Charles Schulz, the most widely syndicated and beloved cartoonist of all time, is also one of the most misunderstood figures in popular culture. Now, acclaimed biographer David Michaelis gives us the first full-length biography of Schulz: at once a creation story, a portrait of a hidden genius, and a chronicle contrasting the private man with the central role he played in shaping the imagination of a generation and beyond. The son of a barber, Schulz was born in Minnesota to modest, working class roots.In 1943, just three days after his mother's tragic death from cancer, Schulz, a private in the army, shipped out for boot camp and the war in Europe. The sense of shock and separation never left him. And these early experiences would shape his entire life. With "Peanuts", Schulz embedded adult ideas in a world of small children to remind the reader that character flaws and childhood wounds are with us always. It was the central truth of his own life, that as the adults we've become and as the children we always will be, we can free ourselves, if only we can see the humor in the predicaments of funny-looking kids. Schulz's "Peanuts" profoundly influenced popular culture in the second half of the 20th century. But the strip was anchored in the collective experience and hardships of Schulz's generation-the generation that survived the Great Depression and liberated Europe and the Pacific and came home to build the postwar world.

About the Author
David Michaelis is the author of two bestselling biographies, including N. C. Wyeth (available from Harper Perennial), which won the Ambassador Book Award for Biography and Autobiography, given by the English-Speaking Union of the United States. He lives in New York City.

Reviews
"A fascinating account of an artist who devoted his life to his work." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Michaelis takes us on a wondrous journey through the worlds of Charlie Brown and Charles Schulz." -- Walter Isaacson "After you read this book you will know the genius that went into every single line that Charles Schulz drew." -- Chris Ware "An insightful rendering of the life of this American treasure." -- Walter Cronkite "Michaelis offers ... all that's needed about a prodigy of American cultural history." -- Kirkus Reviews "An extraordinary achievement ... that shrinks Schulz down to human size and enlarges our love of his work." -- Time magazine "This fall's breakout biography." -- GQ



Book Information
ISBN 9780060937997
Author David Michaelis
Format Paperback
Page Count 704
Imprint HarperPerennial
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Weight(grams) 925g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 36mm