Publisher’s Weekly: Written in exquisite prose

“In this monumental work, Pulitzer Prize–winning art critics Stevens and Swan (De Kooning: An American Master) make a convincing case that ‘the twentieth century does not know itself without’ the work of English painter Francis Bacon (1909–1992)…Throughout, Swan and Stevens provide penetrating insights into his complex psyche, his sexuality (Bacon was gay), his friendships, and how such a ‘handsome, witty, and amiable’ person could have created paintings that many see as grotesque and even nightmarish…Full of illuminating details and written in exquisite prose, this a fascinating look at the dichotomy between an artist’s inner life and their work.”

Unsigned, Publisher’s Weekly (starred review), March, 2021.