Maus I & II Paperback Box Set

A SPECIAL-EDITION BOXSET CELEBRATING THE PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING GRAPHIC NOVEL'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY

Maus by Art Spiegelman is a groundbreaking and deeply poignant graphic novel that recounts the harrowing experiences of the author's father, Vladek Spiegelman, a Polish Jew, during the Holocaust. This unforgettable story is told using a unique and striking visual metaphor, with Jews depicted as mice and Nazis as cats, bringing a hauntingly illustrative power to the narrative.

The narrative unfolds on two levels: It interweaves Art Spiegelman's interviews with his father in the present day with Vladek's haunting memories of life in Nazi-occupied Poland. Throughout the interviews, the complexities of Art's relationship with his father are revealed, showcasing the enduring impact of trauma on survivors and their descendants. This dual narrative structure lends an additional layer of depth and reflection, making Maus not just a Holocaust story, but also a profound exploration of memory, family, and identity.

Maus is widely acclaimed as the first graphic novel to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize, a testament to its literary significance and emotional depth. Critics and readers alike have recognised it as a monumental piece of literature that has redefined the medium of graphic novels and cemented its place in literary history.

This special-edition paperback box set includes both volumes that constitute Maus, encapsulating the entire narrative from the harrowing pre-war period through to the liberation and its aftermath. Additionally, the set features an exclusive sixteen-page booklet designed by Art Spiegelman himself, providing further insights and reflections on the creation and impact of this extraordinary work.

'The first masterpiece in comic book history' The New Yorker

'The most affecting and successful narrative ever done about the Holocaust' Wall Street Journal

'A brutally moving work of art' Boston Globe

'No summary can do justice to Spiegelman's narrative skill' Adam Gopnik

'Like all great stories, it tells us more about ourselves than we could ever suspect' Philip Pullman

'A capital-G Genius' Michael Chabon