In 1993, Francois Place's "The Last Giants" was universally acclaimed a work of great, if heartbreaking, originality. In this recent effort, he brings to life the immortal Japanese illustrator and printmaker Hokusai. And just as he made real the "land of the giants," so he brings the reader into the swirling and vibrant world of Tokyo. Trained early as an engraver, Hokusai studied under the master Sunsho, producing illustrated volumes of verse. His first manga volume followed in 1814, after he abandoned the traditional style of engraving to perfect the technique of the colored woodcut, in what many consider his greatest work, "The 36 Views of Mt Fuji". His life was unsettled, his marriages uncertain, and his business affairs irregular, but his energy was boundless. He left for posterity thousands of sketches and drawings, illustrated books and prints, saying - just before he died in 1889 - "If heaven gives me ten more years (or even an extension of five), I shall certainly become a true artist." The exuberance of his life is marvelously conveyed in Place's tribute to an artist who clearly ranks among his heroes. Both have the same genius for draughtsmanship, the perfectly defined, energetic stroke, the subtle wash. We see the humour & pathos of Hokusai's life, recorded through the eyes of a young apprentice. This is a lovely book by an artist and writer we consider among the very best of his generation.

 

 

There are 112 pages in this book.

It is aimed at Young Adult readers. The term Young Adult (YA) is used for books which have the following characteristics: (1) aimed at ages 12-18 years, US grades 7-12, UK school years 8-15, (2) around 50-75k words long, (3) main character is aged 12-18 years, (4) topics include self-reflection, internal conflict vs external, analyzing life and its meaning, (5) point of view is often in the first person, and (6) swearing, violence, romance and sexuality are allowed.

This book was published in 2007 by David R. Godine Publisher Inc .

Timothee de Fombelle is a much-admired French playwright. Initially working as a teacher/lecturer, he soon turned to writing and in 2006 produced his first novel, Toby Alone, known in his native France as Tobie Lolness. Highly acclaimed, it has been translated into 22 different languages and has won numerous prizes. Toby's extraordinary story continues in Toby and the Secrets of the Tree. Francois Place is one of France's leading artists and is also a well-praised fiction writer. Some of his best works include Les Derniers Geants ("The Last Giants"), Le Vieux Fou de Dessin ("The Old Man Crazy About Drawing") and L'Atlas des Geographes ("The Atlas of the Geographers of Orbae"). He lives in France. William Rodarmor is a veteran French literary translator, writer, and editor. His translation of Tamata and the Alliance , by Bernard Moitessier, won the 1996 Lewis Galantiere Award from the American Translators Association. He lives in Berkeley, California.