Marc Chagall is a major figure in the history of modern art, his work known and beloved by millions. Yet his personal life, a life painfully enmeshed in many of the great events of the 20th century, from wars and revolutions to exile, has never been adequately explored. In this comprehensive biography, Jackie Wullschläger draws upon wide research, a sophisticated understanding of art and European culture and the skills of an expert writer to do for Chagall what Hilary Spurling has done for Matisse.