Book description
A fascinating biography of the philanthropist Albert Barnes, whose pioneering collection of modern art was meant to transform America’s soulFrom prominent critic and biographer Blake Gopnik comes a compelling new portrait of America’s first great collector of modern art, Albert Coombs Barnes. Raised in a Philadelphia slum shortly after the Civil War, Barnes rose to earn a medical degree and then made a fortune from a pioneering antiseptic treatment for newborns. Never losing sight of the working-class neighbors of his youth, Barnes became a ruthless advocate for their rights and needs. His vast art collection—181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos—was dedicated to enriching their cultural lives. A miner was more likely to get access than a mine owner.Gopnik’s meticulous research reveals Barnes as a fierce advocate for the egalitarian ideals of his era’s progressive movement. But while his friends in the movement worked to reshape American society, Barnes wanted to transform the nation’s aesthetic life, taking art out of the hands of the elite and making it available to the average American.The Maverick’s Museum offers a vivid picture of one of America’s great eccentrics. The sheer ferocity of Barnes’s democratic ambitions left him with more enemies than allies among people of all classes, but for a circle of intimates, he was a model of intelligence, generosity, and loyalty. In this compelling portrait, Gopnik reveals a life shaped by contradictions, one that left a lasting impact.
About the Author
Blake Gopnik, one of North America’s leading art critics, is the author of the comprehensive biography Warhol. He has served as the art and design critic at Newsweek, and as the chief art critic at the Washington Post and Canada’s the Globe and Mail. In 2017, he was a Cullman Center fellow in residence at the New York Public Library, and in 2015 he held a fellowship at the Leon Levy Center for Biography at the City University of New York. He has a PhD in art history from Oxford University and is a regular contributor to the New York Times.
Knock Out Star
I'm hooked on this app's effortless downloading process – I can have my favorite audiobooks in seconds. The app is so reliable. I’ve never had any issues with it.
Blink
I love how this app seamlessly integrates into my busy schedule, making multitasking a breeze. 🎉 This app has turned my errands into exciting quests – I can conquer the grocery store while enjoying a book! 🛒📖 The app is perfect for people who love to read but don’t have the time. I love the ability to change the playback speed. It’s perfect for my needs.
Willow Dragon
ListenBook's dedication to excellence shines through in its performance and features. 🎧 My daily chores just got an upgrade! Thanks to this app, I can dive into captivating stories while cooking and cleaning. 📚🍳 🎧 Making housework more enjoyable – audiobooks turn mundane chores into moments of discovery. 🧹📚 ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
Loot
ListenBook has turned my audio content into an immersive, personalized, and unforgettable experience. This app's convenience has made reading a priority in my busy schedule.
Pixy Mox
The ability to adjust the playback speed has made my commute even more efficient. With ListenBook, I can enjoy a wide range of audiobook formats without any hassle, making my listening experience seamless. ListenBook's audiobook player is a true workhorse – chapters, controls, and filters are all seamlessly integrated. 💡 The future of audiobook listening is here – this app's sleek functionality redefines how we enjoy our favorite stories. 🎧🔮 Audiobooks on the go – this app's design prioritizes convenience.
SWAT Honey
The diverse selection of audiobooks has made me fall in love with storytelling all over again. This app has brought storytelling into every corner of my life – it's incredible. Savoring captivating stories has become a breeze with this app's sleek design and convenient features. It's like having a personal reading assistant! 📱📖 I've never experienced such silky-smooth playback even with high-quality FLAC files. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
Willow Dragon
ListenBook's compatibility with various formats has made it my go-to app for all audio content. No more converting files – this app effortlessly handles various formats, saving me time and effort.
Copilot
I'm no longer missing out on great stories – this app fits perfectly into my lifestyle. Kudos to the developers for optimizing this app for iOS 16. It runs like a dream on my device.
Suicide Jockey
With ListenBook, my audio content is organized, accessible, and ready to inspire me. 🌌 Elevating my reading routine – this app's functionality is the key to unlocking new worlds of storytelling. 📚🔑 ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Mammoth 2
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made my audio content much more enjoyable in noisy environments. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections.
Wooden Man
Gone are the days of straining my eyes to read – this app lets me 'read' with my ears, anywhere, anytime. This app's intuitive controls and user-friendly layout have made audiobook listening a true pleasure. 🌟 Embracing reading in the busiest of times – this app is my everyday escape! 📚🏃♀️ I love the ability to change the playback speed. It’s perfect for my needs. A masterclass in audiobook narration! The performer maintained perfect consistency in character voices throughout while keeping the main narration clear and engaging. The production was flawless - no weird edits or background noise. I'll be seeking out more works by this narrator.
Blistered Outlaw
Audiobooks have made my commutes so much more enjoyable, and I'm always excited to listen. This app makes traffic jams a breeze – time flies by while I'm engrossed in a story. Looping playback helps me revise and memorize complex topics effectively. A study essential! I love the download options. ListenBook gives me so many ways to get my audiobooks onto my device.
Wonder Lady
Audiobooks have become my companions during long hours of household chores. The ease of downloading content via WiFi, WebDAV, and more has made ListenBook my audiobook hub. ListenBook's intuitive interface and quick controls make it a pleasure to navigate through audiobooks.
Acetic Princess
💼 Boosting productivity at work with an audiobook in the background – love it! 💻🎧 Love how I can adjust playback speed and audio volume. ListenBook caters to all my needs.
BlacKitten
I appreciate the minimal ads – it's all about uninterrupted enjoyment. Kudos to the developers! 🎧 An audiobook treasure trove in the palm of my hand – this app is pure convenience! 📚🌟 ListenBook’s support for Apple Watch is a great touch. I can control my audiobooks on the go.
Devil Blade
Finally, an app that supports a wide range of audio formats! It's a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. I love the quick access to settings. It makes tweaking the app so easy.
Dallas Foxface
ListenBook's versatility and user-friendly interface make it a must-have for audiobook lovers. Audiobooks on demand? Yes, please! With this app's robust features, I'm always just a tap away from immersing myself in captivating narratives. 📚📱 ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is like a magical spell that transports me into the heart of the story. A functional audiobook. It kept me entertained, but I wasn’t blown away. The narrator’s performance was competent, though some emotional scenes fell a bit flat. This audiobook transformed my household chores into enjoyable moments! The narrator's lively yet measured delivery kept me engaged throughout. I particularly appreciated how they handled exposition - making potentially dry information interesting through thoughtful inflection and pacing.
Overrun
Listening to audiobooks has become my guilt-free indulgence, and I love it. ListenBook's seamless audio player has turned my listening sessions into moments of pure delight. Efficiency meets audiobooks – this app's functionality is a true triumph. Automatic metadata extraction is a time-saver. My library is finally well-organized. I love the ability to change the background color. It’s a nice touch.
Bliss
I've discovered authors I'd never heard of before, and now they're among my favorites. This app has made literature accessible and engaging for all ages. I'm hooked on this app's ease of use – it's a reader's dream come true.
WittyWordsmith
Effortlessly enjoying audiobook journeys – this app's ease of use is a delight. With ListenBook, I've rediscovered my love for audiobooks. The binaural audio processing is a game-changer for comfortable, fatigue-free listening. The app is perfect for long flights. It keeps me entertained the whole time.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience