Synopses & Reviews
Martyr or Madman? The Passionate Rebel History Can't Close The Book On.Is this the future of comics? Respectably penning the dowdy pages of history? Don't be fooled. This is one of the hippest comics going and will be a controversial must-have in 2003. Legendary cartoonist Chester Brown reveals in the dusty closet of Canadian history there are some skeletons that won't stop rattling. To some Louis Riel was one of the founding fathers of a nation but to others he was a murderer who nearly tore a country apart. A man so charismatic he was elected to government twice while in exile with a prize on his head--but so impassioned his dramatic behavior cast serious doubts on his sanity. Riel took on the army, the government, the Queen, and even the Church in the name of freedom. Will Riel's visionary democracy ever be enough to defend him from the verdict of history?
Review
"If you love to read a gripping story, if you are awed by the talent of an artist, then look no further: Chester Brown's
Louis Riel is comix history in the making, and with it, history never looked so good."
--The Globe and Mail Book Review
"The starkly told story . . . of a crucial figure in Canada's history--yet one whom most Americans have probably never heard of. It's a credit to Brown's plainspoken artistry and flair for narrative that it's a page-turner till the end." --The Boston Phoenix
"This is an ingenious comic and a major achievement." --Publishers Weekly, starred review
Review
“[Louis Riel] has the thoroughness of a history book yet reads with the personalized vision of a novel.” —Time
“A gripping story . . . Louis Riel is comix history in the making, and with it, history never looked so good.” —The Globe and Mail
“Brown has invented a biographical form unique to his medium.” —The Village Voice
Synopsis
"It has the thoroughness of a history book yet reads with the personalized vision of a novel." -Time
Chester Brown reinvents the comic-book medium to create the critically acclaimed historical biography Louis Riel, winning the Harvey Awards for best writing and best graphic novel for his compelling, meticulous, and dispassionate retelling of the charismatic, and perhaps insane, nineteenth-century Métis leader. Brown coolly documents with dramatic subtlety the violent rebellion on the Canadian prairie led by Riel, who some regard a martyr who died in the name of freedom, while others consider him a treacherous murderer.
Synopsis
A limited-edition reprint of Browns celebrated biography of the Canadian rebelLouis Riel tells the story of the charismatic, and perhaps mad, nineteenth-century Metis leader whose struggle to win rights for his people led to violent rebellion on the nations western frontier. When the collected book appeared in 2003, Brown won widespread critical and industry acclaim for Louis Riel, including two Harvey Awards and inclusion on countless best-of lists. Beyond that, it single-handedly revitalized the biography genre of comics, paving the way for a new generation of artists.
This special tenth anniversary edition features rare supplementary material, including early cover art from the original serialization, pencil studies and draft scripts, poster and catalogue art, and a new essay by critic Sean Rogers.
About the Author
Chester Brown is the cartoonist behind the acclaimed Yummy Fur comic book series, and the author of several graphic novels and memoirs, including Paying for It, Louis Riel, and Ed the Happy Clown. His work has been published around the world. He lives in Toronto, Canada, where he ran for Parliament in the general election as a member of the Libertarian Party of Canada.