Lorca; Buntilde;uel and Daliacute; were; in their respective fields of poetry and theatre; cinema; and painting; three of the most maginative creative artists of the twentieth century; their impact felt far beyond the boundaries of their native Spain. But if individually they have been the subject of various studies; their connected lives have rarely been considered. The connections between them are the subject of this illuminating book.They were born within six years of each other and; as Gwynne Edwards reveals; their childhood circumstances were very similar. Each was affected by a narrow-minded society and an intolerant religious background which equated sex with sin and led all three to experience sexual problems of different kinds: Lorca the guilt and anguish associated with his homosexuality; Buntilde;uel feelings of sexual inhibition; and Daliacute; virtual impotence. Having met during the 1920s at the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid; they developed intense personal relationships and channelled their respective obsessions into the cultural forms then prevalent in Europe; in particular Surrealism. Rooted in emotional turmoil; their work - from Lorcarsquo;s dramatic characters in search of sexual fulfilment; to Buntilde;uelrsquo;s frustrated men and women; and Daliacute;rsquo;s potent images of shame and guilt - is highly autobiographical. Their left-wing outrage directed at bourgeois values and the Catholic Church was strongly felt; and in the case of Lorca in particular; was sharpened by the catastrophic Civil War of 1936-9; during the first months of which he was murdered by Francorsquo;s fascists.The war hastened Buntilde;uelrsquo;s departure to France and Mexico and Daliacute;rsquo;s to New York. Edwards describes how; for the rest of his life; Buntilde;uel clung to his left-wing ideals and made outstanding films; while the increasingly eccentric and money-obsessed Daliacute; embraced Fascism and the Catholic Church; and sawhis art go into rapid decline.
#473474 in eBooks 2013-03-05 2013-03-05File Name: B0089LOHW4
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Gaps and Gossip--thumbs down!By cindyLouThe writing was opinionated and gossipy. There was obvious research but so many huge gaps. People who cared for Dennis Hopper obviously didnt cooperate with this. Did not like it except as piece of movie history and hearing various famous people who did cross paths with him.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. hopper was the best!By Kurt Boylsteini loved this book and much of hoppers work.a easy read.i will always miss his acting and hearing him talk.5 stars!13 of 15 people found the following review helpful. Poorly written and not informativeBy Wendy DytmanI was looking forward to reading a biography of Dennis Hopper. who lived an extraordinary life in the center of the worlds of art. film. and sixties culture. Instead. Mr Folsom delivered a poorly written (several times I had to re-read his sentences in order to figure out the point he was trying to make: annoying!) rehash of Hoppers life that barely dipped beneath the superficial. Were told his mother chose to absent herself in his youth. but once Hopper struck out on his own. she is barely mentioned and his adult relationship with her isnt touched on. nor is his reaction to her absence. He was married five times. but it doesnt seem like Folsom bothered to speak with any of his ex wives. and each marriage (except for his first. to Brooke Hayward) barely rates a sentence or two.....Im a huge fan of biographies. enjoying to learn more about what motivates and drives people Im interested in. This book was neither informative nor enjoyable - how such a dull tome could have been written about such an interesting life is beyond me!
