Prelude to a Million Years and Song Without Words: Two Graphic Novels

Woodcuts #4-5

by Lynd Ward, David A. Berona (Introduction)

With passionately rendered images that resonate in the heart and imagination, an influential woodcut artist tells two gripping stories through images alone. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the first tale portrays a sculptor's struggles in an industrial society. The second explores one woman's emotional journey through pregnancy and childbirth. 51 total illustrations.

Genres: Art, Graphic Novels

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

LYND WARD (1905-1985) illustrated more than two hundred books for children and adults throughout his prolific career. Winner of the Caldecott Medal for his watercolors in The Biggest Bear, Mr. Ward was also famous for his wood engravings, which are featured in museum collections throughout the United States and abroad.

Married to May Yonge McNeer, several of whose works he illustrated. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Reviews

[Петър Керкелов · Rating 5 out of 5]

it wasn't until after i was finally able to tell a beautiful word story out of each of the wordless stories to my girl when i marked the book as read. i really hated those make-a-story-out-of-a-picture exercises in school. i guess they weren't that useless.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two graphic novels contain a series of stunning images of a rather pessimistic nature, having been created in the depths of the depression.

[Michael P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed here the latter half of this book because I reviewed the first part when I read a separate edition a couple of years ago. SONG WITHOUT WORDS is wonderful. A couple considers having a baby in 1936, but the woman looks at the state of the world as the result of the fallen condition of mankind and fears the world is not a fit place to have a child. The child they have, however, brings hope.

Lovely, loving, and beautifully rendered, this is a compelling graphic story.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning work.