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Dora Versus Picasso
Said to be the only woman who ever stood up to the dominant Picasso, Dora Maar is a glamorous and successful young Surrealist artist when they meet and start striking sparks off each other in 1936. She is seen as a ‘tough cookie’ – as she needs to be in a society where women have no vote and a Parisian art world where female artists can survive only as the nude model/mistress or 'Muse' of a male painter. And she is initially wary of the advances of the older Picasso, who not only has a wife and son, but a young mistress that he has kept hidden for many years, and who is also reputed to be hard on women.
However, as Dora begins to understand the trauma and inner loneliness underlying his painting and his macho bravado,and as she works closely with him on the famous mural Guernica about an atrocity during the Spanish Civil War, she comes to love Picasso. Yet while he admires and needs her, she has to stand up to his self-destructive need to test her. With the onset of World War II and the looming German Occupation - which in different ways will threaten both of them - their lives come under increasing strain.
Can Dora emerge from this challenging relationship intact?
However, as Dora begins to understand the trauma and inner loneliness underlying his painting and his macho bravado,and as she works closely with him on the famous mural Guernica about an atrocity during the Spanish Civil War, she comes to love Picasso. Yet while he admires and needs her, she has to stand up to his self-destructive need to test her. With the onset of World War II and the looming German Occupation - which in different ways will threaten both of them - their lives come under increasing strain.
Can Dora emerge from this challenging relationship intact?
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2014
342 people want to read
About the author
Cecil Jenkins
14 books14 followersI was educated at Trinity College Dublin, plus postgraduate work at the Ecole Normale Superieure de Paris. I have taught at university level in Paris, then at Exeter and Sussex, with year as visiting prof at UBC Vancouver.
My literary interests are in French and German as well as in English, but I am also interested in philosophy, history and politics.
A former soccer player, I enjoy various sports as well the theatre and the cinema.
I am married with a daughter and twin sons, and I now live - rather to my surprise - in the bourgeois arty pseudo-village of Hampstead in London, UK.
My literary interests are in French and German as well as in English, but I am also interested in philosophy, history and politics.
A former soccer player, I enjoy various sports as well the theatre and the cinema.
I am married with a daughter and twin sons, and I now live - rather to my surprise - in the bourgeois arty pseudo-village of Hampstead in London, UK.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 10, 2021
This book was nonfiction gold! When I was younger, I was really into art so I decided to pick up this book about an artist that I was obsessed with when I was under the age of ten.
This novel follows Pablo Picasso and one of his many lovers, Dora. While the beginning experienced a slow start, once I was five chapters in I could not put this book down.
Many events in this book reflect the actual events that occurred, but are written in a more fictional way than a non fiction informational book. Having this book being written in the fictional, story telling format made this book more enjoyable and made me feel like I was actually there witnessing Picasso paint.
This book was beautifully written, and after the fact when I looked up the paintings to see how they compared to the descriptions in the novel, I was in awe of how descriptive the author was.
I usually dislike non fiction books, but picking this book up made me really reconsider the amount of dislike I have for them. If all works were based on non fiction like this book, I would feel the need to pick more books up.
The downside I saw to this book, was that I wanted a little more insight into the relationships Picasso had with the ex wife (who is only mentioned and not in a lot of the action of the novel) and with his currently lover and not mistress (Marie).
Overall, I loved this book. When this book finished, I was frustrated that I couldn't read more (which is not a bad thing at all)! I would definitely read another book by Cecil Jenkins after reading this amazing gem! This work of art (oh the puns and irony!).
Five out of five stars! I was unable to put this book down and I demand more! Also, it was signed by the author which made this book a little bit more special for me! (Okay, maybe a lot more special).
I received this book for free through Good Reads First Reads.
This novel follows Pablo Picasso and one of his many lovers, Dora. While the beginning experienced a slow start, once I was five chapters in I could not put this book down.
Many events in this book reflect the actual events that occurred, but are written in a more fictional way than a non fiction informational book. Having this book being written in the fictional, story telling format made this book more enjoyable and made me feel like I was actually there witnessing Picasso paint.
This book was beautifully written, and after the fact when I looked up the paintings to see how they compared to the descriptions in the novel, I was in awe of how descriptive the author was.
I usually dislike non fiction books, but picking this book up made me really reconsider the amount of dislike I have for them. If all works were based on non fiction like this book, I would feel the need to pick more books up.
The downside I saw to this book, was that I wanted a little more insight into the relationships Picasso had with the ex wife (who is only mentioned and not in a lot of the action of the novel) and with his currently lover and not mistress (Marie).
Overall, I loved this book. When this book finished, I was frustrated that I couldn't read more (which is not a bad thing at all)! I would definitely read another book by Cecil Jenkins after reading this amazing gem! This work of art (oh the puns and irony!).
Five out of five stars! I was unable to put this book down and I demand more! Also, it was signed by the author which made this book a little bit more special for me! (Okay, maybe a lot more special).
I received this book for free through Good Reads First Reads.
September 2, 2016
“Dora Versus Picasso” by Cecil Jenkins is an insightful and well researched historical novel that explores the relationship between painter Picasso and one of his ‘muses’, Dora, an accomplished artist herself.
Jenkins writes in informative style and in great, immaculately documented detail about the artist’s life in France in the 1930s and 1940s; from cigarette brands to film releases, bohemian pastimes, sexual liberation and political and historical developments, all is included.
Dora, as the lesser known character, provides the more interesting aspects of the story, be it her role as woman, as partly Jewish or as the counter force to Picasso that the title of this book promises. She is a strong and multi-layered character whose life is affected by the painter and the times, and who in turn, affects the painter. The book has a number of interesting side characters, too.
While I found the relationship part very fascinating, I would have liked to have seen a foreword that explained where the line between speculation / fact and fiction was drawn and which sources had been used as bases for the novel. I found myself a little distracted by ‘not knowing’ those aspects that for the regular reader are not as easy to verify as the historical data. Without it, it is hard to judge the historical value of this otherwise interesting novel.
I reviewed this for the Historical Novel Society Indie Reviews.
Jenkins writes in informative style and in great, immaculately documented detail about the artist’s life in France in the 1930s and 1940s; from cigarette brands to film releases, bohemian pastimes, sexual liberation and political and historical developments, all is included.
Dora, as the lesser known character, provides the more interesting aspects of the story, be it her role as woman, as partly Jewish or as the counter force to Picasso that the title of this book promises. She is a strong and multi-layered character whose life is affected by the painter and the times, and who in turn, affects the painter. The book has a number of interesting side characters, too.
While I found the relationship part very fascinating, I would have liked to have seen a foreword that explained where the line between speculation / fact and fiction was drawn and which sources had been used as bases for the novel. I found myself a little distracted by ‘not knowing’ those aspects that for the regular reader are not as easy to verify as the historical data. Without it, it is hard to judge the historical value of this otherwise interesting novel.
I reviewed this for the Historical Novel Society Indie Reviews.
February 9, 2016
Not quite a masterpiece, and certainly no Guernica
I found the book quite enjoyable as a light read, but it doesn't really capture any of the emotion or intensity of what was a very volatile and explosive relationship. It skirts over large parts of history with very broad brush strokes, and ends disappointedly short in her story, without any sense of her eventual redemption. Having said that, it is a good precis of what was a very important period in art. It could really do with a rewrite and a new cover.
I found the book quite enjoyable as a light read, but it doesn't really capture any of the emotion or intensity of what was a very volatile and explosive relationship. It skirts over large parts of history with very broad brush strokes, and ends disappointedly short in her story, without any sense of her eventual redemption. Having said that, it is a good precis of what was a very important period in art. It could really do with a rewrite and a new cover.
July 13, 2014
Originally, I planned to rate this a weak four, but in reality, it's a strong three. I realize the book shouldn't suffer because it's not my kind of book, but for that very reason - because it didn't make itself my kind of book - I'm knocking it down a bit.
It didn't make itself my kind of book, because I couldn't get into the story for its own sake. I found myself wandering off, wondering how the author knew these things - did someone keep such an extensive diary of Dora and Picasso sightings, that they knew what was eaten at a particular meal? Where were all of these events recorded? And then to make matters worse, the internet, which has already provided me with a certain degree of reader ADD, allowed me to do a multitude of searches on the art and photography of Dora Maar, look for photos of the people mentioned, etc.
Like many my age, I have a passing knowledge of Picasso, even though I'm not a student of art. Who could have grown up through the 50s and 60s and not have been exposed to his art, or his photo in a magazine. However, I had never heard of Dora Maar (as I said, not art-educated)and I wanted to know more about a strong woman who not only survived a relationship with Picasso, but remained strong in an extremely difficult era.
A nice historical perspective, a good visual description of various areas of France, but overall, an undefinable lack of the dynamic I was hoping for.
It didn't make itself my kind of book, because I couldn't get into the story for its own sake. I found myself wandering off, wondering how the author knew these things - did someone keep such an extensive diary of Dora and Picasso sightings, that they knew what was eaten at a particular meal? Where were all of these events recorded? And then to make matters worse, the internet, which has already provided me with a certain degree of reader ADD, allowed me to do a multitude of searches on the art and photography of Dora Maar, look for photos of the people mentioned, etc.
Like many my age, I have a passing knowledge of Picasso, even though I'm not a student of art. Who could have grown up through the 50s and 60s and not have been exposed to his art, or his photo in a magazine. However, I had never heard of Dora Maar (as I said, not art-educated)and I wanted to know more about a strong woman who not only survived a relationship with Picasso, but remained strong in an extremely difficult era.
A nice historical perspective, a good visual description of various areas of France, but overall, an undefinable lack of the dynamic I was hoping for.
September 25, 2021
Cecil Jenkins has an estimable gift for narrative and an enviably deep knowledge of his subject. This novel very largely succeeds in developing a convincing portrait of a complex and challenging relationship; its faults are minor in comparison to its virtues.
Having said that I suppose I am myself sufficiently gripped by everything to do with Paris in the 30s and 40s to welcome any such vivid and informative evocation of the time and place.
For anybody interested in Picasso's painting this book is also a must. Jenkins puts analyses of his work into the mouth of his Dora which are beautifully integrated into the novel's dramatic unfolding. This is not to say that they are correct but they certainly feel credible.
The author was a postgraduate student at the École Normale Supérieur about half a century after the events of the novel. It would not be surprising if he met and was able to learn many details directly from people involved or close to these circles. Paris is a village for a Normalien, especially an Anglo-Saxon, always something of a rarity and therefore prized socially above his French compeers.
Ultimately, however, I do not mind if this is fiction and not fact - for it is good fiction in its own right and one feels that it honours the reality of those it depicts even if, as it must, it falls short of absolute veracity or omniscience. Similarly, I am inclined to forgive the author's limitations - he has seen and conveyed so much that would otherwise have been lost to the world that they are of no consequence.
Having said that I suppose I am myself sufficiently gripped by everything to do with Paris in the 30s and 40s to welcome any such vivid and informative evocation of the time and place.
For anybody interested in Picasso's painting this book is also a must. Jenkins puts analyses of his work into the mouth of his Dora which are beautifully integrated into the novel's dramatic unfolding. This is not to say that they are correct but they certainly feel credible.
The author was a postgraduate student at the École Normale Supérieur about half a century after the events of the novel. It would not be surprising if he met and was able to learn many details directly from people involved or close to these circles. Paris is a village for a Normalien, especially an Anglo-Saxon, always something of a rarity and therefore prized socially above his French compeers.
Ultimately, however, I do not mind if this is fiction and not fact - for it is good fiction in its own right and one feels that it honours the reality of those it depicts even if, as it must, it falls short of absolute veracity or omniscience. Similarly, I am inclined to forgive the author's limitations - he has seen and conveyed so much that would otherwise have been lost to the world that they are of no consequence.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews