Sue Prideaux’s Wild Thing receives praise for its vivid writing and insightful exploration of its subject. Critics appreciate the compelling narrative and thorough research but note that at times the pacing may slow due to dense historical context. Overall, it effectively brings its complex subject to life, blending biography with keen historical analysis.

Readers intrigued by the intersection of art, identity, and rebellion will enjoy Wild Thing by Sue Prideaux. Fans of Walton's Gainsborough or Smith's The Man in the Red Coat will appreciate the exploration of fascination and complexity in tracing extraordinary lives deeply embedded in culture and history.

Mysterious / Emotional / Melancholic / Fantastical / Contemplative

**Paul Gauguin**  
A French Post-Impressionist and Symbolist artist whose life and work are reinterpreted through new evidence by Sue Prideaux, focusing on his complex spiritual and ethical vision in the context of his time.

**Sue Prideaux**  
An Anglo-Norwegian art historian and author known for her biographies on influential cultural figures, including Paul Gauguin, employing deep archival research and forensic methods.

**Vincent van Gogh**  
A Dutch Post-Impressionist painter whose intense collaboration with Gauguin in Arles marked a significant, if tumultuous, creative period for both artists.

**Camille Pissarro**  
A Danish French painter and mentor to Gauguin, instrumental in launching his professional career and influencing his early artistic development.

**Mette Gad**  
Gauguin’s Danish wife and the mother of his children, portrayed as a pragmatic figure whose life contrasts with the romantic mythos of the artist.

**Flora Tristan**  
Gauguin’s maternal grandmother, a French Peruvian socialist feminist whose legacy influenced his political conscience and activism.

**Félix Dupanloup**  
A Catholic Bishop and educator who influenced Gauguin with a rational, questioning approach to belief, shaping his spiritual inquiries.

**Ambroise Vollard**  
A Parisian art dealer who supported Gauguin in his later years, facilitating his work despite health and financial challenges.

**Gustave Arosa**  
A Parisian financier and art collector who was Gauguin’s guardian and first major patron, introducing him to the world of art and finance.

Study Guide

Book Brief

Explore Wild Thing reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

About Wild Thing

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore Wild Thing and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Wild Thing Overview

contentWarning

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism, graphic violence, child abuse, and religious discrimination.

Background

Wild Thing Background

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness, gender discrimination, child sexual abuse, death, sexual harassment, racism, and sexual content.

Preface-Chapter 4

Wild Thing Preface-Chapter 4

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of sexual content, emotional abuse, suicidal ideation, illness, mental illness, graphic violence, substance use, and self-harm.

Chapters 5-9

Wild Thing Chapters 5-9

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of graphic violence, self-harm, death, sexual content, gender discrimination, racism, death by suicide, mental illness, illness, substance use, child death, antigay bias, child sexual abuse, religious discrimination, and animal death.

Chapters 10-14

Wild Thing Chapters 10-14

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism, substance use, addiction, illness, graphic violence, gender discrimination, animal death, suicidal ideation, child sexual abuse, sexual content, child death, death, and sexual violence.

Chapters 15-19

Wild Thing Chapters 15-19

keyFigure

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness, racism, child sexual abuse, mental illness, self-harm, and gender discrimination.

Key Figures

Wild Thing Key Figures

theme

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of child sexual abuse, illness, sexual content, racism, and gender discrimination.

Themes

Wild Thing Themes

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism, suicidal ideation, illness, death, mental illness, self-harm, antigay bias, and graphic violence.

Index of Terms

Wild Thing Index of Terms

quote

citation

character

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness, sexual content, racism, self-harm, graphic violence, suicidal ideation, sexual content, and death.

Important Quotes

Wild Thing Important Quotes with Page Numbers

primaryCharacter

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism, death, and child sexual abuse.

Essay Topics

Wild Thing Essay Topics

generalImpressionsTitle

generalImpressionsContent

personalReflectionAndConnectionTitle

personalReflectionAndConnectionContent

societalAndCulturalContextTitle

societalAndCulturalContextContent

literaryAnalysisTitle

literaryAnalysisContent

creativeEngagementTitle

creativeEngagementContent

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of illness, mental illness, racism, and child sexual abuse.

Wild Thing: A Life of Paul Gauguin

Wild Thing: A Life of Paul Gauguin

Book Brief

Wild Thing

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Wild Thing?