The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia

Although the graphic novel format of ‘The Red Virgin’ looked lovely, it really whetted my appetite for a more in-depth biography of Louise Michel. [b:The Women Incendiaries|701743|The Women Incendiaries|Edith Thomas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1354902967s/701743.jpg|688043] (which I recommend very highly) included a fair bit about her role in the Paris Commune, but not much about her subsequent life. Whereas, somewhat to my surprise, I found this book situated the fall of the Commune on page 66, so that plenty of time was also given to Michel’s life in exile and return to Europe. The art was distinctive and vivid, in part because the only colour used was red and that sparingly. I found the pages depicting Michel's funeral show more especially moving. I liked the inclusion of Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the feminist pioneer known for [b:The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories|99300|The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories|Charlotte Perkins Gilman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327909237s/99300.jpg|1467808]. (I also appreciated that Perkins Gilman’s racism was not glossed over.) The discussions of utopian literature were great, although I would have liked more focus on the debates about practical policy that took place during the brief existence of the Commune. There wasn’t much of a sense of continuity between the Commune as an attempt at utopian government and subsequent utopian writing. Perhaps this was deliberate?

The annotations at the end included some fascinating facts and references. While I’d known that Victor Hugo spoke up in defence of the Communards, and Louise Michel specifically, during their trials, I hadn’t realised the two were correspondents. Better still, Michel apparently signed her letters to Hugo as Enjolras, angelic leader of the barricade uprising in [b:Les Misérables|24280|Les Misérables|Victor Hugo|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411852091s/24280.jpg|3208463]! I also learned that she treated her sentence of transportation as an opportunity for a scientific expedition, which is deeply impressive. Whilst in New Caledonia, she tried to defend and support the native people, then continued to agitate once the Communards were pardoned and she was allowed home. In short, Louise Michel is an incredibly inspiring historical figure and I really enjoyed this beautifully presented account of her life and work. show less

70/2021 The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia, by Mary M Talbot and Bryan Talbot, is a biographical sketch in comics form ("graphic novel") of French feminist anarchist utopian Louise Michel, concentrating on the Paris Commune of 1870-71 and her imprisonment on New Caledonia from 1873-80. It begins with quotes by Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett, a dedication to Iain (M) Banks, and an extended cameo appearance by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. What more could any intellectual utopian want even in the best of all possible worlds?! And, of course, being by the Talbots it has Bryan's stunning art backing up Mary's punchy script, with the addition of two pages of source texts and fourteen pages of Mary's annotations (the story works perfectly show more without these so I read them afterwards). Although the addition of four pages about Franz Reichelt seemed a bizarre choice of framing story as Louise Michel had been dead for seven years when Reichelt achieved lasting fame for his spectacularly foolish death.

Oscar Wilde: "A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not even worth glancing at".

Samuel Beckett: "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." show less

https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3067857.html

A biography in graphic form of French revolutionary feminist Louise Michel, who, to my shame, I had not previously heard of. Actually it is more of a portrait than a biography, concentrating on two particular periods of her life - the Paris Commune, and her subsequent exile in New Caledonia where she horrified and disgusted her comrades by taking sides with the indigenous islanders. The argument is interestingly made that her politics links with the Utopian literature of the day - Edward Bellamy in particular, also Charlotte Perkins Gilman appears in the framing narrative, also Victor Hugo and H.G. Wells. (Also, a chap who jumped off the Eiffel Tower which is less of an obvious fit.) Bryan show more Talbot’s art is subdued but also angry in places. I learned a lot. show less

La historia de Louise Michel y un poco de historia de Francia, contando la historia insurreccional de la Comuna de París durante un poco más de 3 meses en 1871.
La deportación de Michel a Nueva Caledonia la convierte en colaboradora de la liberación de esta colonia francesa. Finalmente vuelve a París donde muere de una pulmonía. Anarquista, feminista y educadora.