The Secret Life of Sunflowers

Initially, Johanna sets out to gain recognition for Vincent’s work because it is Theo’s unfinished goal. At what point does the goal become her own? What is Johanna’s reward for achieving this goal?

Why did Violet choose to keep the family’s connection to van Gogh a secret? Would Emsley’s life have been different had she grown up having this information?

Paris and New York City are both key settings for the novel. Conduct some research into the visual art scenes in both places during the respective time periods of the novel. What forms of art were popular in each city, and why? How did each city lend itself to fostering art?