Deogratias: A Tale of Rwanda - Softcover

Stassen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1596431032 ISBN 13: 9781596431034

Publisher: First Second, 2006

Synopsis

This is the story of a boy caught up in an unthinkable horror; a major achievement of storytelling and artistry. This is the harrowing tale of the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda, as seen through the eyes of a boy named Deogratias. He is an ordinary teenager, in love with a girl named Benigne, but Degratias is a Hutu and Benigne is a Tutsi who dies in the genocide, and Deogratias himself plays a part in her death. As the story circles around but never depicts the terror and brutality of an entire country descending into violence, we watch Deogratias in his pursuit of Benigne, and we see his grief and descent into madness following her death, as he comes to believe he is a dog. Told with great artistry and intelligence, this book offers a window into a dark chapter of recent human history and exposes the West's role in the tragedy. Stassen's interweaving of the aftermath of the genocide and the events leading up to it heightens the impact of the horror, giving powerful expression to the unspeakable, indescribable experience of ordinary Hutus caught up in the violence. Difficult, beautiful, honest and heartbreaking, this is a major work by a masterful artist.

About this title

About the Author

Stassen won the coverted Goscinny prize for Deogratias and has developed other stories that offer a window into African daily life. His artwork is remarkably distinctive and eminently readable. He lives in Rwanda with his family.

Edition details

• Publisher: First Second
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1596431032
• ISBN 13: 9781596431034
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 96