[PDF] The Pen and the Brush: How Passion for Art Shaped Nineteenth-Century French Novels by Anka Muhlstein at Arts-Photography

Review

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Art for Artists SakeBy CharlusA wonderful idea for a book. the influence of art on 19th Century French literature. is only partially successful in execution. Muhlstein concentrates mainly on 3 authors: Balzac. Zola and Proust (Huysman and Maupassant have cameo appearances). About the first two she has little to write except plot summaries of stories dealing with artists and that their scenic descriptions have a painterly effect. which can be said of most novelists who spend time to describe the scene at hand (think Dickens. Hardy et al). It is only when she gets to Proust. a novelist she has previously written on. that more complex arguments are made. Proust used paintings to comment on his characters and used a character. Elstir. to comment on the nature of art and on artists. (Much of this argument can be found in the introduction to his invaluable "Paintings in Proust" by Eric Karpeles). Muhlstein. given a more subtle writer. has more subtle insights to make. It is only in the last 50 pages of this short book that she approaches fulfilling the potential of her subject.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A wonderful blend of art. literature. and history!By David and Suzanne McClendonWe were provided a copy of The Pen and the Brush in order to review it.Wow! This book is a wonderful blend of art and literary appreciation. Often. I felt like I was in way over my head. but it was exciting and invigorating.I have always enjoyed history. literature. and art. and this book is a perfect blend of all three. The focus of the book is how art inspired literature. but we also learn how literature also inspire art.There are some very funny moments in this educational book. as well as information that I never knew about a well-known American inventor. Maybe Irsquo;m the only person on the planet that didnrsquo;t know this about him. but just in case Irsquo;m not. I wonrsquo;t spoil the surprise for you.This book is inspiring and has made me want to explore art even further. It has also been the cause of a big increase in my to-be-read stack.The Pen and the Brush was better than any art or literature appreciation class that I have ever had. If you love art and history. you will not be disappointed or bored with this book. Quite the opposite; you will be enlivened!0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Susanartgreat book