Picasso's War: The Destruction of Guernica, and the Masterpiece That Changed the World [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Russell Martin (Author), Oliver Wyman (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 24, 2002

From the bestselling author of Beethoven's Hair comes a stirring narrative account of the town that inspired one of the world's most celebrated and controversial paintings, and of the artist whose passion and vision altered the course of modern history and art. In 1937, the Basque town of Guernica was bombed by Hitler's Luftwaffe. This act of terror--the first large-scale attack against civilians in modern warfare--outraged the world, and one man in particular. Pablo Picasso responded to the devastation in his homeland by beginning work on Guernica, what many consider the greatest artwork of the 20th century. Picasso's War sheds light on the conflict that was an ominous prelude to WWII and delivers an unforgettable portrait of a genius whose visionary statement about horror and terrible wounds of war still resonates today.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Painting is not done to decorate apartments. It is an instrument of war." So said Spaniard Pablo Picasso, who created the famous painting Guernica during the Spanish Civil War in reaction to the Nazis' bombing of the Basque village of the same name. Guernica is widely regarded as the best known work of anti-war visual art ever made. Wyman takes a friendly, straightforward approach to reading Martin's historical and personal account of the life of the massive painting, reminiscent of a favorite college professor. His occasional accents work more as an indication of a change of speaker rather than as convincing characters, but his enthusiasm for this saga of art, politics and tragedy makes it a winning performance. The story of Guernica's life after its creation is as fascinating as the events that inspired it are horrific. After the painting received much criticism when it was first exhibited in Paris in 1937, the world later deemed it a masterpiece. New York's Museum of Modern Art kept it safe from the political turmoil in Spain for decades until it was finally demanded back in the 1980s. In 2001, when Martin (Beethoven's Hair) finally saw the work-a monument to the horrors of war-he was told by a stranger that he should get to a television. It was September 11. Martin is now speaking publicly about the parallels between the "terror and unspeakable cruelty" of September 11 and Guernica, making this a surprisingly timely audiobook.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Picasso's "Guernica" was painted in reaction to the barbarous Nazi bombing of the Basque village in Spain in 1937. Martin (Beethoven's Hair) extensively researched the circumstances surrounding the creation of this painting and the attention it has continued to command. On 9/11 he was in Madrid viewing "Guernica"; here he has collaged his response to the attacks in New York City with his feelings about the painting. In the face of such terrible loss, it may be reasonable to parallel the two horrific events; however, Martin mixes fact and opinion with his personal reminiscences. Picasso's politics were ambiguous at best; while he joined the Communist Party to please his friends after World War II, he became disillusioned with Stalin in the 1950s. Picasso said, when asked, in typical fashion, that painting was his party. "Guernica's" historical significance as possibly "the last great history painting" gets lost here, begging the question is it politics, art, or tragedy that is Martin's focus? He discusses visuals yet provides no illustrations, such as the photographs Dora Maar took of Picasso working on "Guernica" or the preparatory drawings. This effort will not satisfy the thoughtful reader, and it skimps on production. For a contrasting perspective on Picasso and "Guernica," try James Lord's Picasso and Dora. You can pass on this one. Ellen Bates, New York
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: HighBridge Company; Unabridged edition (October 24, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565117239
• ISBN-13: 978-1565117235
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,983,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful, Haunting Story -- Must Read, November 11, 2002

By 

Karen Gerdes (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Picasso's War (Hardcover)

This is a beautifully written, timely book. The author's insights into the oppression of the Spanish people in the 1930s and the collaboration between Hitler and Franco are especially relevant in the wake of 9/11. This book is for people who are fascinated by history but also for those looking for explanantions for the recent horrible events in the U.S.. Russell Martin is a brilliant writer. He draws on his passion, empathy, and intelligence to tell an incredible story. It made me weep.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for a Light Read On Picasso, May 30, 2004

By 

Natascope (Redmond, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Picasso's War (Paperback)

The book as a whole was rather well written, and, if someone asked me for a good nonfiction book about Picasso, there is a good chance that I would point them to this book. The book had good descriptions throughout, it was written for so that people who had very little understanding previously could understand what was going on, and the book was written so that it didn't have to be read all in one sitting. So, while I probably wouldn't pass it onto others, I feel that it was a good experience to read it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Read -- Great History?, September 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Picasso's War (Hardcover)

Russell Martin has taken the history of the Spanish Civil War and a single work of art an woven them together into an entertaining and enlightening book. I am disturbed, however, by the author's Bibliographical Note, which begins "This narrative is intended for general readers rather than scholars, and for that reason I have chosen not to cite sources in the text or in accompanying notes. But I will be pleased to answer queries directed to me through the publisher about specific sources...." The author claims a great deal of detailed knowledge, from time to time stating with authority how Picasso felt in particular situations. It would be nice, even for a general reader, to know whether these conclusions were based on letters or interviews or the author's supposition...