Banksy The Man Behind the Wall

Banksy, who keeps such a distance from the limelight, hides his name and face so thoroughly, and gives interviews only via email, is surprisingly famous/renowned.

From a common graffiti artist from Bristol, Banksy's works now fetch six-figure sums at auctions and adorn the walls of celebrities. The emergence of a new Banksy becomes national news, people queue for hours for his latest exhibition, and his film "Exit Through the Gift Shop" is nominated for an Oscar. How did Banksy, who transformed from an extraordinary street kid into a national treasure, reach this point?

In this - unofficial and unauthorized - first book about Banksy's life and world, Will Ellsworth-Jones pieces together the clues to decipher a figure accused of being a vandal yet applauded for his extraordinary nature.

"A witty and remarkable portrait of a unique artist, obsessed with control to protect his own myth, a ruthless capitalist."
Independent on Sunday

"A fascinating story of a seductive art phenomenon."
Sunday Times

"A relentless pursuit of the money and identity of a character tormented between art and commerce."
Guardian
(From the Promotional Bulletin)