The Juggler of Our Lady: The Classic Christmas Story

Description

"One of the great examples of the graphic novel form. Should inspire a new generation." - The Atlantic Cantalbert is a simple juggler but the world takes no interest in his only real gift, and he feels inadequate compared to people with meaningful jobs. Seeking a more spiritual approach to life, he enters a monastery. Cantalbert's menial chores among the monks fail to instill the self-doubting juggler with any sense of worth-until he experiences a soul-stirring encounter with a statue of Mary, the Mother of Christ. This magical 1952 retelling of a medieval legend, featuring winsome watercolor images by famed illustrator R. O. Blechman, constitutes a predecessor to the modern graphic novel. A Foreword by Jules Feiffer and an Introduction by Maurice Sendak offer insights into the fable's enduring influence.

For more than 50 years, the distinctive artwork of illustrator/animator R. O. Blechman has taken many forms, from New Yorker covers and commericals for Alka-Seltzer to his own illustrated books. He is the recipient of many awards, including several Emmys and a Lifetime Achievement Award from The National Cartoonists Society. Best known for his Caldecott Medal-winning book, Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak (1928-2012) wrote and illustrated numerous popular books for young readers. Author, playwright, and screenwriter, Jules Feiffer is a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist whose satirical strips appeared in The Village Voice for 42 years.