MAN OF MONTMARTRE

This biographical novel about Maurice Utrillo, half mad genius, alcoholic and one of the greatest painters of the century, is set against the background of Paris from the 1880's to the 1920's. Through the crooked streets of Montmartre which he was to immortalize, wanders Maurice, the illegitimate child of artist and model Suzanne Valadon; a teen-age drunkard who took up painting as work therapy; the friend of Modigliani and finally awarded the Legion of Honour. Written in a lusty and vivid style, the book is at its best when it deals with the simple people of Paris, the demi-mondaines of the art world; and with, Suzanne, her lovers, her wild parties, her incredible It is less successful in introducing the great figures of the worlds of arts and letters--and they are all here--where the effect is often that of mere name-dropping. The Longstreets set themselves a difficult task in portraying a hero who in half-mad and lives in a world of his own making, but within the confines of their ability they have written a fast moving, colorful and knowledgeable novel that should appeal to the market that made Lust For Life and Moulin Rouge best sellers.