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Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,246 listener ratings
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A vividly-rendered portrait of both the rise of Impressionism and of the artist at the center of the movement, Claude and Camille is above all a love story of the highest romantic order. In the mid-nineteenth century, a young man named Claude Monet decided that he would rather endure a difficult life painting landscapes than take over his father’s nautical supplies business in a French seaside town. Against his father’s will, and with nothing but a dream and an insatiable urge to create a new style of art that repudiated the Classical Realism of the time, he set off for Paris. But once there he is confronted with obstacles: an art world that refused to validate his style, extreme poverty, and a war that led him away from his home and friends. But there were bright spots as well: his deep, enduring friendships with men named Renoir, Cézanne, Pissarro, Manet—a group that together would come to be known as the Impressionists, and that supported each other through the difficult years. Even more illuminating was his lifelong love, Camille Doncieux, a beautiful, upper-class Parisian girl who threw away her privileged life to be by the side of the defiant painter and embrace the lively Bohemian life of their time. His muse, his best friend, his passionate lover, and the mother to his two children, Camille stayed with Monet—and believed in his work—even as they lived in wretched rooms and often suffered the indignities of destitution. But Camille had her own demons—secrets that Monet could never penetrate—including one that when eventually revealed would pain him so deeply that he would never fully recover from its impact.
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"I was interested in this book, because I have always liked his paintings. The book is very easy to get into. It starts with his childhood and covers his whole life. The book depicts the hardships that the artists went through at that time. It is easy to picture all of the artists sitting around in a cafe discussing their work,lives and hardships.It makes me appreciate his work even more now. It is definitely worth reading."
— Debp (4 out of 5 stars)
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“You’ll never look at Monet’s water lilies the same way after reading Cowell’s luminous biography of the artist and his muse. More than Monet’s story, this is an ode to the Impressionists and the women whose love and sacrifice inspired them. This is a complex picture of how Camille’s love for Monet allowed the artist to bloom, but left her paying a high emotional price.”
— RT Book Reviews (4 stars)
Claude & Camille Listener Reviews
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" Would give it three and a half for sure. It just didn't have the action to keep me up at night, but it was absolutely fascinating, yet also sad, depressing and even scary. So, so many artists in the world, including my own brother, want to make a living as an artist and have to give in to a 9-5 boring job. Monet never gave up or gave in, but to the detriment of his marriage, his happiness, his friends.....he was broke and unappreciated for the majority of his life. If only he could know that I have a water lilies mug I drove all the way to Boston for, to go see a big showing of his work from France. I have one of his prints in my house! If only he had that success when his children were young and his first wife were alive :( Great book if you love any of the Impressionists--Renoir, Pisarro, Manet, all buddies in this book. "
— Erika, 2/10/2014 -
" I've always admired the Impressionists, Monet's work in particular. Reading "Claude and Camille", my appreciation has only grown deeper. I will never again view a painting of Monet's without thinking about what and who inspired him, and what a beautiful and painful cost it was to create such exquisite impressions. I loved this novel. "
— Roxanne, 2/5/2014 -
" A glorious, luminous portrait of love. Cowell is a master of nuance and emotional subtlety. I loved this book. "
— Susanne, 2/4/2014 -
" I was so interested in learning about Monet's life and it was our book club read, that I plowed through it. It had so much potential but was so poorly written as to be almost painful! "
— Judy, 1/27/2014 -
" Interesting fictional bio of Claude Monet and his longtime girlfriend. Quick read. "
— Dana, 1/27/2014 -
" A very nice work of historical fiction. "
— Julie, 1/21/2014 -
" I read about 3/4 of the book . It told an interesting story of how the impressionists survived before they were accepted as artists. "
— Cathy, 12/30/2013 -
" It's not completely historically accurate, but this is still a lovely novel about Claude Monet and his first wife Camille. "
— Jen, 12/20/2013 -
" Touching love story about Monet and his wife and muse. The real life of an artist may seem romantic but can be very hard scrabble as well. Nice early highlights of Monet's life and struggles. "
— Bruce, 10/15/2013 -
" Historical fiction is not my thing. This one really put me to sleep. To be fair, I didn't make it past the first 50-or-so pages, so there's a pretty good chance that it got better. "
— Allison, 9/4/2013 -
" This was very well written for a Monet fan. The descriptions were vivid. It showed what it can be like to have an artist as your life partner. "
— Marie, 4/24/2012 -
" I just picked this up in the new books section, but I really loved it - gave me a bit more insight into Claude Monet (this is about his first love) "
— Hollis, 3/24/2012 -
" Well written, interesting story about Claude Monet, his wife & model, Camille, and other artists of his time. "
— Judie, 11/13/2011 -
" I found this hard to put down. I find historical fiction fascinating. "
— 'jean, 7/31/2011 -
" I didn't care for it and I especially didn't like Claude or Camille. I would say the only positive thing I could say is that it was an easy read, despite my dislike. "
— Amber, 5/11/2011 -
" Monet's story from the time he gave up his plan to do drawings for money to his struggle for the rest of his life to paint impressions of light, no matter the difficulties surviving while he painted. "
— Linnet, 4/30/2011 -
" A beautiful novel of love and loss, and of love that can never be lost. I recommend this highly. A beautiful portrait of Claude Monet and the love of his life. "
— Christy, 4/19/2011 -
" I have really gotten into historical novels and enjoyed this one very much. "
— Harriet, 4/13/2011 -
" Great story about my favorite painter. "
— Deborah, 2/26/2011 -
" Loved it! Lots of period historical information during the time that the French Impressionists were developing their style. "
— K, 2/22/2011
About Christopher Cazenove
Christopher Cazenove (1943–2010), one of England’s finest actors, starred on stage and television in the United States and Great Britain. His motion-picture credits include A Knight’s Tale, Eye of the Needle, Children of the Full Moon, and Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill. He played Ben Carrington on television’s Dynasty.