Synopsis
Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Non-fiction
'Outstanding' - The Guardian
'Superb' - The Telegraph
'A must read' - Anne Sebba
'Lively' - The Times
They seemed to be polar opposites . . .
Augustus: vivid, volatile and promiscuous. He was a hero among romantics and bohemians, celebrated as one of the great British talents of his generation.
Gwen’s art was magnificent, but she was also more reserved, and as a woman she struggled for the recognition which has only come to her now, years after her death.
Artists, Siblings, Visionaries is a riveting story of love, infidelity, betrayal, and of two extraordinary siblings whose art and lives subverted society’s expectations.
Details
19 June 2025
1027 pages
Deryn Edwards
9781529095876
Imprint: Picador
Reviews
“This is a must read . . . a deeply moving account of a family bursting with talent ”Anne Sebba, author of The Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz
“Judith Mackrell has done an incredible job in bringing to life the stories of these two great artists”Anthony D’Offay
“A thoroughly researched and effortlessly written account of the extraordinary lives of Augustus and Gwen John, encompassing painting, of course, but also obsessive love, infidelity, betrayal, family, sibling rivalry and relationships, and how they both subverted society’s expectations. A fantastic read - the pages virtually turned themselves”Fanny Blake
“This dream of a book lures us back to that most fascinating world, that of Gwen and Augustus John”Louisa Young
