Wall Growing Up Behind The Iron Curtain HC

Description

Through annotated illustrations, journals, maps and dreamscapes, Caldecott honored artist Peter Sis shows what life was like for a child who loved to draw, stood guard at the giant statue of Josef Stalin, and believed as he was told to believe in communist Czechoslovakia. But adolescence brought questions as cracks began to appear in the Iron Curtain. Sis learned about beat poetry, rock 'n' roll, blue jeans, and Coca-Cola; he grew out his hair, secretly read banned books, and joined a rock band. Then came the Prague Spring of 1968, and for a teenager who wanted to see the world and meet The Beatles, this was a magical time. It was short-lived, however, brought to a brutal end by the Soviet-led invasion. But this brief flowering had provided a glimpse of new possibilities: creativity could be discouraged, but not easily killed. By joining memory and history, Sis takes us on his extraordinary journey, from infant with paintbrush in hand to young man borne aloft by the wings of art.