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.
Pitfall Whiskers
Navigating audiobooks seamlessly – this app's design is top-notch. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances the audio quality to an impressive degree.
Swerve
ListenBook's dedication to excellence shines through in its impeccable audio quality and user-friendly features. This app's support for various formats and genres ensures that there's always something new to explore. 🎉📚 This app has rekindled my love for books – I can't stop listening! 🚀🎧 ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars! An unobjectionable but unexceptional audiobook experience. The narrator's performance was serviceable and the audio quality was fine, but nothing about the production particularly stood out or elevated the material. It was decent background listening.
Swampmasher
💡 Nurturing my curiosity with audiobooks – this app adds a touch of wonder to my daily routines. 📱📖 🔥 Streamlined functionality that's music to my ears – audiobook enjoyment has reached a new level of convenience. 🎵📖 The app’s design is sleek and modern. ListenBook is my favorite audiobook player. This audiobook was an absolute pleasure to listen to! The narrator's voice was rich and expressive, perfectly capturing the tone of the material. I found myself completely immersed in the story, often sitting in my car longer than necessary just to hear what happened next. The production quality was excellent with clear audio throughout.
Foot-long Fry
Listening to audiobooks with my kids has become a cherished bonding activity. The vast selection of titles on this app is a book lover's dream come true. ListenBook has transformed my listening habits, making them more engaging and enjoyable. With ListenBook, I can finally enjoy my audiobooks without worrying about format compatibility. It handles everything!
Tin Mutt
👀📚 Falling asleep to audiobooks has never been easier – this app's soothing voices 😴🎧 Automatic artwork and metadata extraction keep my audiobook library organized and visually appealing. I'm amazed by the extensive statistics tracking. It's fascinating to see my listening habits. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple.
Wonder Lady
No more straining my eyes to read – now I can simply immerse myself in storytelling. ListenBook's audio filters are a fantastic addition, enhancing the sound quality of my audio files. The app's performance is remarkable – it's fast, stable, and designed to cater to audiobook enthusiasts. It's a pleasure to use. The app is perfect for people with busy schedules. I can listen on the go.
Steel
This app is my secret weapon for staying entertained during mundane tasks. With ListenBook, I've found a way to make the most of my free time while indulging in my love for audiobooks. 💼 Elevating my work-from-home routine with this app's delightful audiobook selection! 💻📖 The app supports a wide range of formats. ListenBook is very versatile.
Pecan Oblivion
ListenBook's audio filters and controls have revolutionized the way I enjoy my audio content. This app has given me the joy of reading even when my hands are full. No more hassle with formats – this app ensures my audiobook adventures are smooth, and my favorite tales are just a tap away. Highly recommended! 📚🎧 ListenBook's support for playlists in the CUE format makes organizing and enjoying audiobook series a delightful experience. The app is perfect for people who love to read but don’t have the time.
Clover Dragon
ListenBook's user-friendly audio filters and controls have made my audiobook sessions more interactive and engaging. Noise reduction and tone changing enhance the listening experience. Love it! The narrator was good but spoke a bit too slowly for my taste. I had to speed it up to 1.2x which then made some parts sound slightly unnatural.
Twin Blaze
This app has rekindled my love for literature, and I'm spreading the word to everyone I know. This app has broadened my literary horizons, introducing me to new authors. With this app, I've rediscovered the joy of literature during my daily walks – it's truly invigorating.
X-Dew
The ability to switch between devices seamlessly is a game-changer for busy readers. ListenBook's commitment to excellence shines through in its powerful features and seamless performance. Listening to audiobooks has never been this convenient and enjoyable! I love how this app turns even the dullest tasks into exciting storytelling moments.
Washer
The seamless integration with my car's audio system is a road trip dream. Audiobooks have made waiting in lines and queues so much more bearable. This app's seamless integration with my devices has made audiobook listening a hassle-free experience. With this app, reading is as simple as pressing play – it's genius! I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
Shadow Chaser
Listening to audiobooks has made my daily commute more enjoyable and productive. This app has reignited my passion for reading, and I'm forever grateful. ListenBook has transformed my listening habits, making them more engaging and enjoyable. Adjusting the narrator's voice tone is a fantastic feature. It adds a personal touch.
Wiccan Thunder
The app's attention to detail is commendable. It's evident in every feature. Beautiful design and intuitive interface. Very user-friendly.
Chuckles
This app has made long flights and road trips so much more enjoyable. 💪 Flexing my reading muscles with this app's easy-to-use controls – I'm devouring books while managing my busy schedule. 💼📚
Venom Charms
I'm amazed at how this app's features cater to audiobook enthusiasts' every need. Audiobook excellence simplified – this app's functionality is a true delight. ListenBook’s playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
QuestWeaver
ListenBook's seamless integration with CarPlay has made my drives more informative. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
IceDog
ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch integration ensures that I can enjoy my content wherever I go. This app has made long flights and road trips so much more enjoyable. I'm blown away by the app's performance. It's fast, reliable, and tailored for audiobook lovers. Adjusting playback speed has revolutionized the way I learn and enjoy audiobooks. I can adapt the pace to my needs, maximizing comprehension and retention.
Despair
This app has reignited my passion for reading, and I'm forever grateful. ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats makes it a versatile and essential app for audiobook enthusiasts. The absence of synchronization requirements on ListenBook is a breath of fresh air. I’ve been using ListenBook for months, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesn’t drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
Mule Skinner
ListenBook's support for various audio formats makes it a versatile app for all kinds of audiobook enthusiasts. Audiobooks on this app have made my workouts more enjoyable and productive. This app has made me realize that I don't need a lot of time to read. 🎉 Rekindling my literary flame – this app has brought back the joy of reading in a whole new format. 📖🚀 Adjustable playback speed and volume controls are fantastic features.
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