There's a Mystery There: The Primal Vision of Maurice Sendak

A gorgeously-produced book for fans of the late Maurice Sendak. It reveals the family background that became the driver for his unique stories and compelling illustrations. When asked about why he was inspired to draw the Wild Things the way he did, he said that was because that was the way his family looked to him when he was a child. With the exception of his beloved brother Jack, and his sister Natalie, he felt alienated from his parents, aunts and uncles who were all immigrants from Eastern Europe. The book is sensitively written and will be a joy for anyone who treasures Sendak's works.

In this illuminating and beautiful book, Jonathan Cott presents a fascinating examination of Sendak's masterpiece, "Outside Over There."

Illuminating and beautifully written this work shines a light into all the corners of Sendak's brilliant mind.

This is a wonderful investigation that focuses on Sendak's "Outside Over There," but does so in a way that feels expansive, full of depth and layers, and is fascinating. Cott details his own friendship and discussions with Sendak (so you get a great sense of Sendak's view of things, including his obsession with the case of the Lindbergh baby, which connects to "Outside Over There"), before exploring the many layers of meaning in Sendak's book with an art historian, a psychoanalyst, and playwright Tony Kushner. The reproductions of the illustrations are topnotch. I was sorry to finish this book, honestly. It was that enjoyable.

Excellent product and good timing!