In 'Everything is complicated', first published in 1963, a number of Sempé's favourite subjects are already clearly in evidence, such as mild-mannered men and women with rich and colourful inner lives and people who choose to express themselves through the medium of the protest sign. There are also cartoons about hapless tourists, pipe-smoking novelists and unruly schoolchildren. Sempé is equally adept at capturing the little indignities (and triumphs) of everyday life as he is at high farce and physical comedy. The pithy captions were translated from the original French by Anthea Bell, who also translated the 'Asterix' comics into English.
