Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography by Chester Brown

Brown, C. (2003). Louis Riel: a comic-strip biography. Montreal, Quebec: Drawn & Quarterly.

Summary:

Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography looks at Canadian history through the live of Louis Riel. The book begins in March of 1869 where the Prime Minister and the Hudson Bay Trading Company are trying to figure out what to do about the Red River Settlement. The Red River Settlement is a group of land settled by the French and Metis (those of French and Indigenous People ancestry), but also has the British slowly infiltrating their land. From there, the reader meets Louis Riel, a Metis, who must fight the politicians, Mounties, extremists, and his own understanding of God, to help the land and the people he loves.

Advisory Information:

Themes:

a.Discrimination: Discrimination is a critical part of this story especially in regards to the French, English and the Metis.

b.Violence: There are numerous examples of Fighting, Vigilantism and Rebellion in the story. While some of the violence is justified, others are not. With most rebellions, justifying violence often comes at a price.

c.Civil Rights: The political and social rights of the Metis is important in the history of Louis Riel.

d.Religion: Religion becomes a focal point in Louis Riel’s life.

Age Recommendation:

I think for readers to understand the political and social nuances of this graphic novel, the reader should be at least 12 years old.

Other Information:

The illustrations were also completed by Chester Brown. He also includes a notes section, bibliography and index.

Reaction:

I think that above all it is the format of this novel that really succeeds. By putting Louis Riel’s biography in a comic form, readers can easily see how events in Canadian history affect Louis Riel’s life and vice versa. The author’s ability to write an intelligent and scholarly text is easy to understand along with the illustrations. Some readers might be overwhelmed with the complexity of the story including its characters and historical events, however most reader should be able to understand the overall significance of the story.