Solar Dance:

Genius, forgery and the crisis of truth in the modern age

by Modris Edsteins

"My great desire is to learn to make such variations, reworking, alterations of reality, that it might become, very well lies if you will - but truer than the literal truth,"  Vincent Van Gogh to his brother, 1885

This book is about the rise in popularity of Van Gogh's art.  The author describes the atmosphere in Germany and especially Berlin around the first world war and how some of the intellectuals became enamoured with Van Gogh's art and his passion. The way he describes it, these individuals and their interest in his work were the reason for Van Gogh's appeal.

He does a great job of describing the artistic experimentation and ennui in intellectuals and artists at the time.  He then goes on to describe a professional dancer who becomes an art dealer and who is later accused of selling fraudulent Van Gogh art.  The man is put on trial and convicted but he keeps insisting that the art is legitimate

The story of the rise in interest in Van Gogh's art, the artistic liberalism and the disagreements between art experts were very interesting,.  However, I had expected the author to expand the story beyond Van Gogh to the topic of celebrity in modern times.  He didn't really do this, even though it is implied in the title and the book flyleaf.  Only in the last chapter did he make any reference to other people and circumstances.  I found this very disappointing.