Aubrey Beardsley: A Biography, By Matthew Sturgis
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A perfect match for Beardsley's art in its precision, sureness and sly humour, this closely observed account displays a characteristic combination of wit and accuracy in the second sentence: "As Oscar Wilde remarked, with more poetic truth than botanical accuracy, he 'died at the age of a flower'."
Surprisingly, Beardsley's wonderfully exotic, thrillingly suggestive art emerged from a deeply conventional, if slightly seedy childhood.
Impressively researched by Sturgis, the story gains momentum as the artist, haunted by tuberculosis, obsessively pursues his febrile visions.
Decked out in the distinctive hue of the literary periodical The Yellow Book, which made Beardsley a celebrity, this is a most welcome re-issue.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments