Whistler: A Life for Art's Sake by Daniel E. Sutherland
A major new biography of James McNeill Whistler, one of most complex, intriguing, and important of America's artists The first biography in more than twenty years of James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) is also the first to make extensive use of the artist's private correspondence to tell the story of his life and work. This engaging personal history dispels the popular notion of Whistler as merely a combative, eccentric, and unrelenting publicity seeker, a man as renowned for his public feuds with Oscar Wilde and John Ruskin as for the iconic portrait of his mother. The Whistler revealed in these pages is an intense, introspective, and complex man, plagued by self-doubt and haunted by an endless pursuit of perfection in his painting and drawing. In his beautifully illustrated and deeply human portrayal of the artist, Daniel E. Sutherland shows why Whistler was perhaps the most influential artist of his generation, and certainly a pivotal figure in the cultural history of the nineteenth century. Whistler comes alive through his own magnificent work and words, including the provocative manifestos that explained his bold artistic vision, sparked controversy in his own time, and resonate to this day. Editorial Reviews Review Immensely readable . . . a lively addition to the understanding of this difficult and important American artist.--Kirkus Reviews ? Kirkus Reviews Sutherland's account. . .is unobtrusively scholarly and he is a sensible explainer of the work, accessible and illuminating to the general reader. We get three thick wodges of plates, so the paintings are on hand. He knew everybody, learned what he needed to learn and became singular. Sutherland deftly explains how. -Sam Leith, The Spectator -- Sam Leith ? The Spectator Published On: 2014-02-22 [Sutherland] has delved into the artist's correspondence as well as scores of archives to forge a lucid account of what by any standards was an unruly, restless life. . . This biography does much to illuminate Whistler's career, showing up the public man, the tireless self-promoter, with his rough-and-tumble engagement with the art world of his day.-Mark Thomas, The Daily Telegraph -- Mark Thomas ? The Daily Telegraph Published On: 2014-02-22 This is the story of a true bohemian.-Rachel Campbell-Johnston, The Times -- Rachel Campbell-Johnston ? The Times Published On: 2014-02-22 Sutherland wants to get behind the Whistler myth and reveal what he calls the 'covert myth' - that is, the inner life of this enigmatic man. In order to this, he has provided a well-written and dramatic story.-J. B. Bullen, Apollo Magazine -- J. B. Bullen ? Apollo Magazine Published On: 2014-03-01 Daniel Sutherland, a professor of history at the University of Arkansas, has given us a warts-and-all portrait of Whistler, the man, the work and his times.-A.N.Wilson, The Financial Times -- A. N. Wilson ? Financial Times Published On: 2014-02-22 The first comprehensive biography of Whistler in at least a generation . . . Sutherland skillfully captures Whistler's ambition, tenacity, and insecurity and presents his life in a narrative that does justice to both his triumphs and his failures.-Eleanor Jones Harvey, American Scholar -- Eleanor Jones Harvey ? American Scholar [Sutherland] seeks to get behind the public Whistler . . . never judging or condescending to his subject . . . The portrait of Whistler that emerges is complex and mysterious . . . a measured and scholarly account of an extraordinary life.-Ruth Scurr, Wall Street Journal -- Ruth Scurr ? Wall Street Journal The book is finely crafted and exhaustively researched. . .Sutherland is prodigiously well informed.-Alex Danchev, New Statesman -- Alex Danchev ? New Statesman Published On: 2014-03-07 Sutherland's illustrious, cradle-to-grave biography is nicely old-fashioned: it recounts Whistler's career in chronological order, is generous with detail, and keeps psychological speculation to a minimum.-Michael Prodger, The Mail on Sunday -- Michael Prodger ? The Mail on Sunday Published On: 2014-03-16 'Sutherland [writes] with admirable precision and thoroughness. The picture he creates of Whistler - his working methods, his professional vicissitudes, his critical reception, his vexed relationships - is like one of the artist's own wonderful early etchings, both clear in line and rich in detail. It is an impressive achievement.'-Matthew Sturgis, Times Literary Supplement -- Matthew Sturgis ? TLS Published On: 2014-04-04 Wonderfully precise . . . full of sharp notes of detail . . . compelling . . . a beautifully written account.-Farisa Khalid, PopMatters -- Farisa Khalid ? PopMatters 'Sutherland is masterful. . .Thorough and unpedantic, [Whistler] distinguishes itself by its unobtrusive scholarly edifice and extensive use of Whistler letters.'-Vladislav Davidzon, The Art Newspaper -- Vladislav Davidzon ? The Art Newspaper Published On: 2014-06-01 Sutherland's admirably researched and memorable biography should find new admirers for this prickly, headstrong artist and provocateur.-Ann Landi, ARTnews -- Ann Landi ? ARTnews Engaging-Christopher Benfey, New York Review of Books -- Christopher Benfey ? New York Review of Books [A] lucid and jargon-free biography--Deborah Solomon, New York Times Book Review -- Deborah Solomon ? New York Times Book Review About the Author Daniel E. Sutherland is Distinguished Professor of History, University of Arkansas. The recipient of more than fifty awards, honors, and grants, he is best known for his acclaimed series of books chronicling nineteenth-century America.
Publication Details
Title:
Author(s):
Illustrator:
Binding: Hardcover
Published by: Yale University Press: , 2014
Edition:
ISBN: 9780300203462 | 0300203462
440 pages.
Book Condition: Very Good
Pickup available at Book Express Warehouse
Usually ready in 4 hours
Product information
New Zealand Delivery
Shipping Options
Shipping options are shown at checkout and will vary depending on the delivery address and weight of the books.
We endeavour to ship the following day after your order is made and to have pick up orders available the same day. We ship Monday-Friday. Any orders made on a Friday afternoon will be sent the following Monday. We are unable to deliver on Saturday and Sunday.
Pick Up is Available in NZ:
Warehouse Pick Up Hours
- Monday - Friday: 9am-5pm
- 62 Kaiwharawhara Road, Wellington, NZ
Please make sure we have confirmed your order is ready for pickup and bring your confirmation email with you.
Rates
-
New Zealand Standard Shipping - $6.00
- New Zealand Standard Rural Shipping - $10.00
- Free Nationwide Standard Shipping on all Orders $75+
Please allow up to 5 working days for your order to arrive within New Zealand before contacting us about a late delivery. We use NZ Post and the tracking details will be emailed to you as soon as they become available. Due to Covid-19 there have been some courier delays that are out of our control.
International Delivery
We currently ship to Australia and a range of international locations including: Belgium, Canada, China, Switzerland, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, United States, Hong Kong SAR, Thailand, Philippines, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden & Singapore. If your country is not listed, we may not be able to ship to you, or may only offer a quoting shipping option, please contact us if you are unsure.
International orders normally arrive within 2-4 weeks of shipping. Please note that these orders need to pass through the customs office in your country before it will be released for final delivery, which can occasionally cause additional delays. Once an order leaves our warehouse, carrier shipping delays may occur due to factors outside our control. We, unfortunately, can’t control how quickly an order arrives once it has left our warehouse. Contacting the carrier is the best way to get more insight into your package’s location and estimated delivery date.
- Global Standard 1 Book Rate: $37 + $10 for every extra book up to 20kg
- Australia Standard 1 Book Rate: $14 + $4 for every extra book
Any parcels with a combined weight of over 20kg will not process automatically on the website and you will need to contact us for a quote.
Payment Options
On checkout you can either opt to pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express), Google Pay, Apple Pay, Shop Pay & Union Pay. Paypal, Afterpay and Bank Deposit.
Transactions are processed immediately and in most cases your order will be shipped the next working day. We do not deliver weekends sorry.
If you do need to contact us about an order please do so here.
You can also check your order by logging in.
Contact Details
- Trade Name: Book Express Ltd
- Phone Number: (+64) 22 852 6879
- Email: sales@bookexpress.co.nz
- Address: 62 Kaiwharawhara Rd, Kaiwharawhara, Wellington, 6035, New Zealand.
- GST Number: 103320957 - We are registered for GST in New Zealand
- NZBN: 9429031911290
We have a 30-day return policy, which means you have 30 days after receiving your item to request a return.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused, with tags, and in its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase.
To start a return, you can contact us at sales@bookexpress.co.nz. Please note that returns will need to be sent to the following address: 62 Kaiwharawhara Road, Wellington, NZ once we have confirmed your return.
If your return is accepted, we’ll send you a return shipping label, as well as instructions on how and where to send your package. Items sent back to us without first requesting a return will not be accepted.
You can always contact us for any return question at sales@bookexpress.co.nz.
Damages and issues
Please inspect your order upon reception and contact us immediately if the item is defective, damaged or if you receive the wrong item, so that we can evaluate the issue and make it right.
Exceptions / non-returnable items
Certain types of items cannot be returned, like perishable goods (such as food, flowers, or plants), custom products (such as special orders or personalized items), and personal care goods (such as beauty products). We also do not accept returns for hazardous materials, flammable liquids, or gases. Please get in touch if you have questions or concerns about your specific item.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns on sale items or gift cards.
Exchanges
The fastest way to ensure you get what you want is to return the item you have, and once the return is accepted, make a separate purchase for the new item.
European Union 14 day cooling off period
Notwithstanding the above, if the merchandise is being shipped into the European Union, you have the right to cancel or return your order within 14 days, for any reason and without a justification. As above, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused, with tags, and in its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase.
Refunds
We will notify you once we’ve received and inspected your return, and let you know if the refund was approved or not. If approved, you’ll be automatically refunded on your original payment method within 10 business days. Please remember it can take some time for your bank or credit card company to process and post the refund too.
If more than 15 business days have passed since we’ve approved your return, please contact us at sales@bookexpress.co.nz.