So excited to finally show you what I’ve been secretly working on over the past year or so: a graphic novel adaptation of George Orwell’s essay Such, Such Were the Joys, adapted by writer Sean Michael Wilson and illustrated by yours truly! Here are a few panels from Chapter 1 to give you a flavour of what it’ll look like.
Such, Such Were the Joys is an autobiographical essay about Orwell’s experiences whilst at boarding school between 1911 and 1916. He reflects on “the contradictions of the Edwardian middle and upper class world-view, the psychology of children, and on the experience of oppression and class conflict”.
It’s a fascinating read, especially when you consider it alongside his fictional work - Nineteen Eighty-Four being the most obvious comparison. The everyday squalor he endured is also vividly described, making it perfect material for depicting in comic book form!
The book is being supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and is set to be published by New Internationalist in early 2020. Needless to say, I can’t wait to share more snippets with you over the coming months… so watch this space!