Sempe Highs and Lows

Highs and Lows is the sixth collection of classic illustrations and cartoons by Jean-Jacques Sempé to be published by Phaidon. In this collection, nothing is ever quite what it seems: small villages try to pass themselves off as major urban centers, and roadsigns read "Uptown," "Downtown," and "Don't-Knows." With his uncanny eye for detail, Sempé captures the small rebellions and unexpected dramas of people who are striving to fit in and find their place in the modern world, and of people who would rather be somewhere - anywhere - else.

Jean-Jacques Sempé's wit and wisdom have delighted readers in France and beyond for over forty years. Now, his sharply observed and beautifully drawn cartoons are available in English for the first time. His laconic, perfectly judged texts were translated by Anthea Bell, who also helped bring Asterix the Gaul to the English-speaking world.