The Philosopher, the Dog and the Wedding
by Barbara Stok
Self Made Hero £16.99
 

AS our world increasingly appears to be dominated by the image at the expense of the word, the market for graphic novels grows exponentially. There have been some, notably Martin Rowson’s treatment of Tristram Shandy and Gulliver’s Travels, that have become works of art in their own right, but the question remains whether the majority are any more than comic books with elevated titles. 

Stories and storytelling being fundamental to human communication, it is surely irrelevant how narratives, fictional or factual, are told. The key issues are who are they designed to engage with and whether form and content marry. 

If the inquisitive reader has to check on Wikipedia what this intriguingly entitled book is about, as I did, then he or she (especially she) will certainly be encouraged to enjoy Barbara Stok’s delightfully colourful graphic biography of one of a surprising number of ancient Greek women philosophers whose works, unsurprisingly, have not survived.