by Les Furnanz
Twenty-Two
Sunday, June 30
In the early dawn light I scanned the Mediterranean skyline. Our route back to Tunis would skirt Corsica before heading south to Tunis. The sun rose behind me and highlighted the chateau on nearby Ile d'If. Many of us soldiers had read Alexander Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo. We imagined the imprisonment of its hero, Dantès, on that desolate isle. I recognized a voice talking about the book and turned to see a soldier I'd met on the voyage to France. We yelled our joint recognition, then found a seat to trade tales of our experiences.
“It was like I had never left Lyon,” he said. “My room in my parents’ home was unchanged. My mother and father treated me as if I’d always been there. It felt very comfortable, and they were fine with my comings and goings. I really relaxed; saw old friends; and met some new women. I stayed out late every night!”
“Are you glad to be headed back?”
“Actually, I am glad to return. I wouldn’t have guessed this, but Lyon is too much the past for me. Yes, I’m looking forward to it. And you?”
I spoke of my travels and the project for Johanna. He showed much interest, and then he told of his own future challenges. There were many similarities in our situations, but he had made no commitments of love and marriage. Then I decided to share my dilemma with him. It was the first time I had talked about it, but the opportunity seemed right.
“I’m also glad to be returning because I need time to resolve a dilemma of the heart. I met the young woman of my dreams. We fell in love and have agreed to marry! How’s that? But, it all happened so fast. I need to return to base, look at the opportunities, decide on my future. It's a good situation, but very difficult. Again, I'm telling you this as a personal, secret dilemma. I haven't shared this with anyone, obviously not my woman!”
He nodded understandingly and offered a few comments. He suggested as we parted that we meet again in Tunis during a weekend leave. We could share stories on army life and have a good bar-hopping time.
After we parted, I walked the ship deck and thought again of these past weeks. Yes, it had been a true adventure to discover Vincent’s past in France, his works, his fellow painters, and others who affected his life. Only five years after his death, Theo’s widow was crusading for Vincent’s art and making headway despite her situation. She impressed me. Perhaps Johanna would be successful in negotiating for my portrait from Mr. Vollard. I would write soon to thank her for the opportunity she had provided and ask about progress with the portrait.
I was headed back to a life I knew and understood. Would I leave it for the joys and unknowns of life with Adeline in France? Probably, but I might decide to stay my course in Africa. Then my thoughts dwelled on Adeline. She is so beautiful, I thought. How can I lose this opportunity to spend my life with her? I wrote her another letter that I would send upon arriving in Tunis.
My thoughts ran back and forth all that day as I lay in a shaded spot on deck or walked along the railing. Day merged into evening, then night. As I readied for bed, the visions and questions continued. When I rose late and peered through a porthole, the stunning African coastline captured me. It would not be long before I’d arrive in Tunis for the final leg to home base.
Kind Request
I hope that you have enjoyed reading this novella. I would very much appreciate a short review.
* * *
Thank you in advance!
Les Furnanz
Epilogue
The people and places of this novel conform to the history of Vincent van Gogh, his family, and acquaintances. Johanna van Gogh-Bonger was successful in her goal of bringing the art of her brother-in-law to the public. After the death of husband Theo in 1890, she inherited their Paris apartment and 200 then valueless works by Vincent. She and her young son soon moved to Bussum in the Netherlands and opened a boarding house.
Johanna worked diligently on the letters of Theo and Vincent until their publication in 1914. She contributed greatly to the growing fame of Vincent by donating some of his works to early retrospective exhibitions. She also wrote a van Gogh family history.
Armand Roulin is cast in this novel as working for Johanna as she tracks Vincent's history and art in 1895. As he helps Johanna to better discover Vincent, Armand also begins to discover himself. My goal as author was to accurately portray the novel's characters as they recall their relationships and knowledge of Vincent. It is known that Armand was a member of the French Foreign Legion in Tunisia well into the 20th century. He did not marry Adeline. It is open to conjecture whether he visited his family in 1895, but this novel is intended to be a possible recount. All the life experiences referenced by the cast of characters prior to the time of this novel were verified by a wide variety of historical resources. The places where they are depicted in 1895 also match their life histories.
To this day, the work of Vincent van Gogh captures worldwide attention and study. The market value of his composite works is at the highest echelon of the world's honored artists. My first discovery in 2003 of Vincent's works at the van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam inspired my search for the history and writing of this novel. My goal has been to inspire readers to better understand the painter, his art, and his epoch via a captivating story line.
Les Furnanz