Rodin

A Biography

By: Frederic V. Grunfeld

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Augustus Rodin was not only the greatest sculptor but also one of the most remarkable personalities of modern times. Frederic V. Grunfeld's exhaustive biography, the first in over 50 years, documents a lifetime of both artistic and personal struggle against poverty, against the conservative Salon, and against an art establishment that for years denied him recognition.

Rodin's crucial love affair with his pupil, Camille Claudel, emerges here in all its tragic complexity, as do his relationships with the British painter Gwen John and the American-born duchess Claire de Choiseul. Grunfeld also sheds new light on Rodin's friendships with some of the most gifted writers and artists of the day, from Robert Louis Stevenson and George Bernard Shaw to Emile Zola and James McNeill Whistler.

©1987 Frederic V. Grunfeld (P)1996 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"A consistently absorbing story....A rewarding and illuminating book." (The New York Times)
"Religiously researched and gracefully written....Grunfeld will set a biographical standard for years to come." (The Boston Globe)

Cringe-worthy French pronunciations

Why choose a narrator who can't pronounce French words to read the biography of a French artist? I winced too many times while listening to this lengthy book. Especially over the frequency of the term "bas-relief" sculpture, which Vance pronounces as "bass-relief." Oy.

Inspiring

Inspires me to kneed some clay, create a portrait, sculpt a hand, hire a model and create art through the truth of nature.

Vance doesn't do Grunfeld justice.

If you could sum up Rodin in three words, what would they be?

poverty chauvinism lasciviousness

What was one of the most memorable moments of Rodin?

In their twenties, Rose would pose for Rodin for hours.
They would return home to an apartment with neither food nor heat and sleep.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Vance has poor French pronunciation. When I was a student at the Sorbonne,
I also studied at the Alliance Francaise to converse fluently. In addition I am a graduate of L'Universite de la Phonetique a Paris.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it is quite long but full of many valuable facts about France, artists and the extremely complex and interesting politics among the artists.

Any additional comments?

I recomment the book but the French is very substandard. I have taught French for years.

Rodin bio audiobook comments

The potential listener should be informed that although the reader’s performance was well done, there are frequent annoying background voices that negatively impact the experience.

Technical Difficulties

There was quite a bit of skipping!! It's written well but the glitching was frustrating.