"There is life in everything--why didn't I paint it long ago?" --Ludwig Bemelmans Although best known for his Madeline books, Ludwig Bemelmans' creativity extended far beyond the old house in Paris. He was a novelist and a non-fiction writer, as well as a regular contributor to The New Yorker, Vogue, Holiday, and Town and Country. He also painted murals in a bar at the Carlyle Hotel that still bears his name. Throughout his life he was a celebrated bon vivant who experienced a rich variety of people, places and personalities. He even sold a screenplay to MGM, and planned to collaborate on a book with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Late in his life Bemelmans became a serious painter, and today his work can be found in such leading museums as the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the Musee National d'Art of Paris, and many others. In this elegant volume his fascinating life story is told through letters, photographs, sketches, illustrations, paintings and excerpts from both his published writings and his private journals, all selected by his grandson, John Bemelmans Marciano, who has also written a running text to guide the reader through the story. The final part of the book explores Bemelmans' creative process while working on the Madeline books. This handsomely designed and lavishly illustrated book showcases Bemelmans' art and writing and illuminates the relationship between the man and his work.John Bemelmans Marciano lives in New York City.