The Art of Tasha Tudor (Hardcover)

by Harry Davis (Author) "Tasha Tudor was born to parents whose families had occupied positions of wealth and influence for generations in Boston society..." (more)
Key Phrases: take joy, Tasha Tudor, Corgi Cottage, Corgiville Fair (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Author-illustrator Tasha Tudor is one of America's most recognized and beloved artists. Her many classic children's books--Pumpkin Moonshine, 1 Is One, and Corgiville Fair to name a few--have virtually raised generations of children, and all signs point to their continued popularity for generations to come. In The Art of Tasha Tudor, the artist's longtime business partner and friend, Harry Davis, presents a remarkable retrospective of her life and work, featuring 150 of her finest drawings and paintings, from books, fashion designs, holiday cards, and her personal sketchbooks. The beautiful tribute is not without controversy, however, if only in that Davis and Tudor apparently parted company on not the best of terms. However, for the innumerable devotees of Tasha Tudor's extraordinary lifestyle and art, the book is indeed a comprehensive treasure. Tracing Tudor's life from early years with her family through some difficult periods with her husband and children to the present, Davis includes many amusing, poignant, and cutting anecdotes that could only come from an intimate acquaintance. Throughout, of course, are Tudor's exquisite illustrations of small critters and adorable children, most often set against a rustic New England backdrop. (All ages) --Emilie Coulter

Review
"An affectionate look at the enduring artist and her work." --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (October 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316174939
• ISBN-13: 978-0316174930
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #278,603 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

111 of 119 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars More Gossip Than Art; A Crass Attempt to Cash In on Tudor, October 15, 2000

By A Customer

The jacket flap describes this book as "sure to become the seminal book on her (Tasha Tudor's) life and work". Hardly. The commentary on the images presented in this book are painfully brief and pedestrian at best; they add no new insight. Many of the images have been seen in many other books; those that are new aren't that interesting.

However, most disturbing is the text. Tasha Tudor is a woman known for cherishing her privacy. This book spends most of its time trying to destroy it, elaborating on information more suited to a scandal sheet than to a serious book examining Tasha Tudor's art. Vingettes about the author's involvement with Tudor are mean spirited in the extreme.

I'm sure Ms. Tudor, like all of us, has her moments, but in my opinion it is clear that this book was written by her former business partner as a form of revenge. If I could give this book zero stars I would. Please don't reward Mr. Davis' crass attempt to cash in on a former business relationship with a great illustrator.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars controversy should not be used in critiquing this book!, December 13, 2000

By	Margaret Fitzgibbon (Westfield, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I bought this book I had no idea of its supposed 'unauthorized' status due to a parting of the ways between Tasha Tudor and the author; her agent Harry Davis. I wasn't made aware of this until after I had read the book, enjoyed the artwork and deemed it a worthwhile purchase. In fact, I felt that I appreciated Tasha more after reading the biographical portions of this book because it made her seem more human than some of the other books published about her. I felt that Harry Miles did a very fair job.This book is NOT a scathing, gossipy smear of 'Dear Tasha'. It is a lovely overview of her work and the life that was being lived when that work was created.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful and Insightful, January 2, 2001

By	Jane D. Hettich "Jane in San Diego" (Vista, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Having been a fan of Tudor's work since I was a small child, I was delighted to find this book and read it cover to cover in just one day.

I found Mr. Davis's relationship with Tudor to be interesting and insightful into what Tasha is like as a person, day to day. It was obvious in the book that they have had their differences, but I found Mr. Davis still maintained a profound respect and awe for this prolific artist. His viewpoints have rounded out my view of Tasha Tudor, offering a real person, rather than just the idealized version of her that I had previously.

I hope that I can give my two young daughters at least of fraction of the magic Tudor has interwoven into her own life!