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aront's review
5.0
This is by far the best biography I have ever read, and considering I have read many, that is high praise. I had read Levi's biography many years ago and I hardly remember anything, it left such a weak impression. What I do remember is finding it a boring book and being a bit disappointed, considering how much I love Lear.
Uglow's writing, by contrast, is like reading a good novel—e.g. you keep on hoping Lear will marry Gussie even though you know he won't in the end. Uglow brings Lear to life as an individual, while also providing insight into his art & creative process—both for his landscape painting as well as his nonsense. Her fascinating portrayal is not just of the protagonist, but the many interesting friends and acquaintances he had. She also vividly portrays the era & brings alive its artistic & cultural trends. I learned quite a bit not just about Lear and his art, but of the historical artistic milieu which influenced him.
Even if you never heard of Edward Lear, this book is highly recommended.
Uglow's writing, by contrast, is like reading a good novel—e.g. you keep on hoping Lear will marry Gussie even though you know he won't in the end. Uglow brings Lear to life as an individual, while also providing insight into his art & creative process—both for his landscape painting as well as his nonsense. Her fascinating portrayal is not just of the protagonist, but the many interesting friends and acquaintances he had. She also vividly portrays the era & brings alive its artistic & cultural trends. I learned quite a bit not just about Lear and his art, but of the historical artistic milieu which influenced him.
Even if you never heard of Edward Lear, this book is highly recommended.
momey's review against another edition
4.0
what i read was well written and a good read. i read the first two sections and the last as I was most interested in how he evolved his poetry. I thought the book was very good on this.
sophronisba's review
4.0
A sad and lovely biography, with a couple of side characters (his manservant Giorgio and his friend and sometime sweetheart Gussie) whose lives could be O'Henry stories in and of themselves. Lear is best known for his brilliant nonsense such as "The Owl and the Pussycat" but his life as a gay man in Victorian England seems to have been lonely and frustrating. Like so many beloved creators, his life, is his own eyes, was not quite fulfilling.
The biography isn't perfectly paced -- six hundred pages is a lot for the life of a person who mostly decides not to do things -- but it did hold me until the end, and the final pages are near-perfect.
The biography isn't perfectly paced -- six hundred pages is a lot for the life of a person who mostly decides not to do things -- but it did hold me until the end, and the final pages are near-perfect.
jdukuray's review
5.0
What an endearing man, what an enjoyable biography! This wonderfully written, beautifully illustrated biography tells the life history of Edward Lear, known principally to me as the author of the poem, The Owl and The Pussycat. That poem is well known and was judged to be England’s favorite poem. It is certainly one of mine.
But there was so much more: Lear’s nature illustrations, his travels and gorgeous scenic drawings and paintings, his limericks, his alphabets, his gift for friendship. All of this is marvelously well told by Jenny Uglow, and set within the context of both Lear’s time and family background. Lear was a courageous and intrepid traveler as well as an often insecure, indecisive, and needy man. He had both physical and psychological challenges, which are sympathetically told. What shines through though, and no doubt sustained his many friendships, was his humor and affection which he bestowed upon the adults and children around him. He would have been lovely to know and I highly recommend this biography.
But there was so much more: Lear’s nature illustrations, his travels and gorgeous scenic drawings and paintings, his limericks, his alphabets, his gift for friendship. All of this is marvelously well told by Jenny Uglow, and set within the context of both Lear’s time and family background. Lear was a courageous and intrepid traveler as well as an often insecure, indecisive, and needy man. He had both physical and psychological challenges, which are sympathetically told. What shines through though, and no doubt sustained his many friendships, was his humor and affection which he bestowed upon the adults and children around him. He would have been lovely to know and I highly recommend this biography.
jinxy's review
3.0
I mostly knew Lear as the writer of nonsense and was delighted to learn about his life as an artist and traveler. This wasn't my favorite biography, but I did enjoy it overall.
guiltyfeat's review
4.0
Bought this because of the good reviews and the absolutely gorgeous presentation. It's a beautiful book to hold and flick through with lots of illustrations and reproductions. As a biography, it's about as straightforward a history of a life as it's possible to imagine. That's not necessarily a criticism, but, as with any life, there are longueurs and repetitions. The analysis of Lear's nonsense is deft and illuminating (like the Dong's nose) and probably the best thing here. Mostly, though, I just like how the book feels in my hands.
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