Calling all theater geeks! Where are the Dickens lovers? Find them and tell them about this graphic novel. Fagin the Jew might just catch their eye. Will Eisner uses the graphic novel as the vehicle to tell the story of Fagin from the Charles Dickens classic, Oliver Twist. Theater lovers will also recognize Fagin from Lionel Bart's, Oliver!. In Fagin the Jew, Eisner gives us an in-depth biography of Fagin. He also address the issues of religious and racial prejudice, the cruelty of fate, and the even greater cruelty of man. Eisner includes very informative foreword and afterword sections that help explain the
author's reasons, intentions, and resources for this title.
As a graphic novel, this is a beautifully done piece of work. The drawings are first rate, characters well formed, London looks as I would have imagined it during the era of Oliver Twist and Fagin, and the sepia wash lends a solemn feel to the pages. This not a story of happily ever after and those looking for a lighthearted tale, need to keep on looking. Fagin's life is portrayed as one of misfortune, prejudice, and betrayal.
While I found this book interesting, it is not one I would read again for fun. I appreciated the gorgeous art and think most students, especially those into art, cartooning, and graphic novels, will appreciate it as well. The storyline, however, is a difficult one due to the issues Eisner addresses. Handselling this novel to theater lovers, artists, European and Jewish history buffs, and Dickens readers may be the way to go. I just don't see you average high schooler checking this title out on a regular basis. Including it in a group of books addressing prejudice, Dickens, and European history would also be a good bet. I am not entirely convinced that
this would be a good stand alone book in a booktalk, I really think it needs to be part of a grouping of books. I would recommend this book for high school students. Finally, Eisner was a well respected, highly honored artist and author, but Ifound no awards specifically for this work.
I would share the first few pages of the book, especially the section where, as a mere tot, Fagin learns to cheat and swindle passersby at the feet of none other than his father. I have scanned these in and included them, so you can see the lovely artwork and read the text, since I cannot do it justice.
