R B Kitaj (b.1932) is recognized universally as a modern master. His powerful, controversial and highly personal paintings, pastels and drawings reflect his unfashionable commitment to the human figure as a subject, and his complex involvement with the art of the past, especially their political and social issues, and his own Jewish identity.

In the third edition of his definitive and much praised monograph on the artist, Marco Livingstone has updated his text to include a survey of Kitaj's work of the 1990s and 20 illustrations of recent works have been added. Virtually all of the illustrations that were in black-and-white in earlier editions are now reproduced in full colour. Kitaj himself completes the new edition with three of his own new 'prefaces'.

This updated edition is a significant extension of the volume's scope, as it provides a more complete picture of the artist's work as a life achievement, as well as greatly enhancing the beauty of the book itself. The previously essential monograph on Kitaj is, in this edition, even more definitive than was ever possible before.