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meteordustThere are some authors that for me are "buy on sight". Turns out Riyoko Ikeda is one of them.
Her most famous work, The Rose of Versailles, is a manga classic. I had never heard of Claudine, but my attention was arrested by the cover artwork, in that unmistakable style. It took only a few minutes to go through the process of, "Should I get it? I didn't plan to get it. Okay, I'll get it!"
First published in 1978, and set in early 20th century France, Claudine is the story of a young man assigned female at birth, and his tumultuous life and loves. Narrated by the psychiatrist who becomes his friend and confidant, it follows Claudine from his idyllic childhood in a country town, to his university student days in Paris, and his relationships with the various women in his life. It contains all the passion, drama, and longing that are hallmarks of a Riyoko Ikeda work. And woven throughout is Claudine's struggle to find true love and true acceptance.
The artwork is gorgeous. The characters are compelling. The story is deeply moving. Some aspects show its age: the narrator uses female pronouns for Claudine, and the story is ultimately tragic. Even so, it is told with great empathy and sensitivity - affirming his identity, and indicting the society that would not understand him.
I can only imagine how groundbreaking it must have been forty years ago. Things have changed so much in that time, and yet Claudine's story still feels like it could have happened today. It makes me think about how far we've come, and how far we still have to go.
Her most famous work, The Rose of Versailles, is a manga classic. I had never heard of Claudine, but my attention was arrested by the cover artwork, in that unmistakable style. It took only a few minutes to go through the process of, "Should I get it? I didn't plan to get it. Okay, I'll get it!"
First published in 1978, and set in early 20th century France, Claudine is the story of a young man assigned female at birth, and his tumultuous life and loves. Narrated by the psychiatrist who becomes his friend and confidant, it follows Claudine from his idyllic childhood in a country town, to his university student days in Paris, and his relationships with the various women in his life. It contains all the passion, drama, and longing that are hallmarks of a Riyoko Ikeda work. And woven throughout is Claudine's struggle to find true love and true acceptance.
The artwork is gorgeous. The characters are compelling. The story is deeply moving. Some aspects show its age: the narrator uses female pronouns for Claudine, and the story is ultimately tragic. Even so, it is told with great empathy and sensitivity - affirming his identity, and indicting the society that would not understand him.
I can only imagine how groundbreaking it must have been forty years ago. Things have changed so much in that time, and yet Claudine's story still feels like it could have happened today. It makes me think about how far we've come, and how far we still have to go.
