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Kirkus Book Review

A brief, intelligent life-and-works, appropriately illustrated on both scores. Expanding upon her 1969 psychological study of Beardsley's work, Black & White, dramatist and critic Brophy cuts through obfuscations--resulting largely from his mother's disdain for facts--to present the young Beardsley as heir to her penchant for self-dramatization and focus of her ""governessy spirit."" ""The drawings owe their erotic force to the fact that, thanks to her continuing in the central place in his mental world, he was able to keep intact the fierce, son-to-mother eroticism of childhood."" Thus the ""fetishist"" (I-am-curious) decoration, the ""fastidious"" (mustn't touch) line. (It should be noted that this volume, unlike Black & White, contains references to the overtly erotic drawings only; none is represented.) Brophy takes note, too, of the shift from Pre-Raphaelite medievalism to assertive modernity in Beardsley's work, and his role as the first artist to draw specifically for reproduction. Her balanced treatment manages, moreover, to invest the short, doomed life of the precursor of camp with a certain tragic dignity. The one significant omission--the price of brevity--is the impact of Beardsley's work then and later. But for a responsible, readable introduction, you can't do better at this or a much higher price. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.