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Kiki de Montparnasse Paperback – May 1, 2012

by Catel Muller (Author), Jose-Luis Bocquet (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 61 ratings
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In bohemian Montparnasse of the 1920s, Kiki escaped poverty to become one of the most charismatic figures of the avant-garde years between the wars. Partner to Man Ray, and one of the first emancipated women of the 20th century, Kiki made her mark with her freedom of style, word, and thought that could be learned from only one school—the school of life.

Praise for Kiki de Montparnasse:

“The tipsily enthusiastic wobble of Catel’s line work gives even the more emotionally fraught scenes a winning, festive quality.”—New York Times
“The toast of France, Catel Muller and José-Louis Bocquet’s award-winning graphic novel Kiki de Montparnasse (Abrams/SelfMadeHero) . . . seduces American audiences with its artful and heartbreaking portrait of one of the most famous muses of the 20th century.” —VanityFair.com
“An excellent companion to readers of Anaïs Nin, Simone de Beauvoir, and other of Kiki’s less flamboyant contemporaries.” —Booklist
“This award-winning French graphic novel presents a story as vibrant and mesmerizing as its famed bohemian subject.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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Previous page
  1. Part of Series
    Graphic Biography - SelfMadeHero
  2. Print length
    416 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Harry N. Abrams
  5. Publication date
    May 1, 2012
  6. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1906838259
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1906838256
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

José-Luis Bocquet is a writer, comic book editor, and former journalist. Catel Muller is a renowned author of children’s books and mature graphic novels. They jointly won the Angoulême Festival Grand Prize, France’s most prestigious graphic novel award.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harry N. Abrams; Illustrated edition (May 1, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1906838259
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1906838256
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.96 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 61 ratings

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
61 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Gail E
5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional combination of life story and graphic treatment
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2014
Verified Purchase
This graphic biography was a delicious French meal. Not only do we get an intimate look at creative people living during a particularly unbridled time and in a place humming with energy, we do it through the life experiences of someone who charted her own course when daring women were rare. Kiki is a fascinating original. With so much to do with the art world, graphic treatment makes perfect sense. It also makes for an unusual and facile read--but don't rush to dessert. Each period of her life deserves to be consumed with kind attention. Although many of Kiki's choices are not what most of us would recommend, her life story is unforgettable. I will read this again.
5 people found this helpful
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Alex E. Pajares
5.0 out of 5 stars Dear Kiki...
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2014
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It was a lovely book to read. I enjoyed it so much I purchased a second book as a gift. It is the story of a woman, Paris, and art as it was at the beginning of the 20th century.
One person found this helpful
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That one guy
4.0 out of 5 stars Good graphic novel about a complicated character
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2016
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Alice Prin (aka Kiki de Montparnasse) was the official It Girl of Paris between the World Wars. That in itself was no small feat: at the time, Paris was still the capital of world culture, home to some of the most dynamic, creative minds on the planet. There was no shortage of young women eager to create work of their own and inspire it in others. Kiki rose to the top of the heap, and this graphic novel does a good job telling her story.

My only complaint is that, as with many graphic novels, I feel like some of the story gets lost along the way. If this were a comic book or a complete fiction, the author might've been able to mitigate that by glossing over details. But because Kiki was a very real person living during a very complicated time in history, her story is harder to tell using the limited language of graphic novels.

That said, I've tried reading biographies about Kiki before, and this one held my attention far better than the others. Maybe it's time she got the big budget movie treatment?
6 people found this helpful
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Threedogsistoomany
5.0 out of 5 stars with beautiful artwork and a compelling story that had me so ...
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2016
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Charming graphic novel, with beautiful artwork and a compelling story that had me so wrapped up in it i was loathe to put it down..so I didn't... until I had finished it.
5 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Kiki is the Anti-hero of Paris in the 30s. You can't help but love her anyway!
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2016
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This book is so awesome. The graphics are wonderful. Great art and story. Sad Story!
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Ed
1.0 out of 5 stars Not a real book
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2022
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It was a comic book - awful.
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Blake
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, sad it was over so fast!
Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2012
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Loved the book, bought off an impulse buy. Glad I did! I felt sad after the end. Simple, elegant book about a very interesting individual.... Buy it!
4 people found this helpful
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Melonia
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting.
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2018
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I enjoyed this.
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Top reviews from other countries

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La Divina
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't be put off by the fact that it is a Graphic Novel, Accurate Information and a Fun Read
Reviewed in Canada on May 20, 2021
Verified Purchase
I was a bit wary of getting this because it's a graphic novel and not a straight up biography. It turned out to be really good, facts scrupulously researched and the graphic novel format is perfectly suited to capture the the vivacious essence of the extraordinary Kiki de Montparnasse and the milieau in which she moved.

If you are a fan of this woman and the fascinating world of artists, models and other bohemians in Paris during the teens and 1920s, of which she was , as Hemingway wrote "undisputed Queen" for over a decade, don't let this be the *only* book you read about her but it deserves to be on the reading list for sure!!
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Cristina Paredes
5.0 out of 5 stars Maravilloso
Reviewed in Spain on May 27, 2022
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Te sumerge en una época y te enamora del personaje. Considero que las escenas están muy bien escogidas, que es de lectura muy sencilla. Además, al final acaba con una serie de biografías concisas e interesantes sobre los personajes con los que se cruza Kiki de Montparnasse. Con ganas de leer los otros de la colección.
La lectura es sencilla, con un inglés bastante asumible. La versión francesa también es apta para los que tengan una base, incluso útil para mejorar el idioma.
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david jarman
5.0 out of 5 stars A visual treat
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 1, 2020
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Not being a fan of graphic novels, it came as a shock to find what was simply billed as a 'biography' was in effect one. But it is beautifully executed, and an excellent way of conveying the rip-roaring trajectory of this harum-scarum character across the Parisian art scene. Learning her language by having the Franco-Belgian original alongside could be a real treat - as sent to my friend via Amazon.fr... !
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T. E.
3.0 out of 5 stars Langweiliger als gedacht
Reviewed in Germany on October 24, 2018
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Obschon der Comic eine eigentlich interessante Story verspricht, springt der Funke beim Leser/Betrachter nicht so recht über.
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brenda squires
5.0 out of 5 stars Brings Paris in the 1920s alive
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2020
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This little book is a gem! With witty and beautiful drawings it tracks the life of Kiki queen of Montparnasse. It portrays the artists of that time and their complex interactions to a tee. I learnt a lot from it and enjoyed the artwork. The glossary of artists and timeline of Kiki are very useful too.
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