SENDAK, Maurice.

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We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy. First edition, signed by the author on the half-title, of one of his most controversial works. Released amid the AIDS crisis and a homelessness epidemic, this fusion of two Mother Goose rhymes is a highly symbolic work, enormously influenced by the cultural context of that time. Both tragedies are represented through the visual poetry, with clever wordplay and emotive illustrations.This book is a prime example of Sendak's darker, surreal style, but the overarching messages are of the strength of the human spirit, particularly in children, and of hope. In an interview with Steven Colbert, Sendak stated "I don't write for children. I write - and somebody says, 'That's for children!'". He disagreed with sanitizing the realities of the world for children and believed that they possess more emotional intelligence and resilience than most adults understand. For this reason, his publications were often met with backlash.

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