John Lewis' journey for justice begins in "MARCH: Book One"

MARCH: Book One, nonfiction graphic novel by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell  

It's not often that the Library of Justice gets to feature something related to actual "justice". Sure, we've got our share of superheroes and crime and mystery novels--but now we can say we've finally got our hands on something...historic.

New in the Library is MARCH: Book One a graphic novel from Top Shelf Comics by Congressman and Civil Rights leader John Lewis. He's joined by co-author Andrew Aydin and illustrator Nate Powell. Lewis' himself is narrator to a nonfiction retelling of his life: growing up in a poor sharecropping family, early participation in the Civil Rights movement, and first impressions of his role model, Martin Luther King Jr. The story is book-ended by his role in Congress at the time of Barack Obama's first presidential inauguration.

Click to enlarge interior pages

Powell's illustrations are powerful; deftly rendered in crisp black and white. The story is moving, never shying from the ugliness of the past, but also accessible to young readers without being heavy-handed. This is exactly the tone the story needs to be successful. It's dramatic, without skewing into melodrama.

I'm really looking forward to the follow-ups (this is the first of three parts). MARCH is one of a few nonfiction graphic novels we've got in stock and are extremely proud to share. We hope you enjoy it!

From Books to Screen: Master And Commander!

Starting today through the next few days we'll be featuring books that went on to make it big in Hollywood! We're kicking it off with Patrick O'Brian's Master And Commander, the first in a series of novels following the seafaring exploits of Captain Jack Aubrey of the British Navy. O'Brian's stories are known for their rigorous historical accuracy when it comes to crafting the 19th century. From the back cover:

This, the first in the splendid series of Jack Aubrey novels, establishes the friendship between Captain Aubrey, R. N., and Stephen Maturin, ships surgeon and intelligence agent, against the thrilling backdrop of the Napoleonic wars. Details of life aboard a man-of-war in Nelson's navy are faultlessly rendered: the conversational idiom of the officers in the ward room and the men on the lower deck, the food, the floggings, the mysteries of the wind and the rigging, and the roar of broadsides as the great ships close in battle.

The novel (and some of its sequels) later served as the basis for the film version staring Russel Crowe (which, incidentally, is one of my favorite movies!). Here's a look at the trailer:

So sail on over and check out the novel that started it all--Master And Commander is now available in the Library of Justice!