Synopsis Behind Frida Kahlo's portraits lies the story of both her life and work. It is precisely this combination that draws the reader in. Frida's work is a record of her life, and rarely can we learn so much about an artist from what she records inside the picture frame. Frida Kahlo truly is Mexico's gift to the history of art. She was just eighteen years old when a terrible bus accident changed her life forever, leaving her handicapped and burdened with constant physical pain. But her explosive character, raw determination and hard work helped to shape her artistic talent. At her side was the great Mexican painter and muralist, Diego Rivera whose obsessive womanizing did not stop her winning him over with her charm, talent and intelligence. Kahlo soon learnt to lean on the success of her companion in order to explore the world, thus creating her own legacy and carefully surrounding herself with a close-knit group of friends. Her personal life was turbulent, as she frequently left her relationship with Diego to one side whilst she cultivated her own bisexual affairs. Despite this, Frida and Diego managed to save their frayed romance. The story and the paintings that Frida left us display a courageous account of a woman constantly on a search of self-discovery. Gerry Souter earned his degree at the Institute of Art in Chicago and then went on to do further studies in art at the University of Chicago. Himself an artist, Souter has exhibited his paintings and photographs at the Institute of Art in Chicago, the Phoenix Art Museum and a number of other galleries. A professional author, he has written more than twenty books since 1997, many of which have been extremely successful. His continuing studies in art history and architecture, the sharpness of his writing, and his visual experience add a dynamic aspect to the study of the lives of artists and the description of their works, keeping the reader captivated, page after page.