Maurice Sendak never told his parents that he was gay. “All I wanted was to be straight so my parents could be happy,” he told The New York Times in 2008. “They never, never, never knew,” he said. [1]
American illustrator and writer, Maurice Sendak died from complications of a stroke on 8th May 2012, aged 83. He is best remembered for Where the Wild Things Are, which was a turning point not only in his own career but in the history of children’s books.
In the 1950s, Sendak began freelance illustrating children’s books and quickly gained recognition for his unique style and ability to capture the imagination of young readers. However, it was his own book Where the Wild Things Are, which he both wrote and illustrated, that propelled him to international fame. Published in 1963, the book tells the story of a young boy named Max who is sent to bed without supper and travels to a land of wild monsters. The book won the prestigious Caldecott Medal and has since become a classic of children’s literature.
Throughout his career, Sendak illustrated more than 100 books and wrote more than 20 tackling a range of subjects, from classic fairy tales to more serious topics, such as death and loss. He also worked in various other artistic mediums, including opera and film, designing sets and costumes for the opera productions including The Magic Flute, and collaborating on a live-action film adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are in 2009.
Sendak remained active in his career until his death and received numerous awards and honours throughout his lifetime including the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal (1970), the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (1983), the US National Medal of the Arts (1996), a Library of Congress ‘Living Legend’ medal (2000), and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for Literature (2003), which is considered the world’s largest prize for children’s literature. His work continues to have an impact on the world of children’s literature and illustration.
Sendak died in Connecticut, USA a month before his 84th birthday. In accordance with his wishes, his body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at a location that is not confirmed. Sendak’s partner of 50 years, Eugene Glynn, passed away in 2007.
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