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  • Van Gogh's Ear

  • The True Story
  • By: Bernadette Murphy
  • Narrated by: Su Douglas
  • Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (22 ratings)

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Van Gogh's Ear

By: Bernadette Murphy
Narrated by: Su Douglas
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Publisher's Summary

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 AudioBooks

What listeners say about Van Gogh's Ear

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

interesting take on Van Gogh

i felt the writers passion for wanting to understand Van Gogh and it was enjoyable to read

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing research

I found this a fascinating read and was in awe of the in depth research Bernadette Murphy went to to get the real truth of this lovely but troubled man.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating read

This book was quite hard to put down! It was so thorough and set such a scene I felt transported into Vincent's life. I feel as though I know more about many of Vincent's pieces now such as where Vincent was when he completed certain pieces, his mental state and inspiration at the time. Highly recommend!

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating story telling

It was a great experience listening to this book. I do like to thank the author for her determination and perseverance to finish the book.
Now I see his paintings from a new perspective.

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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The Author takes over the story

There’s too much long winded talk from the author and their journey in this book.

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