Mr Lear: A Life of Art and Nonsense (Paperback)
Jenny Uglow (author)- 10+ in stock
A noted polymath and genius wordsmith, Edward Lear was also a tormented soul, tortured by loneliness and depression. Uglow’s masterly biography examines both the work – the natural history paintings, travel writing and, of course, famous limericks – and the flaws and complexities of the man. Stunningly illustrated and exhaustively researched, Mr Lear is an enthralling piece of life writing.
A Daily Telegraph, Times, Evening Standard, TLS and Spectator Book of the Year.
Winner of the Hawthornden Prize.
Edward Lear is well-loved for his 'nonsenses', from joyous limericks to great love songs, and for his wonderful natural history paintings, landscapes and travel writing. But although Lear belongs to the age of Darwin and Dickens, his genius for the absurd and his dazzling word-play make him a very modern spirit. He was also a man of great simplicity and charm - children loved him - yet his humour masked epilepsy, depression and loneliness.
Jenny Uglow's beautifully illustrated biography brings us his swooping moods, passionate friendships and restless travels. Above all it shows how this uniquely gifted man lived all his life on the boundaries of disciplines and desires - an exile of the heart.
Publisher: Faber & Faber
ISBN: 9780571269556
Number of pages: 656
Weight: 550 g
Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 40 mm
Edition: Main
MEDIA REVIEWS
'A splendid portrait of this remarkable man.' - SundayTimes
'A wonderfully sharp and sympathetic biography.' - Mail on Sunday
'Jenny Uglow has written a great life about an artist with half a life, a biography that might break your heart.' - Robert McCrum, Observer
'Quite wonderful.' - Guardian
'Jenny Uglow, Edward Lear's most sensitive biographer to date, does him proud.' - A. N.Wilson, Literary Review
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