This book, though epic in many ways, makes me appreciate Van Gogh less than when I started. He was selfish and delusional and what his family put up with, and basically enabled, was just plain hard to listen to. Vincent was mentally unhealthy but it was also increased by syphilis. I don’t think the man was a genius painting wise, but I can appreciate many of his works which came at a huge cost to him and those around him. The work on this book is monumental, to be sure, but it could have been made so much better by a narrator who was prepared for the task. The poor pronunciation of names and places, not to mention artistic techniques, was an indication of poor planning and lack of knowledge. Van Gogh would have been a difficult man to be around yet we’re so used to hearing how the ‘world was not meant for one as beautiful’ as Vincent. He was a journeyman, he worked for whatever painting success we see today; obsessed and self serving, I appreciate him less after listening to this book though.