This book explores the life and work of Francis Bacon, one of the 20th century's most significant painters, who largely eschewed commentary on his own art. The book accompanies a major retrospective exhibition and features in-depth discussions by art historians Dennis Farr and Sally Yard, and Bacon's friend and biographer Michael Peppiatt. It delves into the artist's intense and unsettling body of work, shedding new light on his creative life and methods through essays and interviews. Farr also provides detailed analysis of each artwork featured in the exhibition.

This book serves as a comprehensive companion to a major retrospective exhibition of Francis Bacon's work, offering a platform for scholarly interpretation that the artist himself largely avoided. The inclusion of essays by art historians Dennis Farr and Sally Yard, alongside insights from biographer Michael Peppiatt, provides a multi-faceted view of Bacon's challenging oeuvre. The inclusion of direct interviews with the artist offers a rare glimpse into his own thoughts, while Farr's detailed catalogue entries ground the exhibition in critical analysis. The work aims to illuminate Bacon's creative process and the impact of his disturbing imagery on the art world.