Why read The Lost Notebook of Édouard Manet?

Book cover of The Lost Notebook of Édouard Manet

Book description

Suffering from the complications of syphilis toward the end of his life, Edouard Manet begins to jot down his daily impressions, reflections, and memories in a notebook. He travels for healing respites in the French countryside and finds inspiration in nature-a cloud of dragonflies, peonies blanketed by the morning dew.…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Lost Notebook of Édouard Manet as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

George J. Berger

Author

At fifty-one years old, Manet died too young of the ravages of syphilis. This intimate first-person account details the last three years of Manet’s life (1880-83). Eleven real Manet sketches add visual context. The core of the journal covers Manet’s race to keep painting while the disease disables him more and more with no cure in sight. He writes of past loves, friends, clients, models, and earlier adventures. Manet comes across as deeply insightful with no regrets, no self-pity, and as always obsessed to sketch and paint any subject that interests him. He finishes some of his finest creations during…

From George's list on The best historical novels that shed new light on famous figures.