In seven separate sketches he presents his picture of a man whose life is the key to his creation.

A hundred years after his birth, Georges Remi, better known as Herge, is celebrated for creating Tintin, the dauntless young reporter-hero of this strip cartoon he first introduced in 1929. The Adventures of Tintin remain a constant source of reference throughout this new book, which draws on fresh material found in the extensive archive held by the Studios Herge, as well as a series of interviews with those who knew him intimately, friends, and colleagues who worked with him.

Generously illustrated (color and b&w), this hardcover book examines the life and passions of a man who, despite his international fame, preferred to avoid the limelight, finding inspiration in modern art, the latest scientific developments and world affairs, and seeking enlightenment in Zen Buddhism and philosophy. It considers his role as the European pioneer of the strip cartoon and establishes his role played by contemporary cinema in his development of it, from the slapstick of the 1920s, through the drama and suspense of the pre-war Hitchcock thrillers, to the early works of Steven Spielberg -- the one filmmaker he believed could successfully bring Tintin to the large screen.

Apart from the strip cartoons that made his name, Herge was an accomplished graphic designer and typographer and his -- at times -- highly advance work for advertising is reviewed, as well as his later, less successful, aspirations to become an abstract painter. Not only was he fascinated by modern art, he also became an avid collector. He greatly admired the pop artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein -- buying major works of theirs -- and they in turn paid tribute to him.