- Hardcover: 272 pages
- Publisher: Constable (4 Aug 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0094785600
- ISBN-13: 978-0094785601
- Product Dimensions: 24.2 x 16.6 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,672,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
Product Description
Product Description
A full-length biography of the Pre-Raphaelite artist, John Everett Millais, the youngest ever associate of the Royal Academy, and later, it's President.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
On the very first page, Fleming tells us that the great painter was 'his parents' eldest child'. No, he was their youngest child; his brother and sister were both born before him. If Fleming is wrong about something so easy to get right, how much confidence can we have in any other part of his book?
In fact it is littered with small errors. For instance, he says that 'Sleeping' and 'Waking' are portraits of his daughter Effie; no, they are portraits of his daughters Carrie and Mary. And every quotation which I have checked is a little bit different from the original. So when I was writing about Millais, or rather his wife Effie, I decided not to trust any information from this book which could not be backed up elsewhere.
It also puts a cynical interpretation on most people's actions and leaves a very nasty taste in the mouth. Millais says he has been roaming the streets; he was 'probably' looking for a prostitute. Effie has a miscarriage; it was 'perhaps' an abortion. Their relationship is supposed to have dwindled into a marriage of convenience. Worst of all, Fleming confidently claims that Effie lied about her marriage to Ruskin and hints that she drove poor Rose La Touche to suicide. I've discussed this episode in detail in my book, 'Effie: A Victorian Scandal'.
All those who actually knew them agree that Millais was a remarkably nice man and that he and his wife were a devoted couple. No one who has published serious studies of his work bothers to cite Fleming. We definitely need a good modern biography of Millais - the 1899 'Life and Letters' by his son leaves out too much - but it is not this one.
Merryn Williams
In fact it is littered with small errors. For instance, he says that 'Sleeping' and 'Waking' are portraits of his daughter Effie; no, they are portraits of his daughters Carrie and Mary. And every quotation which I have checked is a little bit different from the original. So when I was writing about Millais, or rather his wife Effie, I decided not to trust any information from this book which could not be backed up elsewhere.
It also puts a cynical interpretation on most people's actions and leaves a very nasty taste in the mouth. Millais says he has been roaming the streets; he was 'probably' looking for a prostitute. Effie has a miscarriage; it was 'perhaps' an abortion. Their relationship is supposed to have dwindled into a marriage of convenience. Worst of all, Fleming confidently claims that Effie lied about her marriage to Ruskin and hints that she drove poor Rose La Touche to suicide. I've discussed this episode in detail in my book, 'Effie: A Victorian Scandal'.
All those who actually knew them agree that Millais was a remarkably nice man and that he and his wife were a devoted couple. No one who has published serious studies of his work bothers to cite Fleming. We definitely need a good modern biography of Millais - the 1899 'Life and Letters' by his son leaves out too much - but it is not this one.
Merryn Williams
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I bought this book for my mother as she is an admirer of John Millais' work. She loves it and it is easy for her to dive in and read little bits at a time. Thank you.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
LOADED WITH WONDERFUL INFORMATION
27 Dec 2000
Format:Hardcover
I would highly recommend this book on John Everett Millais for anyone who has an interest in the life of this incredibly talented painter. From his early induction into the Royal Academy to his death, this book seems to uncover every aspect imaginable, be it good reviews or bad. I could not put it down. My only disappointment is that the photos of his work are all in black and white. I am not a scholar, but a layman with a keen interest in learning of the man behind such outstanding pieces as My First Sermon. I will read this book again and again, it is that interesting.
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
