Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo and Me

Washington Post’s Top 10 Graphic Novels 2012

‘An unflinching and frequently unforgiving narrative of what it means to have bipolar disorder’ – John Crace, Guardian

‘Marbles isn’t just a great story; it’s proof that artists don’t have to be tortured to be brilliant.’ – Entertainment Weekly

Shortly before her thirtieth birthday, Forney was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Suffering from (but enjoying) extreme mania, and terrified that medication would cause her to lose creativity, she began a long struggle over many years to find mental stability while retaining her creativity.

Searching to make sense of the popular idea of the ‘crazy artist’, she finds inspiration from the lives and work of other artists and writers who suffered from mood disorders, including Vincent van Gogh, Georgia O’Keeffe, William Styron, and Sylvia Plath. She also researches the clinical aspects of bipolar disorder, including the strengths and limitations of various treatments and medications, and what studies tell us about the conundrum of attempting to “cure” an otherwise brilliant mind.

Darkly funny and intensely personal, Forney’s memoir provides a humorous but authentic glimpse into the effects of a mood disorder on an artist’s work, as she shares her own story through black-and-white graphic images and prose.

Written & illustrated by Ellen Forney – best known for her work on National Book Award-winning The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.