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  • The Lives of Lucian Freud

  • Fame 1968-2011
  • By: William Feaver
  • Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
  • Length: 19 hrs and 54 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (39 ratings)
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The Lives of Lucian Freud cover art

The Lives of Lucian Freud

By: William Feaver
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
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Summary

Bloomsbury presents The Lives of Lucian Freud by William Feaver, read by Jonathan Keeble.

The second half of William Feaver's Baillie Gifford Prize-shortlisted work of biography: the definitive story of the epic life of one of the 20th century's most important artists.

William Feaver, Lucian Freud’s collaborator, curator and close friend, knew the unknowable artist better than most. Over many years, Freud narrated to him the story of his life, ‘our novel’.

Fame follows Freud at the height of his powers, painting the most iconic works of his career in a constant and dissatisfied pursuit of perfection, just outrunning his gambling debts and tailor’s bills. Whether tattooing swallows at the base of Kate Moss’ back or exacting a strange and horrible revenge on Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger, Freud’s adventures were always perfectly characteristic. 

An enfant terrible till the end, even as he was commissioned to paint the queen and attended his own retrospectives, what emerges is an artist wilfully oblivious to the glitter of the world around - and focused instead on painting first and last.

©2020 William Feaver (P)2020 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

What listeners say about The Lives of Lucian Freud

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Superb

Fascinating, detailed but not listy. Beautifully portrays Freida rich tapestry of a life. The narrator brings real life to the story with excellent intonation and pace

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Did you warm to Clement Freud on Just a Minute

This book is written by acolyte. As I listened to the narrative, repeated again and again, that Freud was a marvellous painter, because he looked so closely at reality, and then tested the truth of this proposition by looking at his paintings this assertion was revealed as piffle. The book is interesting. Obviously if you are inclined to judge an artist by his personal behaviour you will never look at a Freud again.

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highly recommended

superb narrator, fascinating subject, cannot imagine that reading the book could match up to the audio version




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Reads like a novel, so well written

Lucien Freud is my favourite painter and this 2 part biography gives an indepth portrait written by someone who knew him extremely well. The flaws and the genius of Freud are laid bare and by the time I had finishrd both volumes I felt like I had lost a friend (albeit a difficult one).

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Great portrait artist

I loved listening to the story of Lucian's later life. Anyone that wants to know about Lucian Freud should buy this.

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Marvellous account ...

Marvellous account of an effervescent painter ... beautifully written, narrated and chock full of art-world gossip. A high recommend.

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Great life well written brilliantly read

A fascinating life of an incredible painter. Full of brilliant stories about mid 20thC London society. Brilliantly read. Feels like Freud is really speaking. Narrator no good French though, not that it matters since the rest was masterful. Thoroughly recommend.

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