A Consuming Fire - by Michael Glover (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Vincent van Gogh's paintings are among the most beloved works in art, yet few readers realize how deeply poetry shaped his inner life. Years before he became a painter, he assembled poetry albums filled with passages by favorite writers and would continue turning to poets throughout his life for inspiration, consolation, and companionship.

Michael Glover introduces the poets who mattered most to Van Gogh, from Dante and Shakespeare to John Keats, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Christina Rossetti. Readers discover how the poems he cherished deepened his response to the world around him, enriching the landscapes that became his most memorable subjects.

Featuring 150 color illustrations, the book brings together poems and letters with celebrated works including The Starry Night, Sunflowers, The Bedroom, and Almond Blossom. Reproductions of personal correspondence offer an intimate glimpse into the books, poems, and ideas that accompanied Van Gogh throughout his life.

• The first book to focus on Van Gogh's relationship to poetry and its influence on his art
• Ideal for lovers of Van Gogh who want to see his work in a new light.
• Features beautiful, full-page reproductions alongside poems, texts and extracts
• Written by Michael Glover, an expert guide to Van Gogh and poetry.

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