Mark Rothko

This is a full-length biography of Mark Rothko, arguably one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. Drawing on exclusive access to his personal papers and over 100 interviews with artists, patrons and dealers, the author tells the story of a life in art: the personal costs and professional triumphs, the convergence of genius and ego, culture and commerce, that defined the New York art scene of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s - the world of Abstract Expressionism, of Pollock, Rothko, de Kooning and Kline.

"He's made the tragedy of his subject's life the more poignant."-- New Criterion-- "New Criterion", "This remains beyond question the finest biography so far devoted to an artist of the New York School."--Boston Sunday Globe-- "Boston Globe", "Historically, [Mark Rothko] is a rich work that beautifully sets out the New York art scene of the '30s, '40s, and '50s, giving a palpable sense of this complex, conflicted artistic genius and monumental ego, his colleagues and his period."--Ed Gero, Chicago Reader --Ed Gero "Chicago Reader", "Mr. Breslin's book is, in my opinion, the best life of an American painter that has yet been written. . . . A biographical classic. It is painstakingly researched, fluently written and unfailingly intelligent in tracing the tragic course of its subject's tormented character."--Hilton Kramer, New York Times Book Review --Hilton Kramer "New York Times"

James E. B. Breslin (1936-96) was professor of English at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of From Modern to Contemporary: American Poetry, 1945-1965 and William Carlos Williams: An American Artist.