Sally Heathcote: Suffragette by the Costa Award Winners Kate Charlesworth and Mary and Bryan Talbot is our latest recommendation. In a world where we sometimes take our civil rights for granted, it’s important to remember how much people suffered and struggled to make sure we wouldn’t have to. Set during the early 1900s and the campaign for female suffrage, this story brings the fight to the forefront of our minds. Beautifully interwoven with Sally Heathcote’s personal story, Suffragette has a large cast of characters. You might struggle a little with keeping track of the players, but Sally’s red head of hair keeps you in the loop and the pace of the narrative is pleasant and smooth.
The graphic novel’s artwork is mostly black-and-white with grey tones, except for the pops of colour, as demonstrated on the cover. Sally’s hair is a brilliant shock of orange and the suffragette colours – purple, green and white – are everywhere. The art inundates the story with incredible detail and broad, sweeping panels that transport you to London, Manchester and wherever else the action takes place.
Kate Charlesworth was one of the first lesbian cartoonist in the UK and has a huge body of work to her name. Mary Talbot was a gender studies academic at the University of Sunderland before her retirement and Bryan is a celebrated graphic novelist. Their work incorporates gender studies and history, with Sally Heatcote: Suffragette being the perfect example of how comic books can breathe new life into history and make it relevant again. Our David Wilson Library has a copy available for loan.
