NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 8226 For the first time ever8212a comprehensive biography of one of the twentieth century8217s most innovative creative artists: the incomparable, irreplaceable Jim Henson He was a gentle dreamer whose genial bearded visage was recognized around the world, but most people got to know him only through the iconic characters born of his fertile imagination: Kermit the Frog, Bert and Ernie, Miss Piggy, Big Bird The Muppets made Jim Henson a household name, but they were just part of his remarkable story This extraordinary biography8212written with the generous cooperation of the Henson family8212covers the full arc of Henson8217s alltoobrief life: from his childhood in Leland, Mississippi, through the years of burgeoning fame in America, to the decade of international celebrity that preceded his untimely death at age fiftythree Drawing on hundreds of hours of new interviews with Hensons family, friends, and closest collaborators, as well as unprecedented access to private family and company archives, Brian Jay Jones explores the creation of the Muppets, Henson8217s contributions to Sesame Street and Saturday Night Live, and his nearly tenyear campaign to bring The Muppet Show to television Jones provides the imaginative context for Henson8217s nonMuppet projects, including the richly imagined worlds of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth8212as well as fascinating misfires like Henson8217s dream of opening an inflatable psychedelic nightclub An uncommonly intimate portrait, Jim Henson captures all the facets of this American original: the master craftsman who revolutionized the presentation of puppets on television, the savvy businessman whose dealmaking prowess won him a reputation as 8220the new Walt Disney,8221 and the creative team leader whose collaborative ethos earned him the undying loyalty of everyone who worked for him Here also is insight into Henson8217s intensely private personal life: his Christian Science upbringing, his love of fast cars and expensive art, and his weakness for women Though an optimist by nature, Henson was haunted by the notion that he would not have time to do all the things he wanted to do in life8212a fear that his heartbreaking final hours would prove all too well founded An upclose look at the charmed life of a legend, Jim Henson gives the full measure to a man whose joyful genius transcended age, language, geography, and culture8212and continues to beguile audiences worldwide NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BOOKPAGE8220Jim Henson vibrantly delves into the magnificent man and his Muppet methods: It8217s an absolute mustread82218212Neil Patrick Harris 8220An exhaustive work that is never exhausting, a credit both to Jones8217s brisk style and to Henson8217s exceptional life 82218212The New York Times 8220[A] sweeping portrait that is a mix of humor, mirth and poignancy 82218212Washington Independent Review of Books8220A meticulously researched tome chockfull of gems about the Muppets and the most thorough portrait of their creator ever crafted 82218212Associated Press