Creators - From Chaucer and Durer to Picasso and Disney

“Johnson emphasizes the rarity of truly visionary artists . . . his approach is unfailingly generous. . . . Genuinely revealing.” —Publishers Weekly

From celebrated journalist and historian Paul Johnson, an enlightening look at the imagination and drive of visionaries who have changed our world.

Paul Johnson believes that creation is a mysterious business which cannot be satisfactorily analyzed. But it can be illustrated in such a way as to bring out its salient characteristics. In this companion to his New York Times bestseller, Intellectuals, he profiles outstanding and prolific creative spirits from a variety of artistic pursuits. Here are essays on such giants as Chaucer and Shakespeare, Mark Twain and T. S. Eliot, Jane Austen and George Eliot; artists such as Dürer, Turner, and the contemporary Japanese master Hokusai; architects Pugin and Viollet-le-Duc; Johann Sebastian Bach; Louis Comfort Tiffany; clothing designers Balenciaga and Dior; and masters of the 20th century, Picasso and Disney.

What drives a creative genius—and what can we learn from the lives of history’s most visionary artists?

Biographical Essays: In-depth profiles of creators from the medieval world to the modern age, including Chaucer, Shakespeare, Bach, and Jane Austen. Art History: A masterful look at the lives of artists who redefined their craft, from the engravings of Dürer and the landscapes of Turner to the revolutions of Picasso and Disney. The Anatomy of Creative Courage: Johnson goes beyond simple biography to analyze the singular drive, intellectual bravery, and persistence required to produce groundbreaking work. Intellectual History: A perfect companion to the author’s acclaimed bestseller, Intellectuals, this volume shifts the focus from critics to creators, celebrating originality and vision.