The Gilded Gutter Life of Francis Bacon
The Authorized Biography
Published on 20. January 1994
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-0-09-930781-5 (ISBN)
Description
Widely regarded as the best British painter since Turner, very little is known about Francis Bacon's life. In this, the first-ever book to be written about him, Daniel Farson, friend and confidant to Bacon for over forty years, gives a highly personal, first-hand account of the man as he knew him. From his sexual adventures to his rise from obscurity to international fame, Farson gives us unique insight into Bacon's genius.
Reviews / Votes
The most fascinatingly provocative, intimate study of an artist I have ever read -- Patrick Skene Catling * Evening Standard * It preserves precisely the aspects of Bacon that will be hardest for scholarly researchers to capture... no-one can convey better than Farson the fun of Bacon's company and the louche adventures of the Soho underworld -- Lynn Barber * Independent on Sunday * Positively Runyonesque...well-written, entertaining, and above all, thought-provoking -- David Mellor * Daily Telegraph * Startlingly revealing * Times Literary Supplement *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Vintage Publishing
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Illustrations
1
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 131 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
240 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-09-930781-5 (9780099307815)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
01/2014
1st Edition
Vintage Digital
€10.99
Available for download
Person
The son of the legendary American foreign correspondent, Negley Farson, Daniel became the youngest ever Parliamentary and Lobby Correspondent in the House of Commons aged 17. While working as a photographer for Picture Post, he drifted into Soho and at the age of 23 met Francis Bacon.
He 'stumbled' into television in the early days of ITV becoming a leading interviewer with his own series. Then in 1964 on a sudden impulse, Daniel Farson abandoned television and Soho for the house left him by his parents in North Devon - 'in order to find out if I could write'. Subsequent books include his bestseller Jack the Ripper, The Man Who Wrote Dracula, a biography of his great-uncle Bram Stoker; the historical novel Swansdowne on convicts sent to Tasmania; books on Turkey; and several which combine his photographs with his reminicences: Soho in the Fifties; Sacred Monster; Escapades; Limehouse Days; Gilbert & George in Moscow.
Daniel Farson died in 1997.
He 'stumbled' into television in the early days of ITV becoming a leading interviewer with his own series. Then in 1964 on a sudden impulse, Daniel Farson abandoned television and Soho for the house left him by his parents in North Devon - 'in order to find out if I could write'. Subsequent books include his bestseller Jack the Ripper, The Man Who Wrote Dracula, a biography of his great-uncle Bram Stoker; the historical novel Swansdowne on convicts sent to Tasmania; books on Turkey; and several which combine his photographs with his reminicences: Soho in the Fifties; Sacred Monster; Escapades; Limehouse Days; Gilbert & George in Moscow.
Daniel Farson died in 1997.