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Gino, the Countess & Chagall
A rugged Italian peasant; a scheming, vicious "friend of the family; " a kindly monk; rich, beautiful women; the intriguing art world of Florence and Paris in the 1950s and 60s...these are the elements that make award-winning author Len Lamensdorf's new novel a compelling story.Critics have called Lamensdorf's writing "wonderfully crafted", "compulsive reading", and "extremely engaging". In Gino, the Countess & Chagall, Lamensdorf presents a tale of war and peace, love and hate, great artistic heights -- as Gino rises to eminence and rubs elbows with other greats including Chagall, Picasso, and Sartre -- and profound personal lows as tragedy strikes close to home.
Born Gianpolo Bondone on a tiny farm near Florence, Italy, Gino learns very early how to deal with an abusive father, trying to protect his mother and young sister, Maria. When he returns from serving his country at the end of World War II, Gino must find his place in the world. A kindly monk, who saw artistic talent in the youngster who painted curlicues on leather wallets at the rural monastery, arranges for Gino to be apprenticed to a master artist who is restoring a great fresco in a church in Florence.
Discovery of Gino's infatuation and illicit affair with Guilia, wealthy daughter of the patron who commissioned the fresco's restoration, causes Gino to flee to Paris. In the guise of helpful friend, Pietro Scegli helps Gino settle on the West Bank. However, Pietro hides several terrible secrets.
Readers follow Gino as he tries to find his way in this foreign land where he struggles with the language as he also struggles to find his way as an artist. Several art masters and a reluctant gallery owner offer advice,while the elegant Ariane, Comtesse de Villon, offers a different kind of help. Life threatens to overwhelm this "humble peasant" as tragedies -- past and present -- threaten to dry up Gino's artistic inspiration.
At last confronted by Pietro, Gino must face long hidden truths. Can Gino deal with his past and rediscover the joy of love, life and art? Will advice given him by the renowned Chagall help him or haunt him? While readers cheer Gino on, they will be reluctant to have the story end.
Born Gianpolo Bondone on a tiny farm near Florence, Italy, Gino learns very early how to deal with an abusive father, trying to protect his mother and young sister, Maria. When he returns from serving his country at the end of World War II, Gino must find his place in the world. A kindly monk, who saw artistic talent in the youngster who painted curlicues on leather wallets at the rural monastery, arranges for Gino to be apprenticed to a master artist who is restoring a great fresco in a church in Florence.
Discovery of Gino's infatuation and illicit affair with Guilia, wealthy daughter of the patron who commissioned the fresco's restoration, causes Gino to flee to Paris. In the guise of helpful friend, Pietro Scegli helps Gino settle on the West Bank. However, Pietro hides several terrible secrets.
Readers follow Gino as he tries to find his way in this foreign land where he struggles with the language as he also struggles to find his way as an artist. Several art masters and a reluctant gallery owner offer advice,while the elegant Ariane, Comtesse de Villon, offers a different kind of help. Life threatens to overwhelm this "humble peasant" as tragedies -- past and present -- threaten to dry up Gino's artistic inspiration.
At last confronted by Pietro, Gino must face long hidden truths. Can Gino deal with his past and rediscover the joy of love, life and art? Will advice given him by the renowned Chagall help him or haunt him? While readers cheer Gino on, they will be reluctant to have the story end.
440 pages, Hardcover
First published November 2, 2000
5 people want to read
About the author
Len Lamensdorf
13 books1 follower Len Lamensdorf is the award-winning author of 9 novels, 3 full-length plays and one successful feature film. His novels, published by Simon & Schuster, Delacorte and SeaScape Press in the United States and translated into other languages, have won Gold and Silver Benjamin Franklin Awards, three IPPY (Independent Publisher) awards and a ForeWord Magazine Book-of-the-Year.
Len’s young adult Will to Conquer trilogy won the Children’s Choice Award from the prestigious Children’s Book Council and the International Reading Association. His historical novel, The Ballad of Billy Lee – George Washington’s Favorite Slave, was acclaimed by Pulitzer Prize-winning historians Ron Chernow and Joseph J. Ellis, who called it, “One of the most poignant untold stories in American history.” It was a finalist for ForeWord Book of the Year, as is his current thriller, The Mexican Gardener. Adding the new The Murdered Messiah series, brings the total of Len's published books to 14.
Len is an honors graduate of the University of Chicago and the U. of C. Law School (editor, Law Review) and completed his post-graduate work at Harvard Law. He also studied playwriting at UCLA with Kenneth Macgowan, founder of the Provincetown Players and the original producer of Eugene O’Neill.
In another incarnation, Len was the builder (design, construction, management) of several large mall shopping centers and office buildings.
Len is married, the father of two children and grandfather of six. He lives in Westlake Village, California.
His personal website is www.lenlamensdorf.com
Len’s young adult Will to Conquer trilogy won the Children’s Choice Award from the prestigious Children’s Book Council and the International Reading Association. His historical novel, The Ballad of Billy Lee – George Washington’s Favorite Slave, was acclaimed by Pulitzer Prize-winning historians Ron Chernow and Joseph J. Ellis, who called it, “One of the most poignant untold stories in American history.” It was a finalist for ForeWord Book of the Year, as is his current thriller, The Mexican Gardener. Adding the new The Murdered Messiah series, brings the total of Len's published books to 14.
Len is an honors graduate of the University of Chicago and the U. of C. Law School (editor, Law Review) and completed his post-graduate work at Harvard Law. He also studied playwriting at UCLA with Kenneth Macgowan, founder of the Provincetown Players and the original producer of Eugene O’Neill.
In another incarnation, Len was the builder (design, construction, management) of several large mall shopping centers and office buildings.
Len is married, the father of two children and grandfather of six. He lives in Westlake Village, California.
His personal website is www.lenlamensdorf.com
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October 29, 2010
Having enjoyed Luncheon of the Boating Party recently, this drew me due to the similar art theme. It was no equal. But its an easy read, and offered a glimpse into the mind of a passionate artist from the initial awakening toward his own art to the decision to follow his heart (and the suggestion of Marc Chagall.
Displaying 1 of 1 review