Vincent, A Graphic Biography by Simon Elliott is published by Frances Lincoln, an imprint of The Quarto Group, to coincide with the National Gallery’s Van Gogh exhibition in September 2024. This Graphic Biography is a portrayal of Van Gogh’s life as you’ve never seen it before, so we are told. But is it really?

Oh, yes, indeed it is. I confess I am a newby where graphic works are concerned and initially the small bites of text amongst relevant illustrations made me wonder just who this was aimed at? I tend to nip into the Golden Fleece in Thirsk to slurp coffee while reviewing a book, and once there cornered Kirsten, young enough to be familiar with the graphic concept I thought, as she rushed about with coffees and heaven knows what. Indeed she was, and is clearly an authority! She felt that graphic books are for any age, and work successfully to bring situations to life. Though Vincent by Simon Elliott would, I feel, start with the older teenager and on into adults. I say this in view of the moving, sometimes troubling, often heart-rending, but always fascinating study.

So, on with the content: this graphic novel – for that’s what it is when all is said and done, is ‘told’ by Vincent’s sister-in-law Jo van Gogh-Bonger – and covers the entirety of Vincent’s short but agitated life. Jo was the wife – soon to be widow – of Vincent’s loyal younger brother, Theo. By page 2 and the first Malteser consumed – of three that the Golden Fleece provides in a small spirit glass with every coffee – I was captivated, because I ‘got it’.

Digitally illustrated on an iPad by author Simon Elliot, the format of this novel ably tells the story of Vincent, his agitated personna, his route to perfecting his style, with the illustrations reflecting the stages of his progress. For instance, at the start the illustrations have a flat tonal colouring, changing until they finally reflect the raw primary colours and style of Vincent’s later works. So… so… clever of Elliot. It was not only effective but also affective in that it stirred my emotions. Heavens I had almost forgotten my Maltesers, something that never happens. So another was popped into mouth.

Poor Vincent, so unhappy, so tormented, a genius. Poor Theo, so supportive, so drained by Vincent’s torment and who understood his brother’s work when others couldn’t or wouldn’t. Wonderful Jo … who was determined to promote Vincent’s art on the death of them both and who continued to do so until the stuffy critics, having read Vincent’s letters she had kept, began to understood at last the import, sheer genius and originality of his work, and even then she continued.

At the Golden Fleece I turned the pages, ruminated, had another coffee, (another three Maltesers) read and read. I learned a great deal about the family Van Gogh, about painting, about the torments of genius, about the graphic novel. I think I’m in love…Final Maltesers eaten, and now I beg you to read Vincent, A Graphic Biography: £14.99 HB and eBook/9780711294967. I really I do.