The Boundless and Miraculous: Found Poems in the Letters of Vincent Van Gogh

The boundless and miraculous is what Vincent van Gogh believed we should all seek in our lives - and be satisfied with nothing less. He eventually found just that in his art, despite many struggles and profound difficulties which he recorded in his letters. These letters later became recognised for their literary qualities, such as simplicity, clarity, spontaneity and rich imagery. Such qualities are among those most prized in poetry. In The Boundless and Miraculous, extracts from Van Gogh’s letters are presented as ‘found poems’, mainly in the form of sonnets. They record many of the pivotal moments in his life, and Van Gogh’s frame of mind and his emotional state at these times are evident in the content and tone of the writing. There are also his views on the work of other artists, both his contemporaries and those who went before him. In particular, the poems encapsulate much of the thinking behind the way van Gogh’s art developed, and notably the thought processes behind some of his most iconic paintings. With 87 colour plates, The Boundless and the Miraculous celebrates Van Gogh’s spectacular art as well as his wonderful writing in what could be considered a series of brief autobiographical sketches. A fabulous gift book aimed at all lovers of Van Gogh’s work, this volume will also make a major contribution to our understanding of his short and amazing life. AUTHOR: Larry Stapleton is the former Director of the Environmental Protection Agency. His poetry has been published in periodicals including Poetry Ireland Review, The Stinging Fly, THE SHOp, Cyphers, The Stony Thursday Book, Crannog, The Honest Ulsterman, The North, The Interpreter’s House, Irish Pages and in The Irish Times.
870 colour illustrations