Items related to Life of Saint Nicholas
Blechman describes in words & delightful drawings how little was known of the actual life of St. Nicholas until an ancient manuscript (mss.), "Vita Splendida et Illustris de Nicolo Beato," was discovered in 1989 by an Italian farmer. The farmer donated it to the church, which sold it to an antiquarian dealer. It ended up for sale by Sotheby's, but the Italian government declared it a national treasure & demanded its return. After a conflict between UNESCO, the CIA, & the Italian-American Cultural League, Sotheby's sold the manuscript to R. Jay Gatchall, who donated it to a museum. Blechman then tells the story of the life of St. Nicholas. A charming book!
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
R.O. Blechman applies his trademark scribble to the life of Saint Nicholas, who was born a Roman citizen in A.D. 314 and developed a penchant for good works as a child. Blechman's saint is of the earnest, regular-guy variety, and his generosity constantly lands him in trouble. You could imagine him stumbling into a Frank Capra movie. But the goofy illustrations by Blechman keep the proceedings sincere without ever allowing them to get too sugary.
From Booklist:
For readers used to seeing Blechman's cartoons in the New Yorker, it's a delight to see him range across an entire book with his distinctive, minimalist, shaky-lined drawings. While his figures are small and simple (dwarfed by a large, troublesome, usually absurd world), Blechman's wit is grand and sophisticated. Here, in this merry romp of puns and mockery, he relates the story of Saint Nicholas, a tale, he informs us, that can only now be told because an Italian farmer discovered an ancient manuscript while (what else?) digging for truffles. In a hilarious schematic, Blechman presents the manuscript's "travels to its final destination" (Akron, Ohio), a journey that involved a tussle between Sotheby's, the Italian government, and R. Jay Gatchall of J-Mart wealth and fame. This piquancy shapes Blechman's entire rendering of the life of good-hearted St. Nick, from days of childhood miracles to his unexpected (and diabolically clever) transformation into the jolly, red-clad being we dutifully worship at department stores each December. A perfect antidote to the commercialization of the season. Donna Seaman
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherDiane Pub Co
- Publication date1996
- ISBN 10 0788190520
- ISBN 13 9780788190520
- BindingHardcover
- Edition number1
- Number of pages120
- IllustratorR. O. Blechman
- Rating
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