Nat Tate

An American Artist 1928-1960

William Boyd author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd

Published:27th Aug '20

Should be back in stock very soon

Nat Tate cover

The infamous literary hoax that fooled the art world, with a new introduction by William Boyd.

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.

William Boyd has probably written more classic books than any of his contemporaries * Daily Telegraph *
A finely judged performance: a deft and resonant alchemy of fact and fiction, of literary myth and imagination * Guardian on Love Is Blind *
One of Britain's most celebrated contemporary novelists * Sunday Times *

ISBN: 9780241988879

Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 6mm

Weight: 75g

80 pages