Surreal Spaces: The Life and Art of Leonora Carrington

Frequent Guardian contributor Moorhead (The Surreal Life of Leonora Carrington) narrates her Carrington kinship through the biographical exploration of places where the free-spirited surrealist artist fled: from homeland England, to Spain, to New York, and finally landing contentedly in Mexico. Personal reflection comfortably mixes with life story as a result of Moorhead’s connecting with Carrington, her distant cousin turned friend, in this gently flowing narrative that is well-documented. It is easy to digest the sometimes-turbulent circumstances of fate (World War II), lovers’ triangles (Max Ernst and Peggy Guggenheim), personal struggles, and artistic expression as Moorhead reflects on Carrington’s long and exciting life, while occasionally interpreting the artist’s paintings, or when recounting their Mexican meetings filled with lasting memories. This is a beautifully crafted volume, with well-bound pages filled with nearly 70 photos and over 30 color reproductions of the artist’s work.