Edouard Manet, one of my favorite French artists, died from complications of syphilis at the age of 51. A long time friend advised Manet to put his thoughts in a "Notebook" during these last months of his life, "You cannot paint everything". Manet realized he didn't have the time to paint everything and learned to enjoy writing his daily impressions, and memories. The writing style of author Maureen Gibbon is beautiful and reflects the insight of this brilliant artist and the pain and frustrations of this devastating illness. During this period he did paint his final masterpiece, the life-sized painting, A Bar at the Folies-Bergere. This magnificent painting won him a medal from the Paris Salon and the Legion of Honor from France. Highly recommend.