Description
Book SynopsisWhereas in English-speaking countries comics are for children or adults 'who should know better', in France and Belgium the form is recognized as the 'Ninth Art' and follows in the path of poetry, architecture, painting and cinema.
Trade Review “The [volume] is impressive and the reading rewarding: not only does the author situate most of the major works of the bande dessinée during the twentieth century, he mentions as well the main scholarly books devoted to the study of this genre...The sources are very well documented…There is nothing missing in this book, or maybe just the bandes dessinées themselves, which are too numerous to be included even in a dozen volumes.” · Modern & Contemporary France
“…comics, and French comics in particular, are becoming a hot topic in the academic world.…while giving a context to the visual, [the author] succeeds in keeping close to the comic books and even the specific pictures with which he deals. Hence, the book is full of concrete examples of an incredible variety of styles and themes of Bande dessinée, beautifully and smartly contextualized. Indeed, the analyses Grove provides throughout the book make it a very good tool for the study of French culture.” · H-France Review
“…a well-documented and well-written work that will not only be a valuable resource for research but should also be a livre de chevet for anyone teaching a class linked to BD [bandes desinées]…It should be noted that Grove does not merely recapitulate or synthesize the critical work published in French and English on BD. He also stakes out original and sometimes challenging positions.” · French Studies
"Comics in French is written in a friendly, engaging style. Grove patiently explains and justifies his largely chronological, historical approach at each step of the way, discussing its pros and cons. The book covers a vast number of text/image… [and] is a valuable and very readable new contribution to bande dessiné studies. It deserves a place on the bookshelves of teachers, students and aficionados alike.” · Journal of Graphic Novels & Comics
Table of Contents Figures
Foreword
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Definitions and Component Parts
Chapter 3. Formal Specificity
Chapter 4. Pre-History
Chapter 5. The Nineteenth Century
Chapter 6. The Twentieth Century
Chapter 7. Contemporary BD
Chapter 8. Pop Art or Business Park?
Chapter 9. Consecration of the Ninth Art
Chapter 10. Cultural Studies and Beyond
Chapter 11. Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
