No artist has been more ruthlessly driven by his creative urge, nor more isolated by it from most ordinary sources of human happiness, than Vincent Van Gogh. A painter of genius, his life was an incessant struggle against poverty, discouragement, madness and despair. Lust for Life skilfully captures the exciting atmosphere of the Paris of the Post-Impressionists and reconstructs with great insight the development of Van Gogh's art. The painter is brought to life not only as an artist but as a personality and this account of his violent, vivid and tormented life is a novel of rare compassion and vitality.
欧文·斯通（Irving stone, 1903-1989），美国著名传记小说作家。青少年时期生活艰难，先后做过报童、推销员、牧童等。南加州大学经济学硕士。曾于印第安纳大学任教。欧文·斯通一生创作二十五部传记小说，传主包括杰克·伦敦、米开朗琪罗、弗洛伊德、达尔文等历史文化名人。其作品在欧美各国有着广泛的社会影响，更深受中国读者的喜爱。
