The infamous literary hoax that fooled the art world On January 8 1960, artist Nat Tate set out to burn his entire life's work. Four days later he jumped off a Staten Island ferry, killing himself. His body was never found. When William Boyd published his biography of Abstract Expressionist Nat Tate, tributes poured in from a whole host of artists and critics in the New York art world. They toasted the troubled genius in a Manhattan launch party attended by David Bowie and Gore Vidal. But Nat Tate never existed. The book was a hoax. Will Boyd's biography of a fake artist is a brilliant probe into the politics of authenticity and reputation in the modern art scene. It is a playful and intelligent insight into the fascinating, often cryptic world of modern art.
| ISBN: | 9780241988879 |
| Publication date: | 27th August 2020 |
| Author: | William Boyd |
| Publisher: | Penguin Books Ltd |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 80 pages |
| Genres: |
Biographical Fiction Humorous Fiction Modern and Contemporary Fiction |