Miroslav Sasek (1916-1980) is an author and illustrator from Czechoslovakia. He worked as a painter and illustrator for most of his life. He is best known for a series of books for children titled This Is…. Starting with This is Paris published in 1958, the books he wrote painted a delightful and evocative picture of some of the world’s great cities (and countries!). Having delighted children and adults for more than 50 years they are now being reissued.