Black Dog: The Dreams of Paul Nash

While this is not McKean's best work, it's an interesting, ambitious book that serves as an introduction to Paul Nash's work and life. I do understand the negative reviews, but I think this work is best read as a teaser for the larger 14-18 Now project, which serves, in part, to explore the legacy of WWI in the British imagination. In lesser hands, this probably would have just been a project flyer, but McKean, always the visionary, decided to create a lasting work of art in its own right. I'm not sure "Black Dog" completely succeeds as a singular work outside of the context of the exhibition, but it certainly did entice me to learn more about Nash and his work. Any McKean meditation on life, death, madness, war, and the nature of art and inspiration is definitely something that is worth reading. Plus, the art, as one might expect, is masterful-- a remarkable stew of styles that oozes atmosphere.

Beautifully illustrated book.

Gorgeous book. This hardcover is 11x17 instead of the magazine sized paperback. Well worth the money.

Beautiful book. But, what else would you expect from Dave McKean?

If the previous reviews are any indication, most readers will be drawn to this book by the name of Dave McKean, not the name of Paul Nash -- and if the negative reviews are any indication, they'll find something rather disappointingly different from what they'd expected. I can understand their feelings ... but as a reader who's as much a devotee of Nash as of McKean, I'd urge them to give this book a second try. It's a fine introduction to the life, work & soul of a wounded, gifted British artist who found personal meaning in the midst of horrific destruction through his art. He deserves to be much better known than he is, and this slim volume may well help in that regard.That said, Dave McKean's art is still a big & worthwhile draw, depicting the psyche of the man expressed by his words in vivid, memorable imagery. He brings both brutal directness & subtle understanding of his subject through varied, beautifully chosen styles of illustration. It's not a story in the usual sense, not a straightforward narrative -- it's a harrowing meditation on war & its effect on human beings, meant to be deeply felt & experienced by the reader. Again, I understand the frustrations of those who wanted something more traditional, more reader friendly -- basically, well-crafted entertainment -- but to my mind, this has more staying power in the end. Highly recommended!

Disclaimer: I've enjoyed everything of Dave McKean's that I've ever read, and in the early 90's he quickly became my favorite Artist. Over the last 25+ years my admiration for his work has never waned. As such, I'm a teeny bit biased when reading his latest work.Black Dog: The Dreams of Paul Nash is really nothing like McKean's previous work. It's an historical fiction based on a real person, Paul Nash, a British photojournalist during World War I. The story twines around Nash's experiences during the war, and its lasting effects on him. The plot is irrelevant - it's the story telling, the dialogue, and the artwork that matter. McKean is a master at choosing the right art style for the particular story, or in this case the particular scene. The story is told in multiple chapters, each rendered in a different style, and then within those chapters are further sub-divisions with their stylistic changes as well: flashbacks, dreams, and hallucinations. In lesser hands, it would have come off as disjointed and patchwork, but in McKean's the effect is one of a greater emotional verisimilitude enhancing the reader's absorption in the story.If I had any critique, it would only be that in the end the story left me a bit cold. I know I will find myself re-reading various chapters and passages, and marveling at certain pages, but I don't know that I would enjoy re-reading the entire book. Of course, the same can be said for many "classics", in my experience, and in the end damages not a whit the overall quality of the work.Highly recommended.Disclosure: I was provided an electronic reader's copy of the book to review.

If you like Dave McKean, you'll LOVE Black Dog. It's a powerful, poignant exploration of the inner workings of an artist. Nash channeled his wartime trauma into works of art that stir the soul. McKean poetically tells the story of Nash's incredible journey and transformation. The artwork is classic McKean, a hypnotic blend of techniques, colors and textures that transport the reader to another reality. The subject matter is gritty and real. The art leaps from the pages and dares you to venture to the tenderest places of the human spirit. Buy this book. You will not regret it!

This is probably the best Dave McKean book I've ever read! I adore his work, but this one really shines. The artwork is BEAUTIFUL and the story is compelling. This is not just a must for McKean fans but a MUST for comic fans in general!

Slightly different from the usual Dave McKean works but certainly a wonderful quality book full of his amazing illustrations and story telling. Found the book more in the style of a french BD than the conventional UK / American graphic novel. The book has little in the way of dialog or text but I found it fairly easy to follow and read, though as with many of his works, it is really the art that carries it for me. Many of the pages would not look out of place in any art gallery though many of the pages were very dark, it was also at times hard to discern the figures (perhaps intentionally). The narrative jumps back and forth a bit but certainly not in any kind of confusing way.The book mainly concentrates on the war years (not surprising considering the commission), except for various visits to Dymchurch, Rye, etc but there are many elements such as creativity from the destruction, how you see the world during and afterwards, the past and moreProbably not my favourite Dave McKean book (which has to be Mr Punch, Pictures that tick, Cages in that order), I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it has certainly has made me go out and find more about Paul Nash. It is definitely a book to re-read and ponder about and it has probably many more depths to discover in subsequent re-readings.

Since this is a bookk which relies on colour illustration, the kindle edition works well on my iPad, but black and white rendition (as in the kindle player) would be inadequate. I have long admired Paul Nash, and this account of his experiences in the first world war was intensely moving, as well as informative. Strongly recommended

Sample images in The Guardian before release had me captivated. I was expecting a lot - and this book did not disappoint in any way. The text is concise, but it is the images that really soar! There is an amazing variety and richness in them. And here isn't a page I wouldn't love to have on my wall. Paul Nash is one of Britain's great artist of the last century, and this book does him justice.

This is an excellent, intelligent and imaginative work. Unfortunately the paperback edition is reduced in size to the extent that legibility us seriously compromised. If you can afford it, get hold of one of the full size, hardback, limited edition copies....they're collectors' pieces!

Best thing is the book design and the content