Years of the Elephant (Dutch: Jaren van de olifant) is a Flemish graphic novel by Willy Linthout.[1] Linthout was awarded the 2009 Bronzen Adhemar for this work.
| Years of the Elephant | |
|---|---|
 Cover of the English edition of Years of the Elephant | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Bries |
| Genre | Autobiographical |
| Publication date | 2009 |
| Main character(s) | Karel Simone Wannes |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | Willy Linthout |
| Artist(s) | Willy Linthout |
| Penciller(s) | Willy Linthout |
| Inker(s) | Uninked |
| Colorist(s) | Uncoloured |
Synopsis
editPublished in 2009, the graphic novel is divided in eight parts, and tells about the death of Linthout's son by suicide.[2][3]
The main character is Karel, Linthout's alter ego, who has lost his son Wannes due to suicide and struggles with the grief. He and his wife go through very different grieving processes. The work has remarkable visual metaphors, conveying the author's distress during his own grieving process.[4][5][6]
The graphic novel was not colored, and Linthout chose not to ink the sketches.[5] Asked about this in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, Linthout replied that also his son's life was unfinished.[5] He added that he didn't want someone else to finish this comic.[5]
Awards
editThe graphic novel series earned Linthout the 2009 Bronzen Adhemar.[4] The work was also nominated for the Eisner Awards for Best U.S. Edition of International Material and Best Writer/Artist-Nonfiction,[7] the Prix Saint-Michel for best Dutch language comic,[8] and the Stripschapprijs Album of the Year for part 1.[9]
References
edit- ^ Horsten, Toon. "Wanneer zijn het solden in Griekenland?". Standaard. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ^ "Trauma's in tekstballonnen". De Standaard. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ^ "Striptekenaar Willy Linthout: "De eenzaamheid blijft"". Het Belang van Limburg. 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ^ a b Meesters, Gert. "Willy Linthout wint Bronzen Adhemar 2009". www.depoort.com. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d Zeegers, Gerard (1 June 2007). "Een onaf leven in dito schetsen" (in Dutch). NRC Handelsblad. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ^ Horsten, Toon. "Afscheid van een zoon Willy Linthout over Het jaar van de olifant Toon Horsten". dbnl. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ^ "The 2010 Eisner Awards: Eisner nominations". Comic-Con 2010. 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
- ^ "Les nominés 2010" (PDF). Retrieved 14 September 2010.
- ^ "Album van het jaar 2007" (in Dutch). Het Stripschap. Retrieved 9 April 2010.