Monk!: Thelonious, Pannonica, and the Friendship Behind a Musical Revolution

He is considered one of the greatest jazz musicians of the Twentieth Century, and was contemporaneous with other greats like Coltrane and Ellington; his name was Monk. Some people thought he was a musical genius and others thought he was a fraud; he was also known for his mood swings and odd behavior.

This graphic novel tells the story of Monk through his friendship with Kathleen Annie Pannonica de Koenigswarter, or “Nica,” a Rothschild. Nica supported Monk, both morally and financially. Readers will follow Monk on his journey to make it in New York City—to find the essence of music and to find the music the country needed.

The graphic novel is easy to follow; it tells the story similar to the way Monk would play the piano—in a unique narrative format, with notes and music staff lines everywhere—sometimes in the background and other times in the forefront. Readers will feel the soul and energy of Monk as he plays and the effort he gives to find the music and the beat.