Kenneth Clark
- Author James Stourton
- Narrator Jot Davies
- Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date 22 September 2016
- Run Time 21 hours and 25 minutes
- Format Audio
- Genre Biography: arts and entertainment, History of art.
Click to open directly in the xigxag app.
Flexible Pricing & Rewards For Listening
At xigxag, the more you read, the less you pay* on select audiobook and x-book® titles, as in the table below. Pricing updates automatically in the app and resets one year after your first purchase. And you can always find a selection of brilliant titles available for only €4.95.
*Only the full price titles you buy count toward your personal pricing tier. Full price titles don’t include Listen for Less or other books bought with a voucher or discount code.
Titles Purchased
- 1-5
- 6-10
- 11-15
- 16-20
- Over 20
Price p/Title
- €9.95
- €8.95
- €7.95
- €6.95
- €5.95
Listen to a sample
What to expect
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BERGER PRIZE FOR BRITISH ART HISTORY 2017
SHORTLISTED FOR THE SLIGHTLY FOXED BEST FIRST BIOGRAPHY PRIZE 2017
A SUNDAY TIMES ART BOOK OF THE YEAR
A SPECTATOR BOOK OF THE YEAR
AN ECONOMIST BOOK OF THE YEAR
A NEW YORK TIMES ART BOOK OF THE YEAR
From his time as Bernard Berenson’s protégé to being the Keeper of the Western Art at 27 and his appointment as the youngest-ever director of the National Gallery, Kenneth Clark displayed precocious genius. No voice has exercised so much power and influence over the arts in Britain as Clark’s. A formidable aesthete, his coterie included John Betjeman, Winston Churchill, Margot Fonteyn, E.M. Forster, Vivien Leigh, the Queen Mother and Henry Moore. Hidden from view, however, was his wife Jane’s alcoholism and his own philandering. In James Stourton’s dazzling biography, Clark is shown as a man who conveyed the profound beauty and importance of art, architecture and civilisation for generations to come.
Critics Review
n WINNER OF THE CATHOLIC HERALD BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEARn
n‘Richly detailed, colourful and astute and it moves at a cracking pace … a resplendent biography’ Sunday Times
n‘Superb … Stourton, a former chairman of Southeby's, is the ideal choice for Clark's official biographer and has produced an accomplished book that is scholarly, entertaining, beautifully written and sympathetic, while far from uncritical’ The Times
n‘Stourton has written a matchless biography. His evocation of his subtle, cool and brilliant subject gives an inspiring and even heroic sense of Clark…The book is a joyous read, with a dashing, stylish pace that disguises formidable but unpretentious erudition’, Richard Davenport-Hines, The Oldie
n‘Stourton … has done this brilliantly, not only exploring [Clark's] gifts as author, lecturer, film-maker and champion of British art but also as public figure … this assiduous and accomplished biography will bring about a second Great Clark Boom’ Spectator
n‘Astutely analyses Clark's emotional and intellectual contradictions’ Observer
n‘Delightfully readable and authoritative’ Economist
n‘Stourton writes with a blend of passion and coolness perfectly suited to his subject and produces a picture that should satisfy the most pernickety critic’, James Naughtie, Mail on Sunday
n‘A lithe, elegant, astute celebration’, Richard Davenport-Hines, New Statesman
n‘An elegant and perceptive portrayal of the ultimate arts grandee’, Michael Prodger, New Statesman
n‘Outstanding … Stourton's great achievement is to make a unity of Clark's career … this exemplary biography combines Clark's strengths of clarity and concision with the quality he so painfully lacked, warmth’ Country Life
n‘James Stourton leaves no stone unturned in Kenneth Clark, his magisterial and engrossing biography, which achieves a perfect balance between Clark’s complex private world and his hugely successful career’, Amanda Foreman
nMore from the same
Author
About xigxag
Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.
Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.
Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.