A flame with genius and desire, Vincent van Gogh wished, like other men, to be loved, to be famous, to find contentment in a full life. But his genius - his demon - in - terfered. It drove him into a life of incredible violence. Poverty, debauchery, utter degradation-he came to know all these with a terrible intimacy. People called him a madman and fled from him, never perceiving his agonized loneliness. He searched frantically for a wife, but only prostitutes would have him. Not even in his painting did he find peace - for he painted in a desperate frenzy. His pictures were laughed at. Today they are prized as the work of an incomparably great artist. This tumultuous novel is his story. From it, M-G-M has now made an extraordinary film in color starring Kirk Douglas.