This is my top pick for historical fiction I’ve read this year. Fernandez put many years of research into this story about the life of Jo van Gogh-Bonger, wife of Vincent’s brother, Theo van Gogh. If you’ve ever wondered how Vincent van Gogh’s art became world-renowned, you will find the answer in the life of this determined woman.

The story is set in France and The Netherlands. It begins as Jo learns of the death of her art-dealer husband, Theo, of late-stage syphilis. An undercurrent throughout the book is the prevalence of mental illness in the van Gogh family, and the concern that Jo, or her son, may have been infected by Theo.

Jo, as a single mother with a toddler, is expected to move home to her father, where he can provide for them. All Jo has is the legacy of hundreds of her brother-in-law’s paintings and drawings, of little monetary value. She is naïve and without work experience.

But she defies her family’s expectations. A dear friend helps her acquire a boarding house to support herself and young Vincentje, named for his late uncle. She makes it her mission to bring Vincent’s art to the attention of galleries, museums, and world-wide collectors. It is her son’s inheritance and she owes it to him to make the most of it.

The world of art marketing is firmly in the grasp of men, who have no intention of allowing Jo to join their ranks. The resistance is personified by a fictional character, Georges Raulf, who first gives Jo some education in the business, then does everything he can to prevent her from succeeding. Raulf detests the modern art coming on the scene and wishes to maintain the primacy of classic painting styles.

Fernandez shows how Jo questions her knowledge and abilities, second guesses her marketing and sales decisions. Slowly she acquires allies for her efforts and begins to get the van Gogh works shown internationally, gaining confidence in the process.

Another aspect of the story is her relationships with potential new husbands, friends (including women’s rights advocates), and with her son. The relationships are complex and heart-breaking at times. You will certainly be cheering Jo to succeed, even knowing that in the end, she does. If she hadn’t, Vincent may well be an unknown, unsung artist today.