My Lady Judge by Cora Harrison

My Lady Judge: A mystery of Medieval Ireland 

by Cora Harrison

I actually bought this book in a bookstore in Milan, Italy four years ago.  I really enjoy this kind of historical fiction.  Harrison does a tremendous job of recreating life and the kinds of characters in medieval Ireland.  At this in Irish or Celtic history, it is not unusual for a woman to hold such a powerful and prestigious position as a Brehon (Judge).  And Mara is a strong, and intelligent protagonist, who rules not only with her brain, but equally with her heart.  Mara, appointed by the King, is the Brehon for the Irish kingdom of the Burrens, located on the western seaboard of Ireland, in what is now Connemara County.

Mara uses her powers of observation to solve crimes, whether it is the murder of one of her assistants or the disappearance of a neighbor's cow.  There is quite a list of interesting characters, all nicely developed by Harrison.  While she is introducing and setting up the plot, she cleverly weaves a description of specific ancient Brehon laws and how Mara administers these ancient laws.  As previously stated, the novel is set in medieval times, just at the time that a young Henry VIII ascends to the throne of England, which follows a much more harsh and brutal system of Roman laws.  As I have said before with other well written and researched historical novels, it is an exciting way to learn about different aspects of history.  In addition to the history lesson, you will find yourself immersed in the plot, the characters and the conflict that naturally develops between the Catholic faith, trying to establish a foothold in Ireland, and the people's adherence and belief in ancient Celtic practices and laws.

This is a series of novels by Cora Harrison with the Lady Judge Mara as the main character.  You can't go wrong if you choose to introduce yourself to any of Harrison's Brehon Mara's stories.

Van Gogh: The Life

Van Gogh: The Life by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith

I believe you have to be a Van Gogh fanatic, as I am, if you are willing to pick up this 950+ page biography on this phenomenal painter, who lived to see only one of his paintings sell.  This is a heavy read in more ways than one.  The authors are the Pulitzer Prize winning team who wrote Jackson Pollock: an American Saga.

The first 400 plus pages primarily deal with Van Gogh's life before he decided to start painting.  While it was informative, it did get to be somewhat repetitive in terms of his relationship with his parents, his behavior and his uncertainty of what he really wanted to do with his life.  This part of the book did tend to drag at times.  When Van Gogh made the decision to start painting, is when the book became more engaging and interesting.  The best parts of the book include the author's descriptions of Van Gogh's thinking and motivation as he was creating his many masterpieces.  

Working with the full cooperation of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Naifeh and Smith had access to a wealth of previously untapped materials. They draw liberally from the artist’s famously eloquent letters, while delving into hundreds of unpublished family correspondences, illuminating with poignancy the wanderings of Van Gogh’s troubled, restless life.

The authors also call into question the accuracy of Van Gogh's supposed "suicide".  There has always been questions about whether Van Gogh really shot himself.  Naifeh and Smith carefully analyzed the accounts and information surrounding Van Gogh's death, and in the Appendix of the book provide a "legally defensible theory" that Van Gogh died as a result of an accidental shooting from a young teenager that frequently harassed him as Van Gogh went into the fields to paint.

This is an exceptionally detailed, and at times compellingly readable, but ultimately heartbreaking portrait of the creative genius of Vincent van Gogh. The fact that I was traveling to Provence (Arles and St. Remy) this summer also compelled me to start reading this biography.  It is ironic that most of Van Gogh's contemporaries and family never believed he would amount to anything.  In fact this biography reveals how frequently Van Gogh received little to no inspiration or motivation to paint.  Only his brother Theo provided encouragement and support, but even then his support was lacking at times.  This constant criticism obviously wore on Van Gogh, as is illustrated in these words from Van Gogh to his brother Theo, "As a painter I shall never amount to anything important, I am absolutely sure of it."

However, this other statement written by Vincent while living in Arles, in southern France, perhaps best illustrates his passion for painting.  "My aim in life is to make pictures and drawings, as many and as well as I can, then, at the end of my life, I hope to pass away, looking back with love and tender regret, and thinking, 'Oh, the pictures I might have made!"  While he never lived to experience what his paintings have meant to society, thank goodness he persevered.  In a very short time, Van Gogh created some of the world's greatest works of art.  "Oh, the pictures he might have made!"