Yvain: the Knight of the Lion

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary School, Brunswick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: August 10, 2017

Review

A graphic novel that uses original text from medieval France, written by Chretien de Troyes, to tell a story of chivalry and valor. During the time when superstition and magic were the norm and a knight was expected to defend a lady's honor, this book captures the gray area of unrequited love and the toll that keeping an oath could have. Anderson read several translations to capture the de Troyes story. Illustrator Offermann mined imagery, architecture, and illustrative styling directly from medieval France, Switzerland, and Spain. The story includes familiar characters from the King Arthur mythology and at the heart of the story a bond between two knights and the strength of two women. The knights were bound to fight for honor even if it meant leaving those they loved behind (or fighting those they loved). The women were chained to a system where honor and oaths triumphed over free will and feelings. The sepia palette of Offermann perfectly captures the essence of the time period, the swirling emotions of a joust, the exhaustion of a campaign, and the pain of keeping one's word even when it betrays one's heart. An included author's note and illustrator's note is highly informative. For fans of graphic novels and Arthurian legend or medieval stories.

Overall Book Score: very good