SURREAL The Extraordinary Life of Gala Dalí

Narrator Derek Perkins is the gold standard for audiobooks devoted to artists and the fine arts, and also, it seems, for stunts and high jinks. Clearly, he revels in this biography of "the mother of surrealism," Gala Dali, wife of Salvadore Dali and a creative force in her own right. Her first husband, French poet Paul luard, described her as "an extraordinary, versatile, and ingenious woman who understood the value of celebrity." This proves to be an understatement. Gala managed Dali and, more importantly, his public image. Perkins brings his distinctive eloquence and style to a narrative rich in anecdotes and tidbits. It's thoroughly entertaining, but the effect is an increased regard for surrealism, and Dali, and his vital and inventive partner behind the scenes. D.A.W. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2025]