Frida: The Biography of Frida Kahlo

I bought it as a birthday gift for a friend who says the book is excellent! Interesting, fast moving, intelligently written and gives a wide and open picture of the Mexico of Frida's day, the world in which she lived in.

I love this book. Good value. Good read. Thank you very much.

`Frida: The Biography of Frida Kahlo' is the book the excellent film was based upon and if you have seen the film and enjoyed it, you can see where the poetry and detail comes from when you read this. This book explores Frida's life and art and whilst this is a biography of her life, it also doubles a critique of some of her art as well. Various pieces are explored and analysed in great depth and put into context with her life and when she created them. This has lots of her early love letters, as well as letters she wrote throughout her life and these give you a real feel for her own unique voice. This also has excellent sections which show her artwork and photos from her life (two sections of which are black and white and two of which are in colour). There are extensive notes and as such this book could be used for academic study, but it is so rich and engaging that you can almost enjoy this as a novel of an original, inspiring and fiercely independent woman. Frida has often been overshadowed by her famous husband, but fortunately here she takes centre stage and you can see her for all her faults, as well as her humour, grace, intelligence and beauty. If you enjoy well written biographies and wish to learn more about this unique and inspirational woman then this is the place to start. Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.

This book is a great in depth look at Frida's life and has some excellent sections discussing her paintings and how the symbolism in them related to events she was experiencing at the time of their painting. My deduction of one star is due to, in my opinion the excessive number of personal letters in the books. Some are interesting and incitful, but many are not and feel like they could have been edited out. I found the first part of the book a bit of a slog due to the letters coming one after one. I recommend skipping a few.

A great read about this artists life

All was perfect and the item arrived exactly on schedule.

Great

This book is a very good purchase if you are interested in knowing the artist's life in details. It presents to the reader a deep analysis of Fridas personality, feelings and her surroundings. It also presents Fridas letters to friends, lovers, doctors etc. If you like a text that goes deep, it is a perfect choice. If you prefer something more shallow, I don't recommend. In my personal experience, I liked the book very much, mainly because it gave the sensation that as pages advanced I was getting to know more about Frida, almost as I know a person of my own time with whom I deal with in a day to day bases. I think that in this sense, the book acomplishes something important: to show the human being full of conflicts behind the famous artist.

I am an avid reader. Not so much of biographies but I have read a ton of books. I would put this book in my top 20 for sure. The authors style is engaging and keeps you wanting to read. She clearly knows the art world and all about Frida and Diego. There are some photographs and then also illustrations of some of Frida's works. Best biography I have read ever.

Amazing! A beautiful read!

Proud of her Mexican heritage, Frida Kahlo, was a striking artist in her flowing skirts, joined eyebrows and tied hair. Temperamental, flamboyant, she was also politically active, identifying with the Communist ideology, along with her artist husband, Diego Rivera. Independent, yet, hugely dependent on him, she married, divorced and remarried, Diego. Their relationship was the mainstay in her life, alternating between love and umpteen upsets and conficts. Her life is a daunting account to pen. Pain dogged her right from childhood, a polio affliction when she was eight years old, to a devastating accident at the age of eighteen. Her subsequent years passed in a series of innumerable surgeries, tied up in plaster corsets for months, unable to stand and paint. Her paintings echo these personal stories of hope, turmoil, grief and despair. In her words - “I paint my own reality.” Passing away at the age of forty seven, much of Frida’s fame came after her death. A legendary figure in the art world, her spirited life and non conformity of societal norms, dictated her personal choices. Her art is an ode to her culture, nature and her 'self'.

Well written book, timely delivery. Frida was a great artist but also a great warrior. Inside the book you will find photos.

Everything you want to know. Amazing biography