Van Gogh's Ear
The True Story
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Van Gogh's Ear
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Narrated by:
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Su Douglas
About this listen
On a dark night in Provence in December 1888 Vincent van Gogh cut off his ear. It is an act that has come to define him. Yet for more than a century biographers and historians seeking definitive facts about what happened that night have been left with more questions than answers.
In Van Gogh’s Ear Bernadette Murphy sets out to discover exactly what happened that night in Arles. Why would an artist at the height of his powers commit such a brutal act? Who was the mysterious 'Rachel' to whom he presented his macabre gift? Was it just his lobe, or did Van Gogh really cut off his entire ear? Her investigation takes us from major museums to the dusty contents of forgotten archives, vividly reconstructing the world in which Van Gogh moved – the madams and prostitutes, café patrons and police inspectors, his beloved brother Theo and his fellow artist and house-guest Paul Gauguin. With exclusive revelations and new research about the ear and about ‘Rachel’, Bernadette Murphy proposes a bold new hypothesis about what was occurring in Van Gogh’s heart and mind as he made a mysterious delivery to her doorstep that fateful night.
Van Gogh’s Ear is a compelling detective story and a journey of discovery. It is also a portrait of a painter creating his most iconic and revolutionary work, pushing himself ever closer to greatness even as he edged towards madness – and one fateful sweep of the blade that would resonate through the ages.
©2016 Bernadette Murphy (P)2016 Random House AudioBooksListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Van Gogh's Ear
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- J. Tait
- 20-04-23
An enthralling story
Thoroughly well researched and interesting book. The narration is very good and has added to my enjoyment. Would definitely recommend listening to this.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Thérèses mate
- 31-12-16
Great book, terrible reader
This book captures the thrill of research and explodes many posthumous myths about its subject. However, I was really sorry I had not read it in hard copy as the narration here is of incredibly poor quality. The pronunciation of the French is all over the place, but worse, the reader's emphasis is frequently wrong and her delivery is weirdly staccato, making it very difficult to understand an already complex story. I'd be livid if I was the author as this wonderful book deserves better.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- sleepyjacs
- 10-08-16
EXCELLENT
This is an inspired work, the detail gone into amazing. If you like Vincent van Gough you will love this - the real story of his life & paintings.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 20-04-23
Mmmm?
Odd narration style and rhythm.
Interesting story - probably better read than listened to as delivered by this narrator.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Daniel P
- 12-12-22
Fascinating
I loved this book. It is so informative and opened my eyes to look at things differently about Vincent than what history has taught us. Highly recommended.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Nicola Lawton
- 20-07-16
Wonderful story but so hard to listen to!
Would you consider the audio edition of Van Gogh's Ear to be better than the print version?
There is rather too much about the author's search; more needed about Van Gogh rather than the author's difficulty in catching a certain train. The audio edition is so hard to listen to, as the reader constantly emphasises the wrong words, and mispronounces words as well. If I could return it, I would.
Would you recommend Van Gogh's Ear to your friends? Why or why not?
Not as an audio book.
What didn’t you like about Su Douglas’s performance?
The reader actually makes it hard to understand, by putting emphasis on the wrong words, and mispronounces words like 'decade' as 'decayed' with the emphasis on the second syllabub.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs
- 22-09-17
Compelling
Well research and fascinating. Changed my thoughts about one of my favourite painters. Sadly let down by the reader who reads all the English text extremely well...and then totally ruins the overall experience by totally lacking in linguistic ability. Both French and Dutch pronunciation painful in the extreme. Sad.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul Brookes
- 26-02-17
Superb Detective Story That Destroys Myths
Written like a thriller, I loved the concrete details, in depth analysis and remarkable detailed historical research that flesh out the story of Van Gogh, his relationships and environs.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Helen SJ
- 19-01-25
Utterly Brilliant!
A comprehensive study on all things Van Gogh. A deeply moving tribute to Vincent that scrutinizes many previously presumed beliefs about him. This book will lift your spirits at the verified facts and it will also make you you sad for him. Well worth a read
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- James McDaid
- 21-01-20
Great story.
Very good story well told.
I found myself in great sympathy with the situation Van Gogh found himself in and with connection and great love shown between these brothers.
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