"You find out the use of books when you are very young. History, biography, and novels in particular lend you experience that is not yet your own. They are an advance paid on life. They hand you different scripts to try. They rehearse you. If you want entertainment, roll dice; then you can maintain your happy-go- lucky innocence. Novels teach you that actions have consequences. They help you grow up."
- HIlary Mantel
All About Me
A PULITZER PRIZE FOR LITERATURE NOMINEE & INDEPENDENT BOOK AWARDS 'Distinguished Favorite' for 2024
R.w. Meek has a Master’s degree in Art History from the American University in Washington, D.C., his areas of expertise are Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, with a particular interest in Vincent van Gogh. He has interned and conducted tours at the National Museum of American and the National Gallery of Art. In 2022 and 2023 five of his chapter excerpts from his novel “The Dream Collector” were either finalists or published in various literary journals. The author has also won the Palm Beach Book Festival Competition for “Best Writer in Palm Beach’ his manuscript judged by a panel of NYT Best Selling authors. “The Dream Collector” also received gold and silver medals in the Historical Fiction Company literary contest and earned runner-up for the “Best Historical Fiction’ of 2022.
My HP Books
The Dream Collector: Sabrine & Sigmund Freud (Book One) immerses the reader into the exciting milieu of late 19th Century Paris when art and medicine were in the throes of revolution, art turning to Impressionism, medicine turning to psychology.
In 1885, Julie Forette, a self-educated woman from Marseilles, finds employment at the infamous Salpêtrière, hospital and asylum to over five thousand disabled, demented and abandoned women, a walled city ruled by the famed neurologist and arrogant director, Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot.
Julie Forette forms a friendship with the young, visiting intern Sigmund Freud who introduces her to the altering-conscious power of cocaine. Together they pursue the hidden potential of hypnotism and dream interpretation. After Freud receives the baffling case of the star hysteric, Sabrine Weiss, he is encouraged by Julie to experiment with different modes of treatment, including "talking sessions." Their urgent quest is to find a cure for Sabrine, Princess of the Hysterics, before Dr. Charcot resorts to the radical removal of her ovaries.
In Paris, Julie finds a passion for the new art emerging, Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, and forms friendships with the major artists of the period, including Pissarro, Monet, and Degas. Julie becomes intimately involved with the reclusive Cezanne only to be seduced by the "Peruvian Savage" Paul Gauguin. Julie is the eponymous 'Dream Collector' collecting the one unforgettable, soul-defining dream of the major historical figures of the period.
A PULITZER PRIZE FOR LITERATURE NOMINEE
Sabrine, hospitalized for five years at the infamous Salpêtrière Asylum for Women, gains her release due to intervention of her sister Julie Forette and a young Sigmund Freud. The reunited sisters are introduced to the dazzling art milieu of 1886 Paris, and soon become close friends to the leading Impressionists. Sabrine attracts a cult following as a poetess, the enigmatic "Haiku Princess." Seemingly cured by Freud of her Grand Hysteria, Sabrine soon enters into a tumultuous relationship with Vincent van Gogh.
Jule and Sigmund Freud, alarmed by the eerie parallels between the emotionally volatile couple and their self-destructive impulses, begin an urgent search to discover the root causes for Sabrine and Vincent's growing psychoses. Julie, 'The Dream Collector' seeks their most unforgettable dream for Freud's interpretation and revelations occur.
The Dream Collector: Sabrine & Vincent van Gogh (Book Two) is an exploration of the psychological consequences of betrayal, abandonment--and the redemptive power of art.
Book Awards
Book Excerpt
Fire & Air
MY SISTER began to accompany him on his painting expeditions. I asked if she would keep me informed of her adventures through our Petticoat Post Office. Gladly she pinned letters to the petticoat, now fitted over our new mannequin, a female torso made of wire. The letters were passionate outpourings of her infatuation with him.
Abandoning caution, I asked Sabrine, “What is it about Vincent that makes you care so much for him? Theo tells me that he can be temperamental, argumentative, and stubborn.”
She promised to pin something on the Petticoat Post Office.
Oh Julie, let me paint a portrait of Vincent with words, and I will paint my picture for you as faithfully as I can, and with all the love I have for him. Allow me, please, the liberty to exaggerate, for that is the only way to see what is essential, not the moody vagueness and volcanic tantrums that others see.
First, my words must be dipped in paints of citron yellow and ripened orange to show the sparkled fairness of his hair. For the gentle blue of Vincent's eyes, I should ask Père Tanguy to grind precious sapphires. Around his head I shall place a halo as broken strokes of sunflower yellow to show his noble thoughts. Behind him, instead of painting an ordinary wall, I will paint infinity, a background of the richest blue I can contrive, and because of the combination of his golden head against the intense blue background I will achieve the mysterious effect he has upon me, like a star burning in the depths of an azure sky.
Who is Vincent? In his countenance I see what is most consoling and in his soul what is most beautiful. Oh, he is my guardian angel who wields the white ray and who dreams great dreams. Above all, he is an artist! And one who works at his craft as naturally as the nightingale sings.
Book Trailer
Dream Collector I Book Trailer
Dream Collector II Book Trailer
Book Reviews
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Firebird Awards, Second Place Literary Fiction 2024
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Literary Titan, 5 Star Gold Medal 2024
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NY Big Book Awards, Distinguished Favorite 2024
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Historical Fiction Company, Bronze Medal Historical Fiction 2022
"When R.w. Meek submitted his manuscript THE DREAM COLLECTOR for our contest I thought it was some sort of a joke. Not because it was badly written but because it was so well written - along the lines of George Saunders and Tolstoy!! I was certain it was a literary friend posing as a contestant. Our judges too said this was hands down the best submission we ever received in ten years of the Palm Beach Book Festival. A masterpiece in every sense of the word." - Lois Cahall, Founder Palm Beach Book Festival.
*****
"Tribute must be paid to the obvious and clear literary skills of the author R.w. Meek and to his ability to invoke historic personages and the Belle Époque he so evidently adores." - Julian de la Motte, award winning author of Senlac
*****
"It is difficult to describe The Dream Collector by R.w. Meek without resorting to clichés: "A masterpiece!" "A stunning achievement!" Those phrases, while true, can in no way convey the immersive power of Meek's' writing as his characters journey through 19th century Paris with its experimentations in both art and medicine, its debauchery and decadence, and the sheer, unbridled passion of its denizens. A brilliant storyteller, Meek has created a world you simply won't want to leave and will never forget." - Trish MacEnulty, Historical Fiction Author
*****
Set against the backdrop of Paris in the late 19th century, The Dream Collector Book I: Sabrine and Sigmund Freud, by R.W. Meek, immerses the reader in an era of remarkable transformation. The novel deftly intertwines the worlds of medicine and art, capturing the essence of a period marked by pioneering ideas. The story follows Julie Forette, an ambitious young woman who joins the Salpetriere, a mental asylum home to thousands of women with varying psychological conditions. Here, she encounters a young Sigmund Freud, and together they explore the enigmatic world of mental health, united by their curiosity and a shared interest in cocaine.
The narrative becomes increasingly intriguing with the introduction of Sabrine Weiss, a patient suffering from hysteria, whose condition puzzles both Julie and Freud. As Julie's journey progresses, she meets several prominent historical figures, including artists like Paul Gauguin, Monet, and Cezanne. This not only enriches the story but also triggers a significant psychological evolution in her character. Meek's novel shares similarities with the ethereal style of George Saunders, particularly his work Lincoln in the Bardo.
The Dream Collector stands out with its vibrant portrayal of Julie Forette. While initially seeming like a mere narrative device to facilitate encounters with famous personalities, Julie emerges as a character as compelling and dynamic as her historical counterparts. She navigates the shifting landscape of France, deeply affected by the societal and cultural revolutions around her. Her interactions with artistic and medical luminaries are marked by intellectual depth, showcasing her evolving consciousness and understanding of the world.
The Dream Collector: Sabrine & Sigmund Freud offers an engaging journey through a pivotal period in history, filled with intellectual exchanges and vivid portrayals of renowned figures. Each page promises a new discovery, making it a rewarding read for enthusiasts of the genre. Its blend of historical depth with a lively narrative makes it a notable addition to historical fiction. - Five Stars from LITERARY TITAN
*****
Impeccably researched, the novel presents an extraordinary blend of science and art, reason and passion, challenging readers through its vivid exploration of medical history and the prevailing beliefs surrounding hysteria.
At times, readers may find themselves grappling to fully comprehend, as each reference and fact plays an integral role within the story. However, for those who persist, they will discover an incredible narrative—one that would have been an impossible undertaking for any other author. Meek clearly knew the story he wished to tell and dedicated every sentence to bringing it alive.
The Dream Collector: Book I Sabrine & Sigmund Freud is more than a historical novel—it is an outstanding example of what a novel should and can be. R.W. Meek's meticulous research and narrative prowess weave a captivating tapestry of late 19th century Paris, where the entwining forces of science and art come alive. Through the enigmatic Julie Forette, the complex figure of Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot, and the refreshingly human portrayal of the young and ambitious Sigmund Freud, Meek crafts a narrative that challenges readers to grapple with ethical dilemmas, historical complexities, and the intricate dance between reason and passion. -- Independant Book Review
*****
"An adventure tale featuring medicine, madness, and art in Meek's historical novel set in 19th-century France.
Young Sabrine Weiss is talented, beautiful, innocent, and deeply disturbed. She's also subject to what seem to be epileptic fits. When the novel opens, her fiercely protective older sister, Julie, has liberated her from the Salpêtrière, the most famous teaching asylum in Europe, hoping that the wider and more stimulating world of the Paris art scene will prove therapeutic. Julie is an editor and translator with ties to the vibrant Impressionist community, and all the expected scenesters are here: Cezanne, Degas, Pissarro, Monet and Manet, Gauguin, and Vincent van Gogh and his fiercely protective brother, Theo. Vincent, of course, is also deeply disturbed, famously slicing off his ear and committing suicide at 37. (Sabrine and Vincent eventually become soul mates.) Julie has many talents, among them hypnosis, by which she can probe a person's distant past; she also can coax their dreams from them, which is her friend Sigmund Freud's cue to enter the story. Will Sabrine be cured of her epilepsy, and her traumatic secret unearthed? This epic battle of science versus faith is one of the novel's recurring themes, while medical advances and discoveries also take center stage. Freud's alienist theories were just beginning to be warily respected. He had been the mentee of the famous Dr. Charcot, director the Salpêtrière, but they eventually parted ways. Julie sums it up by insisting (rightly) that the cause of her sister's disturbed mind is not physiological (per Charcot) but psychological (per Freud). Meek notes changes in the three challenging decades that ushered in modern science and modern sensibilities. He's a competent writer and keeps the plot moving. He revels in detailed scenes like the artists' wild parties; and, in the denouement, readers get a sympathetic portrait of "Father" Pissarro, getting on in years but still delighting in the service of art. It's a wonderfully upbeat note to end on.
A sensitive and well-plotted re-creation of perhaps the most scientifically and culturally significant era in French history." - KIRKUS REVIEWS
