The tireless efforts of one woman gave the world one of its greatest creative minds.But twenty-eight year old Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent's sister-in-law and the keeper of his immense collection of paintings, sketches and letters, has, until now, been written out of history. This book is a creative account of the remarkable woman who became the guardian of Vincent’s legacy. The only grief I actually feel is for my uncertain future and the fear that my parents will sell me to the next highest bidder.’

Johanna (Jo) Gezina Bonger was born on 4 October 1862 in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The daughter of Hendrik Christiaan Bonger (1828–1904), an insurance broker, and Hermine Louise Weissman (1831–1905), she was the fifth of seven children. She was especially close to her older brother Andries Bonger (1861-1936). Andries moved to Paris in 1879, and the two regularly exchanged letters. Her youngest brother, Willem Adriaan Bonger (1876–1940), became an important criminologist. The family was musical, holding evening performances of quartets, and Jo (also called "Net") became an accomplished pianist. Unlike her elder sisters, who did household duties, Jo, a "cheerful and lively child," was permitted to further her education by studying English, and earning the equivalent of a college degree. She stayed some months in London, working in the British Museum library. [4] As an adolescent, she came under the influence of the non-conformist writer Multatuli, author of the satirical, nineteenth-century anti-colonial novel Max Havelaar. [5] Jo" escapes her puritan Dutch family by moving to Paris to be with her brother who has promised that he will find his sister an appropriate husband. As most know, Paris at the time was one of an artists' free society, debauchery and drunkenness all on the menu, amazing Jo who starts to discard her puritan ways . From an artist's perspective this was a time when the stifled studio paintings heavy in noxious fumes from oils and paints and stilted artworks to one where the "en plein air" and impressionism had begun to emerge. However, young Johanna, with a determination of steel ensured that eventually, everyone in the world would appreciate Vincent''s talent. This is primarily classified as a Biographical Fiction book. Can I read Mrs Van Gogh by Caroline Cauchi as a standalone Book?

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We are all aware that during Vincent’s lifetime, his art did not draw much attention yet upon his death, things began to take off. Many do not know that it was due to the efforts of Johanna. After Theo’s death, she tried to carry on her husband’s mission: to make Vincent’s art known and appreciated for its striking personal style. A fascinating point that emerges in the biography is the observation that Bonger switched her efforts after 1914 to promote Van Gogh’s work in Britain and the United States. Collectors there had been late to come under the artist's spell (the US angle is explored in an exhibition in Detroit, Van Gogh and America, until 22 January 2023). As Luijten puts it, Bonger placed an emphasis on Anglo-American sales in the hope that this would “stimulate curiosity about his letters”.

During the negotiations on the sale, Bonger had written to Jim Ede—a young curator at the National Gallery’s branch at Millbank (now Tate). “If you read the English translation of the letters, your enthusiasm would still increase”, she wrote. Finding a publisher was at the forefront of her mind. a b Luijten, Hans. Jo van Gogh-Bonger: The Woman who Made Vincent Famous. Translated by Lynne Richards. London: Bloomsbury Visual Arts 2022. ISBN 978-1350299580. DISCLAIMER: I am not an art historian, I am a lover of art and have read biographies of artists of interest to me. I happen to be a lover of Vincent Van Gogh's work and have read enough to know something of his sister-in-law Johanna and how she was instrumental in bringing Vincent’s work to the public. The pace is slow throughout this interesting read. The story is based on some true facts and events. This is a traumatic account of the lives of Vincent and his brother Theo Van Gogh. the story can be quite depressing at times. It was a little repetitive in the first half of the book. The book could easily have been a bit shorter. It covers mental health, physical illness, love and loss. It has also been descriptively written. Joanna Van Gogh was a remarkable woman.In light of this, Caroline has penned such an incredible story. It’s raw, it’s heartbreaking but it’s filled with resilience and fortitude that moved me beyond measure. It’s a massive undertaking and Caroline does it with such poise and panache that it truly is one of the most remarkable fictional narratives I have read. I don’t even have the space to go into the ease of her writing, the depth of her research and portrayal of artists of the era or the days in Paris (love the weekly Eiffel Tower photo) and especially, the nod to the role of women in the era. Just do yourself a favour and go read this book! You won’t be disappointed - the tale of such a remarkable woman who became the caretaker of the Van Gogh legacy.

The legacy and renown of Vincent van Gogh the long-suffering artist began to spread in the years after his death, first in the Netherlands, and Germany and then throughout Europe. His deep connection with his younger brother Theo was documented in numerous letters they exchanged from August 1872 onwards. Van Gogh-Bonger published the letters in three volumes in 1914. She initially worked closely with German art dealers and publishers Paul Cassirer and his cousin Bruno to organize exhibitions of Van Gogh's paintings in Berlin and in 1914 to publish the first volume of the Letters to Theo. Publication of the letters helped spread the compelling mystique of Vincent van Gogh, the intense and dedicated painter who suffered for his art and died young.Johanna is a disgraced woman, after being caught having relations with another teacher at the exclusive schol where she taught (whilst he is largely unaffected and allowed to continue teaching!). She is sent to Paris under the care of her brother Dries, whilst her parents consider which rich widower they could marry her off to to deflect the shame she has inflicted on their family. Even historical fiction necessitates some semblance of truth behind the story. I seriously question the author’s motives in writing this book. Other than trading on the name of a long dead famous artist this book has no merit. Overall, this novel is about art, love, and family. I found all of the characters to be very fascinating. As much as I liked the characters, the novel was not without flaws. I thought that this book was very slow and repetitive. I also thought that after the Van Goh brothers died, the rest of the story was rushed. Even though it was a long book, it needed to be to flesh out the latter parts of Johanna’s life. Still, I found this novel to be meticulously researched and was very well-written. I liked how the setting focused on the art world of Paris, and it made me feel as if I was walking with Johanna along the Parisian streets. Thus, this novel is a must-read for art lovers! I recommend this novel for fans of Rodin’s Lover , The Other Alcott , and Ophelia’s Muse ! This story wouldn't be complete without our two heroes, King Stefan and Prince Chauncey, a ferocious ravenhog, young maidens, an ugly troll, and a sea fairing quest to Dreamland. The quest, to see who will win the beautiful Princess Cassandra's hand in marriage. I don't want to spoil the ending, but will say this is not an easy feat. How would you stand up to a fire breathing dragon and a friend that betrays you? This story wraps up forgiveness, bravery, and just pure excitement.