Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers

Dorus and Anna are proud parents of seven children, although their first was stillborn.  Dorus, a minister, and Anna raised their children to put family first and educated them at home.  It wasn’t until the children were grown that they took on the family business in dealing artwork.  The two eldest surviving Van Gogh brothers became the most well-known of the clan though: Vincent and Theo.

Deborah Heiligman built this historical novel and biography off a series of letters written between the Van Gogh brothers throughout their lifetime.  Beyond the acts that made them both infamous like Vincent’s loss of an ear, or Theodorus’ art dealings, Heiligman develops a case for mental and emotional struggles of the entire Van Gogh family.  Details of where the two brothers lived, their famous friends, and their lovers are peppered throughout the writing giving readers details they may never have read before.

I give Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers 4 out of 5 stars.   This book reads like a journal of the brothers’ most intimate conversation and thoughts.  I appreciate that Heiligman does not shy from the discussion of mental health, even showing how poor nutrition and family conflict affected Vincent’s mental status.  The writing felt a bit pedantic at times and repetitive in some sections, but that might be due to the repetitive nature of the Van Goghs’ struggles throughout their adulthood.  

I recommend this book for readers who love Van Gogh’s artwork and post-impressionistic artists in general.  This is a great historical biography with hints of fiction filling the gaps.  This is a great book for readers of all ages – Heiligman is known for her young adult and children’s works, and this book won several awards in those categories.

I chose Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers for the Friends & Fiction Book Club July prompt: a book that’s been in your TBR stack for over a year.  I picked up this audiobook in May 2022 – 14 months ago.  I have always been a fan of Van Gogh’s artwork and studied them in school – my favorites include Still Life: Vase with Twelve Sunflowers (1888) and Wheat Fields (1889).  These may not be his most well-known works but show his layering and style of oil painting well.

Use this month’s prompt to bust your TBR stack?  What books have been in your stack the longest?  Drop them in the comments!

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What I’m Reading

• Current print book: The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise, Colleen Oakley
• Current audio book: Daisy Jones & The Six, Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Book I’m most looking forward to: Bright Lights, Big Christmas, Mary Kay Andrews