Scan barcode
hollyrebeccasmith's review against another edition
3.0
A decent graphic novel about early democracy.
mariugonza's review against another edition
3.0
It's okay, I guess. Not a fan of the drawing, and I felt as if the passing wasn't best, but I still enjoyed
obnorthrup's review against another edition
4.0
Takes an interesting perspective on pivotal events in ancient Greece (that of regular people). I especially appreciated the glossary.
cryo_guy's review against another edition
4.0
Great stuff. I had read their other graphic novel Logicomix about Bertrand Russel, so when I heard this was coming out I was pretty excited. Ancient Greeks!
A few short comments:
Democracy! is much shorter than Logicomix, and in some ways I wished it would've been longer. There are some really neat ways the authors bring the Greek characters to life: Cleisthenes is an worldly aristocratic sophist on par with Plato (or his characters), Isagoras is a sneaky scheming politician ("of reputable family, but I know not where" [thanks Herodotus]), Cleomenes a brute of a Spartan if ever there were one (Isagoras offered his wife to him, you know![ibid.]), Aeschylus sneaks onto stage, a poet only too aware of poetry, and our inspired potter protagonist, Leander, a fictional construct brought to a fictional narrative, embodies the spirit of artistry with Athena to guide him past politics and love to truth (what else?). But because it is short, many of these vivid portraits are mere glimpses leaving you wanting for more.
The truth is, this book is written more like historical fiction or the dramatic retelling of a historical event than the literary display which I'm describing. And for the most part, that is good. The authors' strength lies in the cohesive narrative that develops out of, and then beyond, Herodotus. And so sometimes, lying awake at night, I dream of a different, lengthier Democracy! in which Leander (the potter) speaks to me, rather than of history. But my dreams are not what is at stake here.
Great art, great story, and the skilled use of the historical narratives and features of Ancient Greece make Democracy! enjoyable and interesting and perhaps even inoffensive to those with a critical eye toward historical accuracy. Recommendation: Like graphic novels or Ancient Greece? Go for it.
(Postscript. There's a bit about Dionysus and Apollo doing the Nietzschean thing of humanity. Athena brings the two halves together. Let us forgive them this framing device. It works well enough!)
A few short comments:
Democracy! is much shorter than Logicomix, and in some ways I wished it would've been longer. There are some really neat ways the authors bring the Greek characters to life: Cleisthenes is an worldly aristocratic sophist on par with Plato (or his characters), Isagoras is a sneaky scheming politician ("of reputable family, but I know not where" [thanks Herodotus]), Cleomenes a brute of a Spartan if ever there were one (Isagoras offered his wife to him, you know![ibid.]), Aeschylus sneaks onto stage, a poet only too aware of poetry, and our inspired potter protagonist, Leander, a fictional construct brought to a fictional narrative, embodies the spirit of artistry with Athena to guide him past politics and love to truth (what else?). But because it is short, many of these vivid portraits are mere glimpses leaving you wanting for more.
The truth is, this book is written more like historical fiction or the dramatic retelling of a historical event than the literary display which I'm describing. And for the most part, that is good. The authors' strength lies in the cohesive narrative that develops out of, and then beyond, Herodotus. And so sometimes, lying awake at night, I dream of a different, lengthier Democracy! in which Leander (the potter) speaks to me, rather than of history. But my dreams are not what is at stake here.
Great art, great story, and the skilled use of the historical narratives and features of Ancient Greece make Democracy! enjoyable and interesting and perhaps even inoffensive to those with a critical eye toward historical accuracy. Recommendation: Like graphic novels or Ancient Greece? Go for it.
(Postscript. There's a bit about Dionysus and Apollo doing the Nietzschean thing of humanity. Athena brings the two halves together. Let us forgive them this framing device. It works well enough!)
grid's review against another edition
5.0
I feel like this should be required reading for high school history. Or maybe civics.
In particular, the afterward conveys a really great perspective on the nature of historical truth.
This is violent, but I'm tempted to read it to my 6-year old anyway, as I think it would spark her thinking about the voting she sees us do in a different (better framed) light.
In particular, the afterward conveys a really great perspective on the nature of historical truth.
This is violent, but I'm tempted to read it to my 6-year old anyway, as I think it would spark her thinking about the voting she sees us do in a different (better framed) light.
michael_k's review against another edition
4.0
Μια πολύ ωραία απόδοση των κρίσιμων για την διαμόρφωση της Αθηναϊκής δημοκρατίας χρόνων από το Σόλωνα μέχρι και τη μάχη του Μαραθώνα, από την οπτική γωνία ενός απλού αλλά σκεπτόμενου πολίτη.
mimyexplore's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
4.5
Me ha gustado mucho, los dibujos están súper bien. El desarrollo de la trama también me ha gustado, es sencillo y eficaz. La verdad que se lee en un ratito y es muy agradable su lectura.
chadstep's review against another edition
3.0
Challenging—I believe this is a translation from the Greek; nonetheless, the storytelling is complex, layered and historical fiction. I appreciated the graphic novel format to better illustrate the setting through clothing, architecture, and art of the time period. Not sure who I would recommend this to—the beginning scholar, the historical fiction enthusiast, the Greek culture fan, the graphic novel lover—but it covers a lot of bases and ticks a lot of boxes I don’t regularly get to.