At nineteen he moved to Toronto where, in 1983, he began self-publishing his work in photocopied mini-comics under the title Yummy Fur. The book was endorsed by significant figures in the sex worker rights movement, including Tracy Quan, Annie Sprinkle, and Maggie McNeill, bolstering its standing as a polemic that addresses important issues regarding sex work.īrown was born in Montreal, Canada, on May 16, 1960, and grew up in the nearby suburb of Chateauguay. An autobiographical recounting of Brown's experiences paying prostitutes for sex, it won both praise and condemnation. The book won Harvey Awards for Best Writer and Best Graphic Album and was featured on Quill and Quire's list of the five best Canadian non-fiction books of the year and on The Globe and Mail's list of the 100 best books of the year.īrown's next graphic novel, the controversial Paying for It, was also cited by The Globe and Mail as one of the best books of the year. The former won widespread critical acclaim for its compelling, meticulously researched portrayal of Riel, the charismatic nineteenth century Métis leader, a crucial figure in Canadian history. (Nov.Chester Brown is best known for his two recent non-fiction graphic novels, Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography (2003) and Paying for It: A Comic-Strip Memoir About Being a John (2011).

This is an ingenious comic and a major achievement. Instead, Brown calmly lets his story unfold, making the reading process deeply affecting.

All of this will hook readers' minds and eyes, but never tell them what to think or feel. He brilliantly renders a lengthy courtroom sequence by setting figures against a black background, heightening the tension of the events by employing minimal effects. And while the book concerns imperialism, empire, nationalism and the chaos that results, Brown maintains a still, almost silent atmosphere. Brown doesn't deviate from a six-panel grid for the entire book, telling his story in a cartoon realism style reminiscent of Little Orphan Annie Not surprisingly, this request is denied, and the conflict is set in motion that ultimately consumes Riel's life. Riel is bilingual and becomes a de facto leader for the Red River Settlement, demanding the right for them to govern themselves within Canada. The area is inhabited by the French-speaking Métis, of mixed Indian and white ancestry, who are looked down upon by the Canadians. The story begins in 1869, with the sale of the independent Red River Settlement area of what's now Canada to the Canadian government.

Over five years in the making, Brown's work is completely realized here, from the strikingly designed two-color cover to the cream-colored paper and pristinely clear drawings. Brown's exploration of the life of a fictional 19th-century Canadian revolutionary Riel is a strong contender for the best graphic novel ever.

Louis riel by chester brown