Vincent van Gogh's Love of English Literature

Last week was Mental Health Awareness week.  Lots of famous people have been sharing their experiences of managing their mental health issues.  An exhibition at Tate Britain in London showcases the life and work of Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890), a very famous artist who suffered from poor mental health and lived in poverty. 

Did you know that Van Gogh lived in London as a young man and loved English books and culture?  He particularly liked reading books by Charles Dickens, George Elliot, Christina Rossetti and William Shakespeare.  The exhibition starts with a display of books by these authors and a quote from a letter that Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo saying, ‘reading books is like looking at paintings … one must find beautiful that which is beautiful’.

Head along to the Discovery and War Memorial Libraries for some bibliotherapy – ask the Librarians to recommend books to lift your mood or help you to escape into another world.