book data
225 ratings, 3.96 average rating, 29 reviews
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published
January 1st 2004
by Drawn and Quarterly
binding
Hardcover, 260 pages
isbn
1896597637
(isbn13: 9781896597638)
description
Martyr or Madman? The Passionate Rebel History Can't Close The Book On.
Is this the future of comics? Respectably penning the dowdy pa...more
Is this the future of comics? Respectably penning the dowdy pa...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 286)
Read in October, 2008
i am reading this for the second time. the illustrations are so great, subtle and effective, really match the tone of the story. such a complicated historical figure, and thank goodness for a biography that lets all sides show thru! i am fascinated by the lines between passionate activism, madness, and religious fervor. anyone read anything by or about simone weil? similar themes. also, if you like this read my friend kerry byrne's biographical comic about Lily Allen, a russian immigrant who...more
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Read in November, 2008
Re-reading this before giving it to a friend...it's still amazing. And Chester Brown was a young guy when he did this!
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2 comments
I love this book. His drawing style is so clear and simple and sparse. I know nothing about Canadian history, but this story rings true with all colonial histories that I know of. The characters as drawn (created) by Brown feel very real, and I was completely drawn into (there's that word again) the struggle for land, and the feeling of impending doom and political inevitability. It also didn't feel in any way anachronistic, which is crucial to creating a sense of the historical tangibility/real...more
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Read in May, 2008
It's one of those 'old west rebels and natives fight for the land they own,' but in Canada! Apparently a fur company was given ("given") 60% of the land that is currently Canada. It's a true historical story which, in typical Ches Brown fashion, is thoughtfully researched with an impressive bibliography.
The relationship the 'half-breeds' (French who married Canadian natives) and the British government is just crazy. It's a really interesting story, and the drawings are as detailed...more
The relationship the 'half-breeds' (French who married Canadian natives) and the British government is just crazy. It's a really interesting story, and the drawings are as detailed...more
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Read in January, 2005
recommends it for:
pumpkins
like i said with the niels bohr one, i love graphic biographies. good stuff and you are learning something. especially canadian history, which was completely left out of my american education. i don't even know the territories. we learned that it was a country and i can recognize the flag. i've been to vancouver and the canadian side of niagra falls, but i didn't learn a lot while there.
therefore read this and learn, plus enjoy nice drawings. i love drawings. did you know that?
therefore read this and learn, plus enjoy nice drawings. i love drawings. did you know that?
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Read in September, 2007
One of the best fictional biographies I've ever read: only Gore Vidal's Burr comes to mind as a competitor. Chester Brown is obviously sympathetic to his subject, but still manages to portray Riel as a waffling shirker and a strategic moron during his biggest moments. Many events -- such as the execution of Thomas Scott or Sir John A. MacDonald's drunken midnight strategery -- are portrayed with stark and stunning beauty. This is what comics are all about.
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280 pages - This is a biography in the form of a graphic novel about a Canadian revolutionary named Loius Riel. I realized after reading this that I am so ignorant of Canadian history. The pictures are great, and the author writes the dialogue in a way that makes everyting seem real. I wish there were more biographies like this because it is such an easy way to learn a lot of information in a short amount of time. - Mr. O'Shell
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Read in February, 2007
recommends it for:
People who like graphic novels, memoirs, revolutionaries and learning the un-told history.
So this is the graphic biography of a Canadian Metis revolutionary who was hung for high treason. It tells the story beautifully. Being that my education on Canada was limited to learning that P.E.I. has good potatoes, I knew next to nothing about this conflict between the Metis (indigenous Canadians mixed with French) and the British. Beautiful simple drawings and a sad, but inspiring story.
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Read in January, 2008
In a perfect world this impeccably drawn, well-researched and written biography would be a minor accomplishment, just another great non-fiction comic. Sadly, this book is a rare accomplishment. There are amazing moments, stark individuals in snowy landscapes, a single white panel among a grid of black. Not a towering masterpiece but a great read.
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Read in December, 2007
Thanks to my American public education I have little knowledge of the history of Canada, much less knowing of Louis Riel. Chester Brown mentions that he took some liberties with some of the events depicted, but to me this graphic novelization of Riel's life seems pretty balanced. I'm interested in learning more about Riel and the Métis.
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I really wanted to like this book because I loved the art and was really interested in the history, but the storytelling was too straight-forward and therefore kind of boring. I'd love to give it another read to see what I'd think, but I lent a friend my copy and never got it back.
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I grew up in Saskatoon not far from Batoche so this was a must read. Brown treats Riel and the Metis cause sypathetically but is perhaps a bit hard on old John A. MacDonald. Good treatment of a series of historical events which few people outside of Canada know anything about.
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Read in May, 2008
A good biography in graphic novel form of once a pariah but now a national hero in Canada. Louis Riel was a metis (half-French, half-native) who fought for the rights of his fellow metis when modern day Winnepeg because a part of Canada.
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recommended to Chaz by:
Either claire or mark
Great art. It's about Canadian history. I didn't think i would be into it and if you asked me why i loved it i wouldnt be able to tell you. Good story, great art. Super quick read. Great place to begin for indie comics.
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Read in January, 2007
Who knew Canada could be interesting? This biography of Louis Riel takes a look at the Canadian hero-turned-Jesus-freak in a beautifully drawn comic strip that breaks history up into digestible, delicious pieces.
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Read in January, 2008
recommended to Heather by:
Todd
This is great. I wish we'd had books like this in high school; it would have made the dozen times I learned about Riel much more interesting! I gave it an extra star for the idea and because I learned a lot.
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
people who like canada and comics
I had read most of Louis Riel in its original comic release but missed a few issues. I'm a huge Chester Brown fan and I think he did a great job with this non-fiction work about the Canadian historical figure.
Very good Canadian history comic book from Chester Brown, who prior to this had dealt mostly in autobiographical and / or silly comics. Interesting and informative. The storytelling is very good.
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
people that like things.
A great argument for making more non-fiction books in comicbook form. Keep the text dry, let the drawings make it human, and keep kids awake in history class.
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Read in September, 2008
recommends it for:
human beings.
This is a book by a Canadian about a Canadian and Canada and general and it manages to not suck.
Not once.
For that reason alone it should be read.
Not once.
For that reason alone it should be read.
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comics (on 21 people's shelves)
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history (on 8 people's shelves)
biography (on 5 people's shelves)
graphicnovels (on 5 people's shelves)
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