Monsieur Marceau: Actor Without Words

by Leda Schubert

Other authorsGérard Dubois (Illustrator)
Hardcover, 2012

Status

Available

Call number

J B MAR

Publication

Flash Point (2012), 40 pages

Description

A visual profile of the iconic mime combines lyrical text with artwork to offer insight into the man behind his famous "Bip the Clown" character and the artistry that enabled him to communicate wordlessly and vibrantly.

Barcode

4123

Language

User reviews

LibraryThing member debnance
This year was the year for fantastic picture book biographies and Monsieur Marceau was one of my favorites. Leda Schubert tells, in simple words, and Gerard Dubois depicts, in quiet pictures, the story of a man with no words. It's all the details of the story---how Marceau loved to talk when he was
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not performing, the story of Marceau leading Jewish children to safety during the war---that the book draws its strength.
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LibraryThing member lillged
Winner of the 2013 National Council of Teachers of English Orbitz Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children. Shubert offers a lovely biography of Marcel Marceau that includes captivating details about his life, including how he helped to save Jewish children from the Nazi invasion of
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France. Gerad Debouis's illustrations are wonderful impressionistic images that capture warmth and intrigue.

Possible Teaching Connection: introductions
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LibraryThing member Sullywriter
An excellent introduction to the world's most famous mime. Compare this title to the recently published Marcel Marceau: Master of Mime by Gloria Spielman (Kar-Ben, 2011).
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Author Leda Schubert and illustrator Gerard DuBois present the life story of celebrated mime Marcel Marceau in this informative and engaging picture-book biography, managing to capture some of the pathos of his early life, as well as the magic of his craft through the simple but expressive text and
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evocative artwork. Born in 1923 as Marcel Mangel, Marceau was a young man when the Nazis occupied France, joining the resistance and becoming involved in many daring activities, from leading groups of Jewish schoolchildren across the border to safety in Switzerland to hiding American parachutists who had landed behind enemy lines. His father, who like many of France's Jews did not survive the war, was killed in a concentration camp. After the war, Mangel took the name Marceau and began to study the art of mime, creating the now famous character of Bip, a tragic-comic character with sad eyes and a penchant for amusing adventures. This character, and Marceau's work as a performer, would eventually become world-famous, entertaining thousands of audiences during the course of his long career.

As someone who knew very little of mime in general or Marcel Marceau in particular - I had been familiar with the name, of course, and recognized the face of "Bip," when I saw him, but that was the extent of my familiarity with the subject - I went in to Monsieur Marceau with no set expectations. I came away immensely impressed, both with the subject of the book, and with its creators. I was particularly struck by the connections Marceau himself drew between his choice of profession, which involved silent communication, and his identity as a Jew, and the son of a victim of the Nazi Final Solution: "The people who came back from the camps were never able to talk about it," Marceau once said, "My name is Mangel. I am Jewish. Perhaps that, unconsciously, contributed towards my choice of silence." Obviously, there is so much more to Marceau than Bip, his "public face," and this excellent book communicates that wonderfully. I appreciated the fact that Schubert was able to communicate so much, factually and emotionally, without drowning her narrative with information. The artwork by Gerard DuBois brilliantly captures the emotion in Schubert's text, skillfully depicting the mixture of sadness and joy that seems to have characterized Marceau's life and art.

All in all, this is a wonderful biography for younger readers, one that manages to be both informative and moving - an afterword gives more details about Marceau - and a beautiful book, artistically speaking. Recommended to children who enjoy biography, or who are interested in mime, theater, and/or Marcel Marceau.
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LibraryThing member rnelson12
This is a great book that uses the illustrations and flowing and moving text to tell a story about a famous person.
LibraryThing member Phil9
Monsieur Marceau was a great book that was part story, and part poem. It was both dark, and light. The story told of events from the Marceau's past which shaped his future, such as fleeing kids from France to the safety of Switzerland, and his father dying in the concentration camps (the dark
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parts). It gave insight to his voiceless future as a mime.

I enjoyed how the book started with the history of Marceau growing up, changing his name, and starting to entertain people through miming. Although it started out somewhat dark, the words changed into more poetry form, and had a much lighter tone to them. It told of Marceau's future life entertaining hundreds of thousands of people all over the world, and it seemed as if he was a rather funny and quirky sole, despite some of the sad scenes he performed on stage.

The illustrations in this book were fairly dark I thought, both in color and context. They seemed somewhat scary at times, and didn't really depict the funny, good natured side that Marceau seemed to have.
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LibraryThing member Mad.River.Librarian
Beautiful biography of a man not too many children know about these days. But boy, do they love to say his name and do they ever want to learn how to mime. Great introduction to one of the greatest artists the world has known.
LibraryThing member breksarah
This book is the enchanting tale of how man because a mime and the characters and actions he portrays. It is wonderfully illustrated and light-hearted. I would use this book for first or second graders.
LibraryThing member joycecafe
Marcel Marceau, the famous mime, was born Marcel Mangel in 1923 in France. He loved Charlie Chaplin and wanted to be like him, so at a young age, he started doing mime for his friends. At age 16, as WWII began, his family was forced to move. He later joined the French underground to resist the
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Nazis and led hundreds of Jewish children to safety in Switzerland. He changed his name to Mangel to Marceau so that people wouldn't know he was Jewish. His father died in a concentration camp and admitted that his choice of silence may have been inspired by the silence of the Jewish people who did return from the camps. After the war he studied mime, creating Bip, with his smashed stovepipe hat, red carnation, white face, red mouth, and drawn, sad eyes. His entertaining performances made him famous, as he performed alone, without words, but moving and acting as though he was interacting with invisible props. Offstage, he loved to talk, and he performed all around the world for all kinds of audiences.
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LibraryThing member acbanis
This is the true story of the famous mime Monsieur Marceau. He was gifted at entertaining crowds and won many awards for his talents. His family life changed when he was sixteen, but he kept entertaining and it paid off in the end.
LibraryThing member ekrynen
Monsieur Marceau was the most famous mime in the world. This biography goes deep into the trials that he faced and the reader can't help but admire him. Kids would enjoy the history and inspiration brought up in this story.
LibraryThing member JessicaLeupold
Wonderful! The book seamlessly combines art and information into one very wonderful biography about Marcel Marceau. The writing is easily readable and both informative and a delight to read. The end includes an activity to do with children in which they can practice the art of mime. Not only a
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great book to introduce children to the art of mime and using ones body for expressing themselves, but also a starting point for a discussion of World War II.
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LibraryThing member Emackay24
The biography of Marcel Marceau, the most famous mime of all time, but also a brave freedom fighter in World War II amidst a myriad of other accomplishments.
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
A picture book with gorgeous paintings that tells the life story of Marcel Marceau, someone that I have never given much thought too before. It is amazing how popular and famous he really was. His life was also much more difficult that I thought it would be. I never realized he worked for the
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French Underground in World War II. There is an author's note at the back of the book that tell's Marceau's story with less rhyming. There are also great ideas for how kids can practice being a mime.
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
A picture book with gorgeous paintings that tells the life story of Marcel Marceau, someone that I have never given much thought too before. It is amazing how popular and famous he really was. His life was also much more difficult that I thought it would be. I never realized he worked for the
Show More
French Underground in World War II. There is an author's note at the back of the book that tell's Marceau's story with less rhyming. There are also great ideas for how kids can practice being a mime.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
A picture book with gorgeous paintings that tells the life story of Marcel Marceau, someone that I have never given much thought too before. It is amazing how popular and famous he really was. His life was also much more difficult that I thought it would be. I never realized he worked for the
Show More
French Underground in World War II. There is an author's note at the back of the book that tell's Marceau's story with less rhyming. There are also great ideas for how kids can practice being a mime.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
A picture book with gorgeous paintings that tells the life story of Marcel Marceau, someone that I have never given much thought too before. It is amazing how popular and famous he really was. His life was also much more difficult that I thought it would be. I never realized he worked for the
Show More
French Underground in World War II. There is an author's note at the back of the book that tell's Marceau's story with less rhyming. There are also great ideas for how kids can practice being a mime.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Atroesch
I love this book! it is such a fun and unique story. I think this would be a great addition to a history lesson. I like the illustrations and the author's prose.
LibraryThing member npetzold
This is the amazing story of the very talented Marcel Marceau, and outlines his life as a mime and Jewish artist in Europe during WWII.
LibraryThing member Salsabrarian
I can see this being presented in a young dramatic arts class followed by everyone doing the suggested miming activities in the back of the book. A solid, simple introduction for children to a famous artist although references to Nazis, concentation camps and Jews during WW2 will require some
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backstory.
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LibraryThing member mirikayla
Fun pictures, and a good summary of Marceau's life. He was part of the French Resistance, which surprised me, and his father died in a concentration camp. He changed his last name so it wouldn't give him away as a Jew during the Holocaust.

"My name is Mangel. I am Jewish. Perhaps that,
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unconsciously, contributed towards my choice of silence."
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ISBN

1596435291 / 9781596435292
Page: 0.6165 seconds