Overview
Volume 1Ā takes us on a visual tour from the earliest literature through the end of the 1700s. Along the way, we're treated to eye-popping renditions of the human race's greatest epics:Ā Gilgamesh,Ā The Iliad,Ā The OdysseyĀ (in watercolors by Gareth Hinds),Ā The Aeneid,Ā Beowulf,Ā andĀ The Arabian Nights, plus later epicsĀ The Divine ComedyĀ andĀ The Canterbury TalesĀ (both by legendary illustrator and graphic designer Seymour Chwast),Ā Paradise Lost, andĀ Le Morte D'Arthur. Two of ancient Greece's greatest plays are adaptedāthe tragedyĀ MedeaĀ by Euripides and Tania Schragās uninhibited rendering of the very bawdy comedyĀ LysistrataĀ by Aristophanes (the text of which is still censored in many textbooks). Also included is Robert Crumbās rarely-seen adaptation of James BoswellāsĀ London Journal, filled with philosophical debate and lowbrow debauchery.
Religious literature is well-covered and well-illustrated, with the Books of Daniel and Esther from the Old Testament, Rick Gearyās awe-inspiring new rendition of the Book of Revelation from theĀ New Testament, the Tao te Ching, Rumiās Sufi poetry, HinduismāsĀ Mahabharata, and the Mayan holy bookĀ Popol Vuh, illustrated by Roberta Gregory. The Eastern canon gets its due, withĀ The Tale of GenjiĀ (the worldās first novel, done in full-page illustrations reminiscent of Aubrey Beardsley), three poems from Chinaās golden age of literature lovingly drawn by pioneering underground comics artist Sharon Rudahl, theĀ Tibetan Book of the Dead, a Japanese NohĀ play, and other works from Asia.
Two of Shakespeareās greatest plays (King LearĀ andĀ A Midsummer Nightās Dream) and two of his sonnets are here, as are PlatoāsĀ Symposium,Ā Gulliverās Travels,Ā Candide,Ā A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Renaissance poetry of love and desire, andĀ Don QuixoteĀ visualized by the legendary Will Eisner.
Some unexpected twists in this volume include a Native American folktale, an Incan play, Sapphoās poetic fragments, bawdy essays by Benjamin Franklin, the love letters of Abelard and Heloise, and the decadent French classicĀ Dangerous Liaisons, as illustrated by Molly
Crabapple.
Ā
Edited by Russ Kick, The Graphic Canon is an extraordinary collection that will continue with Volume 2: "Kubla Khan" to the Bronte Sisters to The Picture of Dorian Gray in Summer 2012, and Volume 3: From Heart of Darkness to Hemingway to Infinite Jest in Fall 2012. A boxed set of all three volumes will also be published in Fall 2012.
This book title, The Graphic Canon, Vol. 1 (From the Epic of Gilgamesh to Shakespeare to Dangerous Liaisons), ISBN: 9781609803766, by Russ Kick, published by Seven Stories Press (May 22, 2012) is available in paperback. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
Unlike Amazon and other retailers who may also offer The Graphic Canon, Vol. 1 (From the Epic of Gilgamesh to Shakespeare to Dangerous Liaisons) books on their website, we specialize in large quantities and provide personal service, from trusted, experienced, friendly people in Portland, Oregon. We offer a Price Match Guarantee, and QuickQuote form, to make purchasing quick and easy.
Prefer to work with a human being when you order The Graphic Canon, Vol. 1 (From the Epic of Gilgamesh to Shakespeare to Dangerous Liaisons) books in bulk? Our Book Specialists are standing by Monday-Friday 8-5 PST, ready to help!