Art Spiegelman's tale of his father's experiences during the Holocaust
Summary of The Complete Maus
The graphic novel, The Complete Maus, is a survivor tale of a young Jewish man named Vladek Spiegelman, retold through the images and narration of his son, an author and cartoonist. The story tells another story within itself. During the novel, the young cartoonist is working on a piece of literature about the holocaust, and interviews his father about his experiences as a survivor of the concentration camps.
The story that his father tells is rich in history and provides a personal look into a horrifying situation. Although he is wealthy and well off at the beginning of the novel, due to his fabric company, his life soon changes as his family is ripped apart and the world around him crumbles. This book narrates his life from the beginning of World War II to his survival, in the time of his old age. He goes through many hurdles to keep his family together and to keep himself alive day-to-day. From trading food on the black market, hiding his Jewish identity, learning trades to remain useful to the Germans, to surviving typhoid, Vladek experiences many hardships that could have taken his life. He gives amazingly detailed descriptions of the concentration camps, which are illustrated both in the descriptive language and the images of the comics themselves.
Overall, this novel provides a personal perspective of the holocaust, and allows readers a glimpse into the horrible circumstances that many people had to face during the reign of Hitler. The graphics in the novel provide powerful illustrations that show emotion without words. The holocaust is a genocide that is difficult for individuals to comprehend, and this novel presents the information in a new, more personal and relatable way.
The story that his father tells is rich in history and provides a personal look into a horrifying situation. Although he is wealthy and well off at the beginning of the novel, due to his fabric company, his life soon changes as his family is ripped apart and the world around him crumbles. This book narrates his life from the beginning of World War II to his survival, in the time of his old age. He goes through many hurdles to keep his family together and to keep himself alive day-to-day. From trading food on the black market, hiding his Jewish identity, learning trades to remain useful to the Germans, to surviving typhoid, Vladek experiences many hardships that could have taken his life. He gives amazingly detailed descriptions of the concentration camps, which are illustrated both in the descriptive language and the images of the comics themselves.
Overall, this novel provides a personal perspective of the holocaust, and allows readers a glimpse into the horrible circumstances that many people had to face during the reign of Hitler. The graphics in the novel provide powerful illustrations that show emotion without words. The holocaust is a genocide that is difficult for individuals to comprehend, and this novel presents the information in a new, more personal and relatable way.
Author Biography
Art Spiegelman has a rich artistic history. He was the co-founder and editor of Raw, an acclaimed magazine of avant-garde comics and graphics. Additionally, he served as the contributing editor and artist for The New Yorker. His works are recognized around the world, and his drawings and prints can be found in galleries and museums. For his work, Maus, he was awarded the Pulitzer prize, a Guggenheim fellowship, and was nominated for the National Book Critics Circle award. He lives in New York with his wife and two children.
From the hard copy edition of The Complete Maus
From the hard copy edition of The Complete Maus