Louis Riel is a 2003 historical biography in comics by Canadian cartoonist Chester Brown. It deals with the relationship of Métis rebel leader Louis Riel (pictured) with the newly established Canadian government. It begins shortly before the 1869 Red River Rebellion, and ends with Riel's 1885 hanging for high treason. The book explores the possibly schizophrenic aspect of Riel's personality—he believed God had named him Prophet of the New World, destined to lead the Métis people to freedom. The work is noted for its emotional disengagement, its intentionally flat dialogue, and a minimalist drawing style inspired by Harold Gray's comic strip Little Orphan Annie. The lengthy, hand- lettered appendix provides insight on Brown's creative process and biases, and highlights where he changed historical facts to create a more engaging story. It was the first comic book to receive a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. It was critically well received, and won three Harvey Awards. The original serialization (1999–2003) sold poorly, but the book version was a surprise bestseller. Its success played a major part in gaining shelf space for serious graphic novels in mainstream North American bookstores.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Riel
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1553:
Condemned as a heretic for preaching nontrinitarianism and anti-infant baptism, Michael Servetus was burned at the stake outside Geneva. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Servetus
1644:
English Civil War: The combined armies of Parliament inflicted a tactical defeat on the Royalists, but failed to gain any strategic advantage in the Second Battle of Newbury. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Newbury
1810:
The United States annexed West Florida, the western portion of the Spanish colony of Florida. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Florida
1992:
U.S. Navy Petty Officer Allen R. Schindler, Jr. was killed in Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan, a victim of a hate crime for being gay, sparking a national debate that led to the establishment of the U.S. armed forces' "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_R._Schindler,_Jr.
2005:
The deaths of three Muslim youths in the Clichy-sous-Bois suburb of Paris triggered four months of rioting by mostly youths of North African origins in various parts of France. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_civil_unrest_in_France
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
wife-beating question: A question which presupposes some controversial premise, such that it cannot be directly answered without incriminating oneself; a loaded question. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wife-beating_question
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. --Dylan Thomas https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Dylan_Thomas