The Complete Maus – Art Spiegelman
I’m fascinated by the practice of book banning, and the social and political trends that regularly bring certain titles to the forefront of debate over what reading is indecent for school-aged children.
While racial and LGBTQIA+ themes have long been lightening rods, one of the most surprising developments in recent years is the push to censor historical narratives about the Holocaust.
It goes without saying this is incredibly dangerous and is already proving so. Holocaust denial and distortion is growing globally, and antisemitism is being given a pass at the highest levels of government and media.
“Maus,” Art Speigelman’s groundbreaking graphic novel that recounts his family’s true experiences as Jews in Nazi-controlled Europe, found itself at the center of this debate in 2022 when a school in Tennessee found a few curse words, brief nudity and violence “enabling and promoting” ideas to eighth-graders.
It is a laughably thin argument, as are most when it comes to censorship, driven more by an individuals’ unease with a topic rather than educational merit. As Spiegelman said later “...censors want a kinder, gentler Holocaust they can stand.” Rational people know this narrative doesn’t exist; history should not be sanitized.
As I started to read “My Father Bleeds History” (Book I), I was struck by the criticism that has perpetuated this book since its publication in 1986.
From the animal characterizations that some deem stereotypical (Jews are mice, Nazis are cats and Polish gentiles are pigs) to the dialect, structure and illustration style and similarities to other survivor narratives, it appears people actively find things to dislike.
Is this due to antisemitism? In some instances, likely. For many others, I think the accessible format means it is quite possibly the first raw and unfiltered Holocaust narrative they’ve read, and it makes them uncomfortable so it must be bad.
I’ve given negative reviews to my fair share of books — both fiction and nonfiction — and when something doesn’t work for me I try to analyze why that is. This introspection is incredibly important when the author or story represents a background or viewpoint different from my own. You can still dislike books, but you must acknowledge why you dislike them. And that means you might need to acknowledge and confront personal bias.
I didn’t intend for this review to have a preamble, but I needed to put these words out into the world, because I was deeply affected by “Maus,” and I would hate to see it not be actively championed.
You can disagree or dislike decisions Spiegelman made, but you cannot deny that this is a powerful series that needs — no, it demands — to be read, taught and discussed.
Maus I: My Father Bleeds History
Far smarter people have analyzed the content of this narrative, so I’m not going to rehash or debate Spiegelman’s approach, but I do want to provide context to a few elements that surprised me.
First, the oral tradition structure. Presented as a conversational interview between Art and his father, Vladek, it not only introduces family dynamics but also showcases the long-term repercussions of surviving. Alternating between past and present (in this case the late-1970s), we hit on the most significant moments of Vladek’s experiences rather than every detail. It also allowed Vladek’s voice to come through clearly.
Second, it is unfiltered. There were many sections that made me uncomfortable and not just because of the violence and genocide. Vladek and Art have a complicated relationship, much of which stems from PTSD and the suicide of wife/mother, Anja. These personal debates and discussions, along with raw and candid assessments of people that aided — or prevented — the survival of others, made the story intimate, raw and unsettling. In other words, real.
Unsurprisingly, it was difficult to read many sections. I had to stop frequently to wipe away tears and process the atrocities. While this is a great graphic novel for people who don’t like the format, there’s nothing easy about reading it.
My only complaint is that some of the drawings are difficult to see. Everything is in black and white and rather condensed (think a newspaper comic). This combined with the glossy paper from a mass market printing, means I had to jostle the book frequently to find the right lighting. However, this is not a criticism of the work itself, rather an FYI for other readers.
Rating (story): 5/5 stars
Rating (narration): N/A
Formats: Paperback (personal library)
Dates read: January 2 – January 7, 2023
Multi-tasking: N/A
Maus II: A Survivor’s Tale: And Here My Troubles Began
Arriving five years after “Maus I,” it picks up where the story left off — Vladek’s and Anja’s arrival in Auschwitz — but this time the narrative is split between past and present almost 50/50.
To be honest, I was disappointed by this turn of events, but Spiegelman addresses early what likely caused this approach. Vladek died in 1982, and the sequel was published in 1991. This means the author had to rely on recorded tapes — he estimates at 20 hours worth — to piece together a narrative that was captured while his father was in increasingly failing health and whom he couldn’t cross-reference or probe events with after the fact.
The fractures in the father/son relationship were a large focus, likely because they were unable to be ignored as Vladek’s erratic behavior led to his second wife leaving him and an amplification of his less desirable personality traits. Coupled with Art struggling with fame, it’s a fascinating exploration of generational trauma.
While Vladek’s experiences in Auschwitz and Dachau, with American liberation and post-war rebuilding were captivating, at times it felt like there was a detached observance to the situations versus the lived-in urgency presented in “Maus I.” Maybe it isn’t as noticeable for people that read this as a single volume versus two distinct parts, but, to me, the story felt different, less complete.
“Maus II” may not have impacted me in the same way, but this series is still a must read. It took tremendous trust and honesty to create this art, and it is a powerful testament to the Spiegelman legacy and for readers who can continue to be educated by it for decades to come.
Rating (story): 4/5 stars
Rating (narration): N/A
Formats: Paperback (personal library)
Dates read: January 8 – January 11, 2023
Multi-tasking: N/A
