I have ever read, and considering I have read many, that is high praise. I had read Levi's biography many years ago and I hardly remember anything, it left such a weak impression. What I do remember is finding it a boring book and being a bit disappointed, considering how much I love Lear. Uglow's writing, by contrast, is like reading a good novel—e.g. you keep on hoping Lear will marry Gussie even though you know he won't in the end. Uglow brings Lear to life as an individual, while also providing insight into his art & creative process—both for his landscape painting as well as his nonsense. Her fascinating portrayal is not just of the protagonist, but the many interesting friends and acquaintances he had. She also vividly portrays the era & brings alive its artistic & cultural trends. I learned quite a bit not just about Lear and his art, but of the historical artistic milieu which influenced him. Even if you never heard of Edward Lear, this book is highly recommended. Sense ressenyes | afegeix-hi una ressenya
Edward Lear's poems follow and break the rules. They abide by the logic of syntax, the linking of rhyme and the dance of rhythm, and these 'nonsenses' are full of joy - yet set against darkness. Where do these human-like animals and birds and these odd adventures - some gentle, some violent, some musical, some wild - come from? His many drawings that accompany his verse are almost hyper-real, as if he wants to free the creatures from the page. They exist nowhere else in literature, springing only from Lear's imagination. Lear lived all his life on the borders of rules and structures, of disciplines and desires. He vowed to ignore politics yet trembled with passionate sympathies. He depended on patrons and moved in establishment circles, yet he never belonged among them and mocked imperial attitudes. He loved men yet dreamed of marriage - but remained, it seems, celibate, wrapped in himself. Even in his family he was marginal, at once accepted and rejected. Surrounded by friends, he was alone. If we follow him across land and sea - to Italy, Greece and Albania, to The Levant and Egypt and India - and to the borderlands of spirit and self, art and desire, can we see, in the end, if the nonsense makes sense? This is what Jenny Uglow has set sail to find out. No s'han trobat descripcions de biblioteca. |
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Google Books — S'està carregant… GèneresClassificació Decimal de Dewey (DDC)821.8Literature English & Old English literatures English poetry 1837-1899 Victorian period, 19th centuryLCC (Clas. Bibl. Congrés EUA)ValoracióMitjana:
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The author indulged in a bit of literary interpretation of some of his work, but that is to be expected. We want the work to mirror the man. Whether it actually does or not, only Edward Lear could say.
For me, it wasn't just the story, which was well told, or the person, who is a wonderfully interesting man, it was also the production value of the work itself. There were many illustrations and reproductions of Lear's art, also much of his verse was included, all beautifully done. The pages themselves were soft and silky, an invitation to hold. ( )