A Fool in Paradise: An Artist's Early Life

Doris McCarthy's two-part autobiography is a joy! It is at least as much about life as it is about art, teaching art and working at being an artist. Wonderful stories of her 80 years of old and new friendships, escapades, struggles & travels fill both volumes ("A Fool in Paradise" and "The Good Wine.") Her sharp and honest (but warm) wit lightens even the stories of difficult times with her family, the war years, school administrations and art societies. Now recognized as one of Canada's finest landscape painters, Ms. McCarthy has no hesitation in sharing with us her struggles "to get things right" in her paintings. Her openness about the challenges of being an artist is a real inspiration and her humility about her work is refreshing given her status! As a final note it is only fair to say that when I first began to read these books I wondered if it was only because Ms. McCarthy was one of my outstanding art teachers that I felt so delighted in her story. However long before I even started the second volume I knew that she had such a well-written, fascinating story that its appeal reaches far beyond the arts community. Well worth every moment of the read!