The Judgment of Paris (Abridged): The Revolutionary Decade That Gave the World Impressionism Audiobook

" Not for the light reader. It's heavy, tremendously detailed - but WOW. The Parisians ate all of the animals in the Paris zoo because they were starving. Even the elephants. This was in the 1870's.... This is not what the book is about - but it's one of those details thats tickes with you. It's a rich, educational experience of the historical and artistic events that lead to the impressionistic movement in art. Fascinating. Thos e that will enjoy it know exactly who you are. "

" Well written and believable. I had no idea the tough conditions artist lived in and how historical events constricted their works acceptance into the art world. "

" I loved this book. It chronicles two artist's lives- Messioner and Manet, in the 1860's. It provides all the cultural, political, personal and artistic background to their paintings, and the whole Impressionism movement. You see everyone's personalities and shortcomings, and even better, the author actually makes one understand the french-prussian war (I'm not a war history person, so that was good). Anyone who loves Art history, humanities, or this time period, a great read. "

" More of a survey of events, rather than an examination of how the societal conditions affected the success (or lack thereof) of the two artists and styles. It moved slowly and I would have enjoyed reading more analysis of the broader implications of the art, but interesting subject matter nonetheless. "

" I will never look at the Impressionists the same way again. This book made them come alive. People who I thought simply suffered for their new kind of art in some sort of artsy way REALLY suffered--not only for their art, but also through a tumultuous chapter in French history. In the span of about 12 years, art changed forever. I never thought about the connections between Manet's painting of Maximillian in front of the firing squad in light of French politics. I never thought about how closely tied the French art establishment was with French government. This book added a wealth of dimensions to these painters. Remarkable page turner. "

" extremely well written and exhaustively researched- it reads like a novel. this book made me appreciate manets art so much more. "

" A very readable history of the beginnings of impressionism. This book does not give detailed analyses of individual paintings but it does provide a good deal of background that helps to understand where Manet and Monet were coming from and how their contemporaries reacted to their work. "

" Tina turned me on to Ross King and I am forever grateful. His books are so much fun. "

" Great read with insight into the politics of the Salon, the old guard of the art establishment, and the new painters of impressionism. The story focuses primarily on the experiences of Manet. "

" fabulous audiobook. Excellent reader. wonderful non-fiction "

" Dryly written but highly informative. "

" While this book had interesting moments, it was bogged down with minute details about how the Salon worked in Paris. Too much bureaucratic detail for me and not enough about the art itself or the artists. "

" A mightily impressive job by Ross King. I studied art and art history university, and dearly wish this highly readable work on the events leading to the creation of the Impressionist movement existed then. Superb. "

" A must read for everyone who is interested in art and history. I love Mr. King's writing style -- not too "scholarly" or text book-like. Relates the different artists to each other and personall and through their works. Makes you think about the processes and the results. Lovely read! "

" If you are an artist or a lover of art this book is a great read. It situates the reader at the vanguard of the impressionist movement and is full of surprising twists and turns. "

" A highly readable account of two different artists and the birth of the Impressionist movement in Paris during the 1800s. A great read for anyone interested in art history or European history. "

" Excellent read about art in 19th century France historical vs beginning of impressionism "

" I love history and I love Impressionists paintings, so I thought I'd love this book, but it had too much detail; it read too much like a textbook. I did learn a lot about France and its art from the 1800s, but it was a real slog to get through. "

" I read this as research for my novel, My Phantom: The Memoir of Christine Daaé. The artistic ferment of 19th century Paris is clearly explained by this excellent study of two painters "

" This was one of the best books that I've read in years. It taught me about an important and crucial epoch in art history while learning about the 1860s-70s in Paris and France in general. "

" fabulous audiobook. Excellent reader. wonderful non-fiction "

" HArder to get through than the others have been. "

" Read this book after seeing the Impressionist exhibits at the DeYoung and the Legion of Honor. Great rendering of the struggle between the reigning, government and establishment-accepted artists and the new "impressionist" artists in the 1860's through 1880's. "

" History that reads like a novel. Formidable ! "

" Essentially a dual biography about Edouard Manet and his predecessor, Ernest Meissonier. "

" French history parades acros the pages of this book, yet it remains an enchanting and smooth read. --Madalene Cuglietta "