Review of Love And Murder
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Valerie Titus
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- Latest Review: Love And Murder by Dr. Irv Arenberg
Review of Love And Murder
[Following is a volunteer review of "Love And Murder" by Dr. Irv Arenberg.]
In Love and Murder, Dr. Irv Arenberg presents a compelling account of the final seventy days of the iconic Dutch artist, Vincent van Gogh. Arenberg challenges the widely accepted narrative that Vincent took his own life and puts together a convincing argument that he was in fact, murdered. A wide range of evidence is presented, including a forensic evaluation of the fatal injury Vincent sustained which, it is concluded, could not possibly have been self-inflicted.
Arenberg explores Vincent’s final days and death from multiple perspectives, presenting a methodical and logical assessment of all of the evidence at his disposal. Possible culprits are considered in terms of motive, means and opportunity. The chief suspects are Vincent’s personal physician, Dr Paul Gachet and his son Paul Junior. In their case, motives are plentiful, including their anger at Vincent’s relationship with Dr Gachet’s daughter, Marguerite and free access (and profit) from Vincent’s art.
‘Love and Murder’ is more than an historic whodunnit – it’s also a treasure trove of revelations and insights into Vincent’s life and work. Not least the dismantling of the narrative portraying Vincent’s last days as an escalation into despair. Vincent, we learn, came to Auvers-sur-Oise in France, after being ‘cured’ in an asylum in St-Remy. He was calm, focused and productive in terms of his art. Moreover, he was in love and by all accounts, loved in return. Sadly, his relationship with Marguerite Gachet could not thrive in the controlling environment of the Gachet household.
There are many other fascinating discoveries to be found in ‘Love and Murder’ relating to Vincent’s physical and mental health. For example, Arenberg theorises that Vincent was on the Autism Spectrum, discussing how this was probably a contributory factor to his life-long difficulties in relationships but also to his obsessive drive as an artist.
I enjoyed Arenberg’s enthusiasm and passion for uncovering the truth. His book made me look at Vincent’s life and art with fresh eyes, serving as a reminder that history is rarely told from an entirely objective standpoint.
I felt sad to think of Vincent’s life being snuffed out prematurely and to learn how Marguerite became reclusive after his death and took flowers to his grave everyday for many years. However, I took comfort from the idea that Vincent did not end his life in a state of despair but spent his final days, feeling wanted and loved while creating a huge body of work – his legacy to the world.
This is a well-written and entertaining book. I found it a little repetitive at times but that may have been hard to avoid given that Arenberg tells the story from so many perspectives and angles. I very much appreciated the use of Vincent’s art to enhance and illustrate his story. All in all, it was an excellent read and I would give it 5 stars out of 5.
******
Love And Murder
View: on Bookshelves
In Love and Murder, Dr. Irv Arenberg presents a compelling account of the final seventy days of the iconic Dutch artist, Vincent van Gogh. Arenberg challenges the widely accepted narrative that Vincent took his own life and puts together a convincing argument that he was in fact, murdered. A wide range of evidence is presented, including a forensic evaluation of the fatal injury Vincent sustained which, it is concluded, could not possibly have been self-inflicted.
Arenberg explores Vincent’s final days and death from multiple perspectives, presenting a methodical and logical assessment of all of the evidence at his disposal. Possible culprits are considered in terms of motive, means and opportunity. The chief suspects are Vincent’s personal physician, Dr Paul Gachet and his son Paul Junior. In their case, motives are plentiful, including their anger at Vincent’s relationship with Dr Gachet’s daughter, Marguerite and free access (and profit) from Vincent’s art.
‘Love and Murder’ is more than an historic whodunnit – it’s also a treasure trove of revelations and insights into Vincent’s life and work. Not least the dismantling of the narrative portraying Vincent’s last days as an escalation into despair. Vincent, we learn, came to Auvers-sur-Oise in France, after being ‘cured’ in an asylum in St-Remy. He was calm, focused and productive in terms of his art. Moreover, he was in love and by all accounts, loved in return. Sadly, his relationship with Marguerite Gachet could not thrive in the controlling environment of the Gachet household.
There are many other fascinating discoveries to be found in ‘Love and Murder’ relating to Vincent’s physical and mental health. For example, Arenberg theorises that Vincent was on the Autism Spectrum, discussing how this was probably a contributory factor to his life-long difficulties in relationships but also to his obsessive drive as an artist.
I enjoyed Arenberg’s enthusiasm and passion for uncovering the truth. His book made me look at Vincent’s life and art with fresh eyes, serving as a reminder that history is rarely told from an entirely objective standpoint.
I felt sad to think of Vincent’s life being snuffed out prematurely and to learn how Marguerite became reclusive after his death and took flowers to his grave everyday for many years. However, I took comfort from the idea that Vincent did not end his life in a state of despair but spent his final days, feeling wanted and loved while creating a huge body of work – his legacy to the world.
This is a well-written and entertaining book. I found it a little repetitive at times but that may have been hard to avoid given that Arenberg tells the story from so many perspectives and angles. I very much appreciated the use of Vincent’s art to enhance and illustrate his story. All in all, it was an excellent read and I would give it 5 stars out of 5.
******
Love And Murder
View: on Bookshelves
Latest Review: Love And Murder by Dr. Irv Arenberg
