AKED CAME I: A Novel of Rodin

by David Weiss ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 25, 1963

If the academic novel about a famous, preferably dead artist consists of following the artist's life straight through and at length, in a style as clear as water and only occasionally muddied by a ""beloved"", and, in short, of telling what happened at the expense of inventing a really original new novel, then Naked Came I should be hung in the Academy. It is pleasant, observant, moves along, and will surely be widely liked. For one thing, it gives you Auguste Rodin and his battle against the Academy. And for another, Rodin does live on these pages, which is an achievement considering their number. It is as well a full chronicle of his family, his love affairs, his studios and famous companions and subjects, his alcoholic son, a corps of Impressionists, and Paris. It is continuously interesting and there are some fascinating passages dealing with artistic creation and Rodin's blunt, hammering spirit as he works: ""... sculpture is work, hard work, not love. Love is for dilettantes"". A book which can be easily recommended to the admirers of Irving Stone's The Agony and the Ecstasy, Cladys Schmitt's Rembrandt.

Pub Date: Nov. 25, 1963

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Morrow

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1963

Categories: FICTION