''Fagin the Jew'' is a

graphic novel A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...

by American cartoonist

Will Eisner William Erwin Eisner (March 6, 1917 – January 3, 2005) was an American cartoonist, writer, and entrepreneur. He was one of the earliest cartoonists to work in the American comic book industry, and his series '' The Spirit'' (1940–1952) was no ...

. In this book, Eisner retells the story of

Fagin Fagin is a fictional character and the secondary antagonist in Charles Dickens's 1838 novel ''Oliver Twist''. In the preface to the novel, he is described as a "receiver of stolen goods". He is the leader of a group of children (the Artful Dod ...

from

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

' '' Oliver Twist'' from Fagin's point of view. Eisner portrays Fagin as a distressed and complex character, and tells the story of his life and his place in the Ashkenazic community of

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

in the first person, with many illustrations. The book was written in response to Eisner's belief that much classic literature contains anti-Semitic stereotypes, including Dickens' portrayal of Fagin. Eisner has cast the story in the form of an interview between Fagin and Dickens, on the night before Fagin is to be

hanged Hanging is the suspension of a person by a noose or ligature around the neck.Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed. Hanging as method of execution is unknown, as method of suicide from 1325. The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' states that hanging i ...

, in which Fagin tells his life story and pleads for a more understanding portrayal by Dickens. The book was published by Doubleday in 2003. A tenth anniversary edition was published by Dark Horse in 2013.

Reception

In his 2008 ''500 Essential Graphic Novels'', comics scholar Gene Kannenberg Jr. praised it as "skillfully executed, thought provoking, and enlightening".500 Essential Graphic Novels
by Gene Kannenberg Jr.; published August 25, 2008, by Harper Design (via

archive.org The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

) ''

New Internationalist ''New Internationalist'' (''NI'') is an international publisher and left-wing magazine based in Oxford, England, owned and run by a worker-run co-operative with a non-hierarchical structure. Known for its strict editorial and environmental pol ...

'' called the book "sensitive", and a "remind r tocartoonists of the power of their pens and their responsibility to distinguish between good and bad stereotyping."Fagin the Jew
reviewed by John Stuart Clark, in ''

''; March 2006 issue; p. 18 ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

'' lauded its illustrations as "gorgeously expressive", emphasizing that "no one can convey a story through body language like Eisner", but faulted the narrative as "err ngon the side of extreme coincidence and melodrama", with an "awkwardly simplified run-through of Dickens' plot" and a "constant stream of expository dialogue

hat A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...

becomes laughable".Fagin the Jew
reviewed at ''

''; published November 17, 2003; retrieved April 27, 2022 ''

Booklist ''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is av ...

'' likewise found the narrative "starkly melodramatic ndagenda-driven", and "lack ngnuance", but nonetheless considered the book to be "heartfelt", and compared it to John Gardner's '' Grendel''.''Fagin the Jew'', reviewed by Gordon Flagg, at ''

''; by Gordon Flagg; published September 1, 2003, by the

American Library Association The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with 49,727 members ...

; retrieved May 3, 2022

References

External links

Fagin the Jew
at

Random House Random House is an American book publisher and the largest general-interest paperback publisher in the world. The company has several independently managed subsidiaries around the world. It is part of Penguin Random House, which is owned by Germ ...

Fagin the Jew
a
Will Eisner.com

review by Adi Tantimedh
*
Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies newsletter, December 2003
(included brief discussion of ''Fagin the Jew'')
"Eisner pioneered the adult graphic novel" by Shlomo Schwartzberg from the ''Canadian Jewish News'', September 2004
2003 graphic novels Works about antisemitism Comics set in the 19th century Comics set in London Comics based on works by Charles Dickens Works based on Oliver Twist Books by Will Eisner Doubleday (publisher) books Cultural depictions of Charles Dickens Opposition to antisemitism in the United States Jewish-related comics {{2000s-graphic-novel-stub

Reception

See also

References

External links