Fort Lauderdale, FL 7/29/2009 1:48:50 AM
The Portrait of a Brilliant Mind
A Book about a Boy's Experiences with the Artist Van Gogh in Arles
Though we may be in a global economic downturn and times may be rough, we all know it’s temporary. Art, on the other hand, is eternal. Or at least as eternal as it is possible to get on a human scale. Among those whose work never goes out of style is Vincent Van Gogh. It’s common knowledge that he may have been a little crazy, and we all know that his work reflects his unique perception of the universe. But what if we could follow the artist around and really get to know him? Melding the historical, the imaginary, and the fine arts, The Boy With the Blue Cap by Norman Beaupré does just that, presenting the story behind Van Gogh’s paintings through the narrative of a young, precocious boy, Camille Roulin, son of a postal worker. Camille develops a close relationship with the artist and pulls the reader into the story as he follows Van Gogh around Arles, exploring his world of vibrant color. When Van Gogh meets two gypsy women, events in and around Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, heat up, providing an element of intrigue. Weaving the artistic life of Van Gogh, his spiritual thoughts, and his relationship to Gauguin, into the story of a boy and his family, the novel explores the exploits and talent of this great artist. It also captures the unique flavor of Provençal life during the eighteen month period in which Van Gogh lived and painted in the Midi. Author, Norman Beaupré, grew up in Maine and is presently Professor Emeritus at the University of New England in Maine. Since his retirement, he enjoys writing and traveling, having visited both Arles and Amsterdam as part of his research for this novel. He writes both in French and in English. One of his works, a dramatic monologue in French, was produced in Paris as well as Dijon and Angers in October 2008. He was awarded in June 2008 L’Ordre des Arts et Lettres, grade d’officier, by the French Ministry of Culture and Communications in Paris for his body of work and his outstanding contributions to French culture.
