The Whale Library by Judith Vanistendael & Zidrou
The Whale Library is a graphic novel narrated by a sea postman. His work is largely unrecognised. People forget that letters are delivered to and fro ships on the high seas. Sea postal workers face strange hazards: pirates, sharks, enemy submarines, dangerous weather, and whales. It’s an encounter with the latter that shapes this story…
A postman for the sea mail service: what a great idea!
“People often forget that mail is sent and received on the high seas as well as on land.”
It’s not any old whale though, it’s a 100,000-year-old storytelling whale being pursued by whalers.
Judith Vanistendael’s illustrations are luminous: the reds and blues against white are striking. Hues deepen to reflect differences in mood, weather, and subject. I love the port scenes, the boats on shore, the yellow wellies, fishing rigamarole, and lighthouses.
Content warning: there is some sexy stuff here: bathtub nudity and frollicking, and images of Caesarean section.
The Whale Library is gorgeous to look at, with tender and fantastical scenes - but at 80 pages, the story was over before my coffee was.
The Whale Library was published by Europe Comics in 2021.
Many thanks to Europe Comics and NetGalley for my advance reading copy.
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