Monk!: Thelonious, Pannonica, and the Friendship Behind a Musical Revolution

(Hardback)

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Description

She is Pannonica de Koenigswarter, British baroness of the Rothschild family. He is Thelonious Sphere Monk, a musical genius fighting against the whims of his troubled mind. Their enduring friendship begins in 1951 and ends only with Monk's death 1982. Set against the backdrop of New York in the 1950s, this graphic biography explores the rare alchemy between two brilliant beings separated by an ocean of social status, race, and culture, but united by an infinite love for music. Thoroughly researched by author Youssef Daoudi and rendered in his spontaneous, evocative pen and ink, Monk! seems to make visible jazz itself.

Reviews

A Boston Globe Best Books of 2018

Daoudi's palate for the book is tightly contained, which gives the art and the story a chance to shine... It's a must-read title for people who love jazz, and a wonderful experience even for readers who couldn't name a single jazz musician off the top of their heads. --Paste

The panel layout forces readers to stay focused, and the artwork is beautiful, with colors that are somehow at once vibrant and muted... A thorough and superb biography, for most nonfiction collections. --School Library Journal, starred review

Daoudi weaves conversations, memories, and dreamlike sequences together using a variety of panel sizes, perspectives, and visual shorthand to create a lively and exciting biography that is as dynamic and complex as its subjects. Captivating graphic nonfiction. --Booklist, starred review

Each expertly illustrated story panel captures the energy and eccentricity fueling Monk's creativity...This exceptional memoir will leave readers feeling they've experienced a brilliant performance.--Publishers Weekly, starred review

Author Bio

Youssef Daoudi is a comic artist and illustrator living in France. He worked as an art director for multinational advertising firms for fifteen years before committing himself to writing and drawing graphic novels. He is an avid traveler, and New York is one of the most inspiring cities he ever visited.