The Secret Life of Sunflowers

Marta Molnar is an American writer who has published more than 60 novels under the pseudonym Dana Marton. The Secret Life of Sunflowers is a work of historical fiction derived from the letters of Johanna Bonger van Gogh, the sister-in-law of painter Vincent van Gogh. The novel explores the connection of fictional Emsley Wilson to Johanna through Johanna’s diary and letters, which are given to Emsley by her artist grandmother, Violet Velar, just before Violet’s death. Through reading about Johanna’s struggles to bring her brother-in-law to fame, Emsley finds the encouragement needed to persevere toward her own goals as both she and Johanna battle the gender norms of their respective eras.

Originally working in the corporate world, Molnar sought a career change and enrolled in writing courses at Seton Hill University. She went on to write and publish more than 60 novels as Dana Marton. Though acclaimed in her own right, Molnar opted to publish The Secret Life of Sunflowers herself after receiving several rejections. She shared the story with fans via social media and was encouraged by its reception. Molnar, writing as Dana Marton, has been awarded the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, the Reader’s Choice Award, and the RITA Award for romantic fiction.

This guide references the 2022 paperback edition.

Content Warning: This guide references mental illness, death by suicide, and sexual assault.

Plot Summary

The novel alternates between the storylines of Emsley Wilson, an auctioneer living in present-day Los Angeles, and Johanna Bonger van Gogh, the sister-in-law of Vincent van Gogh, who lives in the Netherlands in the late 19th century. As the novel opens, Emsley is visiting her grandmother, Violet Velar, an artist and one-time socialite who now lives in a facility after suffering a stroke. The business Emsley owns—an auction house that manages celebrity auctions—with her friend Diya and now-ex-boyfriend Trey is struggling. Further, Trey and Diya are dating. As Emsley leaves to return to LA, Violet gives her a stack of old letters, written in Dutch, and a diary. Emsley assumes the diary is Violet’s, but upon reading the first entry on the plane, she is surprised to find it is by a woman named Johanna Bonger.

When Emsley returns to work, Trey and Diya inform her that they want to dissolve the business. Soon, Diya sells her shares to Trey, leaving Emsley to either do the same or raise the funds to buy Trey’s portion. Determined to do the latter, she begins to consider a list of investors but is forced to return to New York: Violet has had another stroke. Emsley rushes to her bedside, but Violet dies soon after. Grief-stricken, Emsley sets about emptying Violet’s house of its belongings because Violet has just sold it. As she settles Violet’s bills and other affairs, Emsley meets Bram Dekker Sr., Violet’s attorney, and his grandson, Bram Jr., a partner in his business. She quickly becomes romantically smitten with Bram Jr. but stops herself when she notices his wedding ring. All the while, Emsley reads the diary, wondering if she may be related to Johanna and, therefore, Vincent van Gogh. Violet never revealed the identity of Emsley’s mother’s father, and Emsley is certain the diary and Dutch letters are a key to Violet’s past.

As Emsley undertakes the arduous process of cleaning out her grandmother’s house, Bram Jr. helps her, and a friendship develops. She learns that many of the antiques Violet owned are valuable and works with an antiques dealer, Bram’s cousin, Sergei Prokhorov, who buys many of them. Emsley also gets to know Strena, a performance artist for whom Violet has permitted use of her studio for her art. Emsley continues to read about Johanna’s life, growing more curious about her connection to Emsley’s family. She learns from Bram Sr. that Violet was raped at a party hosted by the Vanderbilts in 1965. She finally discovers the identity of the perpetrator: a senator named Tayor Wertheim. All the while, she tries to negotiate with Trey, determined not to lose the business to him. Finally, Emsley proposes her business plan to Bram; his grandfather, Sergei; and Strena, who all willingly invest. Emsley negotiates with Trey to divide the business so that she can manage a separate New York branch. After Sergei informs her that Bram Jr. is a widower, Emsley accepts his advances, and their relationship shifts beyond friendship. Buoyed by Johanna’s story, Emsley even confronts Taylor Wertheim about attacking her grandmother. When the sale of Violet’s house falls through, Emsley decides to buy it herself.

Johanna’s story inspires Emsley as she fights to keep her business afloat and consoles her after the loss of her grandmother. Johanna is in her twenties, living in Amsterdam with her parents and sisters. Her brother, Dries, lives in Paris where he works in the art world. Dries’s friend, Theo van Gogh, home from Paris, visits the Bongers to ask Johanna to marry him. Having spent time with Theo only once and hoping that a man named Eduard will propose instead, Johanna refuses. Theo politely asks if he may write to her, and the two begin a correspondence. A year passes, and Johanna tries teaching English, but the endeavor fails. Frustrated, she decides to take Dries up on his suggestion that she visit him in Paris for Christmas. There, her friendship with Theo flourishes, and when he proposes marriage again, Johanna accepts.

Johanna and Theo are married in the Netherlands soon after his proposal. Theo is eager to return to Paris where his work as an art dealer waits. Theo also financially supports and promotes the work of his painter brother, Vincent. Vincent has had several bouts of mental illness, many leading to his being institutionalized. In 1890, Vincent dies by suicide. Soon after, Theo, berating himself for Vincent’s death, develops depression. Johanna attempts to buoy his spirits, but Theo locks himself in the bedroom and refuses to come out for weeks. Ultimately, he must be placed in a psychiatric hospital. Johanna visits him, but Theo often refuses to see her. Before long, he too passes away.

Johanna returns to the Netherlands with her young son, determined to carry out her husband’s goal of selling Vincent’s art. Theo had been adamant that Vincent’s talent deserved an audience, but no galleries took an interest; only one of Vincent’s paintings was sold during his life. Johanna writes letters to Vincent’s artist friends and galleries, searching for an agent willing to represent his work. Meanwhile, she opens a boarding house to support herself and her son. As time passes, Johanna pursues an intellectual life, engaging in conversations with writers, poets, and artists she becomes acquainted with through her friend Anna and her artist husband, Jan. Finally, Johanna decides she will represent Vincent herself—a role unheard of for a woman. She is finally able to secure an exhibit of his work in the Netherlands. The show is a success, and van Gogh is established as one of the best artists of his time.

As Emsley grows more excited by Johanna’s life, she conducts her own research. With the help of Strena, who translates the Dutch letters, Emsley discovers that Clara, the woman to whom Johanna writes, is Violet’s great-aunt. The novel ends as Emsley also learns that Violet owned an original painting by van Gogh himself.