Gustave Dore: Adrift on Dreams of Splendor [Hardcover]

Dan Malan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0963113585 | ISBN-13: 978-0963113580 | Publication Date: July 1995 | Edition: First Edition

The first serious attempt at an English Language biography of Gustave Dore for over a century, and the only significant biography available in any language. In the 19C Dore was unchallenged as the world's greatest illustrator. He also was one of the pioneers of the comic strip & an incisive caricaturist. The English and Americans saw him as one of the worlds great painters. And he created some beautiful sculptures. Ahead of his time, artists from Van Gogh and Picasso to Henry Irving and Cecil B Demille were influenced by him.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Mce Pub; First Edition edition (July 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963113585
• ISBN-13: 978-0963113580
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,295,607 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Dore Resource Available, November 12, 2000

By 

William G Gwynne (Fitzroy North, VIC Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gustave Dore: Adrift on Dreams of Splendor (Hardcover)

The first serious attempt at an English Language biography of Gustave Dore for over a century, and the only significant biography available in any language.

In the 19C Dore was unchallenged as the world's greatest illustrator. He also was one of the pioneers of the comic strip & an incisive caricaturist. The English and Americans saw him as one of the worlds great painters. And he created some beautiful sculptures. Ahead of his time, artists from Van Gogh and Picasso to Henry Irving and Cecil B Demille were influenced by him.

Yet 100 years later he is all but forgotten - despite the fact that his art is all around us.

In Adrift, Dan Malan explores the history of the rise & disappearance of Dore. The approach is both scholarly and relaxed: lots of detail without the customary "art critic" hyperbole. The opponents of Dore are given their voice, but it is difficult for the reader not to be drawn to this fascinating and enigmatic artist.

The book is comprehensively illustrated with a wide variety of Dore's works, and includes a very detailed catalogue and bibliography. There is also an invaluable price guide to Dore's major works.

Anyone who has read other Dore bios (Gosling, Richardson) will quickly realise how lazy and incomplete these efforts were.

And anyone who has bought any of the Dover Dore books will be amazed at how these books are but the tip of the iceberg.

Surprisingly, this book has not been published by a major publishing company. ...

Highly recommended. Hopefully other authors will continue Malan's efforts to return Dore to his rightful place in the history of art.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great guide to the works of Gustave Dore', June 15, 1999

By 

Mr. Joseph A. Zinfolino (Boston Mass) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gustave Dore: Adrift on Dreams of Splendor (Hardcover)

Many photos and detailed information about his works, including dates aswell as info about multiple printings. He even lists what some of the books were selling for when they were first printed! A must have if you want more info on Dore'

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars no color reproductions of his paintings, August 30, 2006

By 

guineapig (sf, ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gustave Dore: Adrift on Dreams of Splendor (Hardcover)

the writing i cannot comment on, but as a picture book of dores work, i found it dissapointing. not to say that there arent plenty of illustrations, but that the printing quality is poor on many of them, and there isnt a single color reproduction of any of his paintings.