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Summary: Rarely has Poetry and Biography been so uncannily merged
Review: This book is a wonderful biography. Hayden Herrera's clever and vibrant writing really captures Frida's personality, and its because of this that the book strays from conventional biographiness. A wonderful read, I recommend it. Not to mention, once you're hooked on Frida, you never return. *note* this book is the basis for the spectacular movie starring Salma Hayek (as seen on cover of book) as Frida.
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Summary: Seminal Study on Enigmatic Personality
Review: This is an extremely important, long overdue and commanding work on one of the most significant artistic personalities of the 20th century. The author, Hayden Herrera, is perhaps one of the few best qualified writers to present this indepth, intense penetration into the tumultuous life and work of such a complex figure in the art world. Frida Kahlo, as readers/viewers in the United States by now are aware, created some of the most unconventionally brilliant --even shocking works of arts the world has seen. Herrera's impeccable scholarship and research skills are impressive and at the same time delicately compassionate and vibrant. The movie version, by the way, was wonderful and Salma Hayek was amazing in the lead role. Thank you Hayden; thank you Frida! Absolutely spectacular subject. Alan Cambeira
Author of AZUCAR! The Story of Sugar (a novel)
Rating:
Summary: Alegria!
Review: This is one of the first biography's I have read in a long time. I became very interested in Frida after I read a book about the life of Tina Modotti which fascinated me. Tina was one of Diego's many mistresses and a friend of Frida's. They were both extraordinary women of an extraordinary era. I am a painter and first painted the beautiful Tina after reading the book of her remarkable life. I am now overwhelmed with the Herrera biography of Frida and have become her disciple. I feel that I know her, I feel her spirit, I certainly felt her pain. I began taking art lessons as a very young child the year that she passed. I pray that some of that incredible spirit of hers came my way. Her pain was unfathomably deep and yet she survived with a love for life, art, and a difficult man. Her ability to love so deeply was beyond reckoning. There will never be another Frida. I wish that I had known her, been one of her compatriots. I do know her through the book, through her art. The book inspired me, challenged me, and made me feel so thankful that people like Frida grace this world.
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Summary: The One and Only
Review: This is probably the definitive biography of one of Mexico's greatest gifts to the art world, Frida Kahlo. If you want to know more about this Mexican icon, please read this book. The photographs are abundant and the color reproductions of her works are numerous and spread throughout the book. Full of little known tid bits of information, it is a fascinating read. For example, her name was Frieda, but changes it to Frida as a political protest. The insights into the lives of her, hubby, Diego Rivera, and all their circle of friends is enthralling. The allure of Frida is a now 21st century phenomena that does not seem to be losing steam. I recently went to the Museum of Contemporay Art in La Jolla, Ca. to see an exhibit that featured some of her most famous paintings. It was unbelieveable the amount of goods generated to sell that are Frida related. Her picture was everywhere in the gift shop, always for sale. I only wonder what this wonderful spirit would have thought about how she is venerated and idolized by so many. Back to the book, the writing style is one that flows and allows the reader to follow without much trouble. The reference material is abundant including many interviews, letters and quotes from other books. Scholarly enough for academics but entertaining enough for the casual reader. It will hold your interest and leave you knowing Frida and the pain and joy that was her life. The book is thick, but because of the intriguing nature of her life you will probably finish it quickly. When you approach the the last chapters of this book, you will not want it to end. The inevitable end will come and a temporary void will have been created as her death will leave you saddened. Her ghastly cremation will bring a tear to your eye; it did mine and I'm a guy! As you get over it, you will rejoice in the consolation of knowing that her art lives on. You may even go out and buy a piece of Frida to adorn your home with, like me and so many other fans of Frida have done. Frida has not died, her spirit lives on for eternity. She is always looking at me, with her joined eyebrows and three monkeys. The look of a revolutionary spirit who has left her art and a wonderful biography by Hayden Herrera for all to enjoy.
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