Shrek! is a fantasy comedy picture book published in 1990 by American book writer and cartoonist William Steig, about a repugnant green monster who leaves home to see the world and ends up marrying an ugly princess. The book was generally well received upon publication, with critics praising the illustrations, originality, and writing. Critics have also described Shrek as an antihero and noted the book's themes of satisfaction and self-esteem. The book served as the basis for the first Shrek film (2001) and DreamWorks Animation's popular Shrek film series starring Mike Myers over a decade after its publication. Source: Wikipedia (en)