"'Normal Rockwell's subject is average America' ... These words from the text by Thomas S. Buechner, distinguished director of the Brooklyn Museum, explain Rockwell's enduring charm. And this volume, with is superb reproductions, including two, three, and even four-page spreads and foldouts in full color, finally does justice to an artist whose works have most often been seen only in the impermanent mediums of magazines and calendars. The author discusses Rockwell's life and career, from his early training, through the development of his mature style, to his recent interest in the major social issues of our time ... Thanks to his exhaustive study of Rockwell and his work, Buechner is able to draw a lively word-picture of an extraordinarily interesting personality -- who also happens to be a unique phenomenon in the history of art -- and places him in the great tradition of the story-telling artists of the past ... This rich collection provides an unparalleled panorama of nearly sixty years of American social history, seen from Rockwell's enormously popular point of view. A full index of the works by category helps to make the volume an invaluable addition to the history of American illustration."--Jacket.