Rec: The History of the West Wing [Manhua]
Ansgar -59cobalt- Wiechers
adaptation of a classic Chinese play about the forbidden romance between
the daughter of a government official and a roaming scholar. If you
think you've heard that story a million times already: yeah, you
probably have. And since this is a self-contained book with just 112
pages, there's just not much room for complex story developments.
However, despite the weak-ish story I still wholeheartedly recommend
this book, because of the beautiful artwork. If you liked the art in
"The Bride of the Water God", you'll like this one as well.
The book is fully colored and has a rather large format (6x9"). It also
includes an annex with several illustrations, so it doubles as an
artbook. Some examples:
<http://www.grosseblondefrau.ch/westwing/cover.jpg>
<http://www.grosseblondefrau.ch/westwing/1.jpg>
<http://www.grosseblondefrau.ch/westwing/2.jpg>
<http://www.grosseblondefrau.ch/westwing/3.jpg>
"The History of the West Wing" is published in the US by Yen Press.
Rating: 9/10
cu
59cobalt
--
"My surname is Li and my personal name is Kao, and there is a slight
flaw in my character."
--Li Kao (Barry Hughart: Bridge of Birds)
Nick
On 12 Nov 2009 12:58:55 GMT, in rec.arts.manga, Ansgar -59cobalt- Wiechers
<usene...@planetcobalt.net> wrote:
>"The History of the West Wing" is the graphic novel (Manhua, actually)
>adaptation of a classic Chinese play about the forbidden romance between
>the daughter of a government official and a roaming scholar. If you
>think you've heard that story a million times already: yeah, you
>probably have. And since this is a self-contained book with just 112
>pages, there's just not much room for complex story developments.
>
>However, despite the weak-ish story I still wholeheartedly recommend
>this book, because of the beautiful artwork. If you liked the art in
>"The Bride of the Water God", you'll like this one as well.
Read this last summer and I loved it: gave it a 9 out of 10 at
mangaupdates.com. (Would have given it a 10 if it had been a bit longer
with a little more depth to the characters and their story.)
My description:
A handsome young wandering scholar falls in love with a beautiful young
noblewoman and strives to win her heart.
But there are other suitors for the girl, and her mother wants more for her
daughter's future than marriage to a wanderer with no means of support.
Will the young man win the girl's affections, succeed in bettering himself,
and gain the mother's approval and her daughter's hand?
Set in the China of several hundred years ago.
Beautifully illustrated in full color.
Genre: Drama, Historical, Romance
--
Nick <mailto:tans...@pobox.com>
Sturgeon's Law: "Ninety percent of everything is crap."
Nick's Observation: "One person's ten percent is right smack dab in the
middle of somebody else's ninety percent."