From Our Continental Correspondent - the Libris Prize for Literature
The Libris Prize for Literature is one of the most prestigious literary awards for works in the Dutch language, not in the least since it involves a total amount of 50,000 Euros. Modelled after the Booker Prize (for those outside the UK that's one of the major British literary awards, unlikely we will see [...]
Wim
Books Graphic Novels Comics and cartoons Awards
Thu, 13 Mar 2008 08:45:45 +0000
The Libris Prize for Literature is one of the most prestigious literary awards for works in the Dutch language, not in the least since it involves a total amount of 50,000 Euros. Modelled after the Booker Prize (for those outside the UK that's one of the major British literary awards, unlikely we will see SF or graphic novels on there in the near future though! - Joe), It's been awarded yearly since 1994 to the best original work in Dutch of the past year, across genres and formats. A longlist is chosen from works that are being deposited by publishers. From that list a jury selects the shortlist, from which in turn the winner is selected.
This year, something strange has happened. From all the books on the long list, the jury has chosen to add one book to its shortlist that's slightly different from the rest, in that it actually contains words and pictures: "Verder", by Flemish cartoonist Marc Legendre. Yes, you heard it right, for the first time in the history of literary awards in the Dutch language a graphic novel has been shortlisted for such a major literary award.
(cover to Verder, published by Atlas, written and illustrated (and (c)) Marc Legendre)
Marc Legendre is not a new name in the world of Dutch comics. Earlier he was responsible for the very anarchic and satirical comic "Biebel", which started out as a plain children's comic but evolved in a biting satire on all aspects of modern life. He also wrote "Sam" for Jan Bosschaert, which was one of the first comics to feature a strong young woman as the hero, and which did not purely play out her sex appeal (although Bosschaert's art made it damn hard to not notice said appeal).
(cover to volume 27 of Marc Legendre's Biebel)
"Verder" is the second graphic novel by Legendre, after "Finistere", and both were published by the quite upmarket literary publisher Atlas. For the average reader, the book, like its predecessor, is not that easy I'm afraid, since Legendre is not in it for the story. He tries to analyse and philosophise (if that is a word) about aspects of the human condition that he finds fascinating. In "Verder", he looks at cruelty, which manifests itself in different amounts on a daily basis, whether it's a war or simply arguments and fights between two people.
Legendre's style is also quite different from what's commonly expected from a graphic novel. Rather than drawing his illustrations, he picks and mixes techniques and styles as is required by the story (sort of like Bill Sienkiewicz or Dave McKean are prone to do as well). Often he will start from photographs, which he then distorts and modifies as he sees fit. It certainly makes critics and other know-it-alls scratch their heads, because, after all, isn't this a bit too easy? The Flemish Literary Fund, a government body that gives funds and grants to writers, thought that in Legendre's books there's just not enough drawings, and that he doesn't really use a "coherent set of styles and techniques".
(scene from Marc Legendre's Verder , published Atlas, (c) Marc Legendre)
I'm sure that Marc Legendre won't mind that criticism, but I'm also sure that he wouldn't mind better sales. "Finistere" sold about 1,200 copies, and "Verder" isn't doing that much better. Let's hope that the Libris Prize changes this, and that perhaps an international career beckons for this at least quite original cartoonist.
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