Portrait of Picasso as a Young Man: An Interpretative Biography

This is a very good book which focuses on Picasso as a young man. It is very good. It details everything about him in this period which is personal and artistic. Quite inspiring if you'd ask me what I think of it.

A good read. Mailer brings Picasso to life. Hard to put down. I am re-reading this after a couple of years and I am remembering why I enjoyed it so much. It is nice to read an interpretive biography that makes Picasso human as opposed reading dry, critical art history for a change.

Both blustering,rowdy boy geniuses...Both with their ups and downs with women. Mr. Mailer does his usual terrific job here,and admits a longtime obsession with the great artist. Anyone doubting Picasso's genius will have no doubts after reading this one. The author's descriptions of the great artist's youth leave one feeling that artistic genius is inevitable.From Spain to Paris,we are led on a jaunty trip.And he kept at it even into his nineties! In short,this must be among the classic special bios of perhaps the 20th century greatest artist!!

Mr. Mailer has done a great job on Picasso's early years. He has done solid research, knows the paintings and the personalities in Picasso's life very well. PP's relationship with Braque is presented clearly, the life in Paris in the early part of the century is well told too. Overall, a lively and entertaining read, much livelier than the door jam books of John Richardson.

Much has been made of Pablo Picasso's huge ego, but never more so than here, where it would seem that only Norman Mailer's considerable esteem for himself could give Picasso's a run for his money. Yet, that having been said, I still give this book a 4 star rating ... after all, what could be more interesting than the self-absorbed genius writer presuming to reveal the inner thoughts of the equally self-absorbed artistic genius, Picasso?