Customer Reviews

David Jones: The Maker Unmade

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

'...will do much to re-establish the reputation of this English painter-poet. Through the exploration of his visual work in relation to his life it exposes the lineaments and patterns of an intensely original mind ... It teases out the strands ... as differing influences weave and interweave' The Times

'a major scholarly work ... placing Jones in a modern and even a post-modern context ... a biography as well as an illuminating critical study ... beautifully designed ... it defines Jones's achievement in altogether contemporary terms, but with an entirely unmodish intellectual and argumentative rigour' New Welsh Review

'ambitious and substantial ... here at last is the full record of the visual work, generously illustrated and essential on chronology' Fiona MacCarthy in The Observer

'A finely detailed study or the drawings and paintings.' Andrew Motion in The Guardian

'A large and illuminating conspectus of Jones's career. The large format suggests an art book, the abundant text a scholarly monograph...mixing analysis with biography and source material' The Independent on Sunday

'This comprehensive.. and finely illustrated book' - The Oldie

'A compelling picture of the brilliant painter-poet' - Western Mail

'with intelligent, sensitive insight ... refreshing and incisive' - The Tablet

'Succeeds in being readily comprehensible while also being scholarly. Exceptionally well produced, beautifully illustrated' The Literary Review

'Major new study...authoratitve, massively researched...a sophisticated aquaintance with thecultural context and many vivid details of biography' The Times Literary Supplement

'this comprehensive study will surprise even those familiar with Jones's writing and art' U.S. Publishers Weekly

'readable, stimulating and highly informative book' Agenda

'admirably illuminating' The Chesterton Review

The size, format, and price of this volume would suggest that it is primarily dedicated to reproductions of Jones's art. Not so. It is in fact a scholarly essay in which the reproductions are incidental to the text. Some, to be fair, are full page, but many others are postage stamp sized. In other words, it's a $60 book of criticism printed on fancy paper. This begs the question why the publishers chose this format--the book is meant to be read, not looked at, but few will want to carry it around with them, and it does not sit comfortably on the lap.

I have not yet read the book, so I can't speak to its quality. This one star review is a warning to anyone who, like me, may be mislead into buying it. It can also serve as a counter to the other (five star) review here, which was presumably added by the publisher.