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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Saving Vincent by Joan Fernandez centers around Jo van Gogh Bonger, the widow of Theo van Gogh, as she pushes boundaries in the fight to preserve and promote the legacy of her brother-in-law, Vincent van Gogh, after Theo’s death. Jo is determined to make sure Vincent's art is recognized, regardless of an extreme lack of support from the art establishment and the dismissive attitudes of aficionados like Georges Raulf and Jan Veth. Juggling grief and the pressures of a patriarchal society, Jo takes on the responsibility of managing Vincent's artwork, looking for opportunities to exhibit and sell his paintings. The glass ceiling is high and she is up against financial difficulties, conflicts within her own family, and the oppressive forces that diminish her role and undermine her efforts. Still, Jo remains focused on promoting Vincent’s legacy.
“You’re a woman in a backwater Dutch town. You can’t go it alone.” Joan Fernandez’s Saving Vincent is the historical novel I did not know I needed, about a woman I'd never heard of, but I'm so very glad it's been put out into the world. Fernandez does an excellent job in her portrayal of Jo as a strong, determined woman ahead of her time in the male-dominated art world. It's incredible to consider that without her, Vincent van Gogh would be a virtual nobody. Fernandez's cinematic descriptions of the 19th-century art scene, and the inclusion of real-life art heavyweights like Gauguin, are perfectly sprinkled into the story. Saving Vincent is a wonderful tale that forces readers to become deeply invested in Jo as a woman, creating an unforgettable portrait of resilience and passion. Very highly recommended.
