Indiana

by Claire Bouilhac, Catel

Indiana a épousé pour son malheur un officier en retraite, antipathique et autoritaire. Elle vit avec lui dans la tristesse d’un château de province. Tout la dispose à se laisser séduire par l’amour : Raymon qui possède la fougue et la jeunesse que n’a plus son mari. Hélas, cette aventure (et son amant) s’avère bien décevante. Alors que tout prédestinerait l’héroïne à une fin tragique, elle trouvera le réconfort et la sérénité sur l’île Bourbon, dans la compagnie de son cousin Ralph. Une intrigue amoureuse fougueuse et délicate, une étude des mœurs incisive, une charge contre l’oppression dont les femmes sont victimes font d’Indiana un classique de la littérature féministe.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Classics, Comics, Bande Dessinée

176 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2023

Reviews

[Alwynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claire Bouilhac and Catel Muller’s graphic novel is a version of the famous/infamous writer George Sand’s (Amantine Dupin) first, individual novel Indiana. This interpretation is framed by scenes from Sand’s own life. It opens in Paris in 1832, Sands is outlining the inspiration for her new book and its relationship to her own life as someone who escaped a domineering husband. Her story centres on nineteen-year-old Indiana who’s married to a much older, controlling and abusive man. Her only reliable companion is former, “foster sister” Noun, they grew up together in a remote, French colony. Their fates are intertwined when they both become involved with a new landowner who's moved to a nearby house. I’ve never read Sand’s original book but, if this adaptation is fairly faithful, it’s positively dripping with melodrama from dastardly, villainous husbands to unscrupulous seducers.

Sand’s narrative was apparently considered quite scandalous when it first appeared mainly because of her fierce, underlying critique of the position of married women in France – essentially the property of their husbands. However, the feminist message is undercut by the character of Indiana who has an infuriating tendency to faint or fall ill whenever she encounters a challenge or dilemma. Sand's story moves between France and a French colony in the Indian Ocean, and the shadow of colonialism also made this difficult for me to relate to. Although there’s a gesture towards recognising colonialist oppression and the practices of slavery that sustained it, these tend to be included here more as an incidental backdrop to Indiana’s personal journey. In addition, the representation of Noun – who’s presumably supposed to be read as Black here – made me slightly uncomfortable, too often seeming to reproduce various, problematic stereotypes. The graphic novel itself is fluid and the artwork reasonable although it sometimes tips towards caricature. It’s also grounded in extensive research: Bouilhac used photographs to reproduce Sand’s settings which include a house in Rohant based on one from Sand’s childhood. And Bouilhac’s Indiana is drawn to resemble the actress Isabelle Adjani. Overall, it works well as an accessible introduction to Sand’s work. Translated by L. Henson.

Thanks to Netgalley and Europe Comics for an ARC

Rating: 2.5

 

[PlotTrysts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Indiana twice for two different classes during my master's in French. This romantic classic by George Sand is on a par with British romantic staples like Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre. Indiana is the titular character. She is a young, sensitive woman married to an older brute of a man. The book follows her life as she is seduced by a scoundrel and generally beaten down by her circumstances. I picked up this graphic novel adaptation for a couple of reasons: the art is really gorgeous, and I was wondering how the author and illustrator would make it work. Indiana translates really well to the ill- ustrated format! If you've been wondering about classic French literature - or even if you haven't but this review has sparked an interest - I think this is a great place for you to start. This version also includes a bit of history about George Sand, groundbreaking author, which I found a great addition!

Content note: references to suicide, domestic violence, sexual assault, and animal abuse.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated graphic novel of Indiana a novel by George Sand. This is a creative way to introduce another generation to a work by Sand. The novel is full of intrigue, love, lust, honor and marriage in a different time and country. I was only familiar with the story from a movie version. I like how before and after the story there is a bit about the author including the fact that when the book was published it outsold Victor Hugo. Thank you to NetGalley and Europe Comics for the temporary digital copy and I am leaving an honest review.

[spalanai ⛤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

***I thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review***

Sweeping, stupid, yet entertaining. Relationship drama is one of my top hated aspects, but this kept me hooked like those cheap soap operas that make no logical sense with all the cringe manipulation and mansplaining. However, George Sands clears out a simple and open conclusion with her sharp and feminist dialogue, regarding the original classic this edition adapted.

Considering this is a graphic novelisation of the actual book, the art was nice I guess; actually, it reminded me a lot of the illustrations in my old childhood school textbooks. Nostalgia.

⊹ . ⋆ ☽ ⋆ . ➶

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: 19th century French literature, adapted to graphic novel
Paris and Ile Bourbon, late 1820s

Written in 1832, Indiana is a sweeping tale of human emotion and drama set in the period it was written. Indiana Delmare is an ill young woman married to a strict gentleman to whom she has little real affection. One evening a young gentleman is assumed to be a burglar and shot on their estate, and Indiana and her maid Noun nurse him back to health. His name is Raymon de Ramière, and he conducts a passionate affair with Noun, and also proclaims his love for Indiana. A tale of betrayal and heartbreak, where the villain is the nature of humanity and how we treat one another.

I don’t tend to pick up graphic novels, as I tend to get distracted from the narrative arc of the story. I’m not generally a visual person (I don’t visualize when I read), so a graphic novel is typical an exercise in patience for me while reading. But when @plottrysts says “hey Meg, this is ‘Read Now’” and promises to hold my hand through 19th century adapted French literature, I say “why not!?” The illustrations in this graphic novel do such a good job capturing the tone of emotion and the style of the era, as well as the utter drama of the book.

I knew very little to nothing about George Sand when I picked this up, other than it was a pen name for a 19th century woman writer. The graphic novel frames the tale of Indiana with two different eras of Sand’s life, from her time writing with (and dallying with) novelist Jules Sandeau in the early 1830s with her long affair with engraver Alexandre Manceau in the 1850s. Well-renowned and respected as a literary giant, she eschewed gender norms and attracted all manner of famous men to her bed. The framestory for the graphic novel helped me, as a reader unfamiliar with Sand, place her work.

In short, I would absolutely pick up more classic novels in graphic novel form. Personally, though, I still often need to read summaries as I go (I do this with almost any classic I read, as the narrative styles are denser and I often miss plot points). I recommend this as an accessible way to read Indiana!

Thank you to Europe Comics and NetGalley for an eARC for review! This graphic novel adaptation of Indiana is out 12/27/23!

[Opal Edgar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love George Sand so I couldn't help but jump onto an adaptation of one of her novels in comic book format. Indiana is not one I particularly liked, but it is an important one, as her first novel, it put in place her world and started exposing some of her philosophies.
I really liked that the volume included an intro and conclusion with George talking about the story, what it meant for her and the influence on the time, it's just a few pages but I think they add a lot to the text.
The comic book is beautifully illustrated and coloured, with lush curves and lots of lovely details.
Sadly, I remembered while reading why I've never been a fan of the romantic area, but that's not the fault of the adaptation, it's very respectful to the book, very much like I remember it.
I enjoyed it and recommend this work to people who like classics, especially ones written by women, and like to explore them in graphic format making them more digestible.

[Lily Bourque · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful narrative about women finding not only themselves but also the freedom to do so. I found the authors strength to not only propel the narrative of Virgina's story but also to let her live on her own. I love adult graphic novels and the illustrations were gorgeous in this. Graphic novels also provide a different avenue of learning history and understanding text which I love the representation that brings! A great read indeed :)

[Anita Salát · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book within a book, and a good one at that.
I've never heard of George Sand (my bad) or her book Indiana. The author chose to use a male pen name for fear of not being taken seriously in literary circles if she'd published under her own. Having read this graphic novel, I must agree - the story may hit different from a male or a female author.
This graphic novel adaptation is exciting with its varying artwork and expressive colour scheme, and it makes me want to read the original book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Europe Comics for an Advance Review Copy.

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautifully illustrated adaption of George Sands' famous Indiana into graphic novel form. It's amazing how easily the loathsome characters translate! The intro and epilogue using Sands herself was interest and even the style of illustrations was different and set those parts off.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read Indiana, because I don't read a lot of French literature, but I feel like I need to go back and read the novel now because I really enjoyed the graphic novel. The blending of romance (like, the movement not necessarily romantic love), with realism makes for an interesting story filled with the tension of lust and propriety. As a graphic novel, I thought this worked pretty well, but it did lean a little hard on text (I'm guessing pulled from the novel) to tell the story. I did, however, find the framing device where George Sand herself talks about the novel to be really effective. There is a little bit of brief nudity and a suicide.

[Raquel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5

Originally published in 1832, George Sand’s Indiana delves deep into the complexities of love, social norms and the human condition. Set in rural France, the story follows the journey of the eponymous protagonist, a young woman trapped in a loveless marriage to the wealthy but oppressive Colonel Delmare. Through Indiana's eyes, we witness the suffocating constraints imposed on women in 19th-century society, where marriage often meant subjugation and loss of personal autonomy. The arrival of the enigmatic Raymon de Ramière sets off a chain of events that forces Indiana to confront her desires and the limitations of her world.

This graphic novel adaptation offers a fresh and innovative take on George Sand’s classic tale. By interweaving elements of Sand’s own life with the novel’s narrative, Claire Bouilhac and Catel provide readers with a deeper understanding of the author’s struggles and influences, especially its feminist overtones, which are prominent throughout the novel as it criticises the double standards and injustices faced by women in a patriarchal society.

The format of the graphic novel also allows for visually stunning illustrations that bring the story to life in vibrant detail. From the lush landscapes of rural France to the intimate moments between the characters, Catel's art emphasises the emotional depth of the narrative and engages readers on many levels.

Regarding the novel’s weaknesses, although Sand’s criticism of how married women were treated in France was revolutionary, it is reasonable to acknowledge its flaws and inconsistencies.

The depiction of Indiana’s character, with her tendency to faint or fall ill in moments of challenge or dilemma, can be frustrating from a modern feminist perspective. This representation reflects the social expectations placed on women during Sand’s time when they were often relegated to passive roles and denied control of their lives. While some readers may understand Indiana’s struggles as a reflection of the constraints placed on women, her depiction may also seem regressive and reinforce stereotypes of female fragility.

The inclusion of colonialism and the French colony in the Indian Ocean, with its dynamics of power and oppression, adds another layer of complexity to the novel, but the colonialist themes are overshadowed by Indiana’s journey, potentially diluting the critique of colonialism and its impact on marginalised communities.

As it is crucial to be critical of how characters from marginalised backgrounds are portrayed in literature and the potential impact on readers, I think it’s important to note how the representation of Noun, a character who is presumed to be black, raises concerns about racial stereotyping and the perpetuation of harmful tropes. For example, Noun’s decision to take her own life rather than confront the injustices and hardships she faces speaks to the desperation of those marginalized by society, as her suicide is presented as a tragic consequence of the systemic oppression and lack of agency experienced by Black characters in the novel. But Noun’s portrayal falls short, failing to challenge or subvert stereotypes and instead reinforcing problematic assumptions about race and identity, rather than offering a nuanced exploration of her character and experiences. The decision to have Noun resort to suicide as a means of escape from her hardships strikes me as a missed opportunity to explore alternative narratives or avenues for resistance. Rather than empowering Noun to confront the injustices she faces and advocate for change, her suicide may inadvertently reinforce narratives of helplessness and hopelessness among Black characters.

Additionally, the moral ambiguity of the characters, with few if any portrayed as truly virtuous or sympathetic, can contribute to a sense of disillusionment or detachment from the narrative. While flawed characters can add depth and complexity to a story, when coupled with a lack of clear motivations or character development, they may come across as unsympathetic to readers.

In conclusion, Indiana offers an interesting exploration of love, societal norms, and feminist themes. But, while the narrative provides valuable insights into the struggles of its characters and the injustices of their time, it also grapples with shortcomings in character development and representation, particularly concerning gender and racial stereotypes. Despite these flaws and while acknowledging the limitations of the adaptation, particularly in character development and thematic exploration, the graphic novel breathes new life into Sand’s tale, offering readers an accessible and visually engaging alternative, that is both easier and quicker to consume. And, by engaging critically with its themes and complexities, readers can appreciate the novel’s enduring relevance while remaining vigilant of its limitations.

[Georgina (forgottenangstycharacter) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I admit that I am no expert on canonical French literature. I know a little about George Sand as a person and am fascinated by them, but I am not so familiar with her work. Her Romantic and realist blend in Indiana is reworked into a graphic novel for the modern reader. Indiana feels like the lovechild of Sorrows of Young Werther and Portrait of a Lady (even though the latter was published later). It follows the 16-year-old Indiana's unhappy marriage to the much older Colonel Delmare. She falls in love with their neighbour Raymon de Ramiere, who is engaged in an affair with Indiana’s maid and best friend, Noun. Indiana and de Ramiere have a sort of on-and-off-again relationship, declaring their love and then rebuffing the other. Meanwhile, Indiana’s cousin Ralph stands on the sidelines being secretly in love with her.

If I had a nickel for every time there was an English cousin named Ralph in love with his cousin, in a canonical novel, I’d have two nickels…which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice.

As this is a graphic novel adaptation, I will not be commenting on the plot which is taken from George Sand’s work but rather how the story has been adapted.

Firstly, I did enjoy the first few pages which provided some context surrounding George Sand and their work. This came back at the end and I thought it was a nice way of ending the story and analysing some of the themes.

I found the art style grew on me and by the end of the novel, I quite liked it. There are some sentences that seem to have been taken directly from an English translation of the text which were revolutionary for the time, as does some of Indiana’s characterisation, which was cool to see.

I liked Indiana’s progression as a character, from her role as an unhappy woman to her finally standing up for herself. There were many false starts and to and fro-ing, but for her time and situation, she pushed back against the control of her husband, and even her false lover.

However, most of the story is told to us where it could be shown. For example, there is a panel that says “Monsieur de Ramiere was bothered by how bravely Noun sacrificed her reputation for him” but we never actually see Noun sacrifice her reputation until after she dies. This is a book where there is a lot of sitting in drawing rooms talking and it can be difficult to push the story along, but the way the information was communicated was not always effective.

I would have liked the relationship between Indiana and Ramiere to have been explored and stretched out more, as I could not see what it was that Indiana saw in him after they met. Why is he interested, is it mere boredom or love? Ramiere wanted to control something that wasn't his and get personal pleasure, but why her? There was a lot of flip-flopping between love and hate with these two characters and I couldn’t understand why Indiana was so devoted to this guy.

There were hints at the political world going on in the background but I wish I could have seen that more.

I found spots of this confusing and the pacing wasn’t quite right and I couldn’t work out what was supposed to be the climaxes of certain scenes, or whether this was an important discussion among the romantic leads or if this was another scene repeating the unstable dynamic of Ramiere and Indiana.

This book is an interesting look at George Sand’s work for a new age. It was a quick read and I think could be useful in introducing George Sand’s work to a larger audience. It would work well as a teaching tool as well, possibly read alongside the novel itself. I am now intrigued to go back to the original text.

C/W: suicide and animal cruelty

[Blog_Océane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vous savez mon penchant pour les réécritures, les revisites littéraires. À l'occasion de la sortie d'Indiana chez les éditions Hugo, je suis tombée par hasard sur cette BD qui reprenait l’œuvre de George Sand. C'est l'occasion idéale pour relire ce chef-d'œuvre de la littérature française pour voir ce que cette bande dessinée donne. Je suis bien contente d'avoir lu cette bande dessinée en même temps que le roman car j'ai pu davantage apprécier ma lecture. C'est une très belle bande dessinée qui fait honneur à l’œuvre de George Sand. On retrouve parfaitement les émotions, les éléments importants. C'est un coup de cœur.
Je suis totalement fan de l'esthétisme de cette bande dessinée. Le dessin est à la fois simple dans les personnages mais complexe dans les détails. Je trouve cela judicieux pour mettre l'accent sur les expressions des visages des héros, accentuer le thème de l'être et du paraître. Les couleurs sont magnifiques pour donner de la profondeur et de la puissance à l’œuvre de George Sand. Enfin, j'aime beaucoup la structure de ce livre reprenant celle du roman mais la cerise sur le gâteau se trouve dans les "extra" en mettant en scène George Sand.
Nous avons donc une représentation fidèle du livre avec les thèmes marquants tels que la liberté ou bien la condition de la femme, les évènements importants. Les choix sont pertinents et judicieux de la part de Catel et de Bouilhac, ce qui rend cette bande dessinée excellente et bien travaillée. Elles font honneur à George Sand et respectent son travail avec cette BD.


Pour conclure, Catel et Bouilhac ont fait de cette bande dessinée une parfaite revisite de l’œuvre de George Sand. Elles sont restées au près du livre en reprenant les mots, elles ont juste rendu vivants les personnages. Ils dépassent la fiction avec leur explosion d'émotions, leur complexité. J'aime beaucoup le dessin, notamment ses couleurs qui soulignent le chef-d’œuvre qu'est Indiana. Les thèmes autour de la liberté, de l'amour et de la condition de la femme sont bien présents. Ajouter une introduction et un épilogue avec George Sand en vedette permet de donner une dimension intéressante et plus profonde en rappelant que Indiana est écrit par une femme qui a marqué la littérature française du XIXe siècle. Pour tous ceux qui n'aiment pas ou sont effrayés par la lecture du roman de George Sand, cette bande dessinée est l'alternative idéale pour découvrir le livre car elle est fidèle, rend vraiment honneur au talent de l'autrice d'origine. Je salue et j'applaudis une nouvelle fois le travail de Catel et Bouilhac qui est excellent et parfait pour découvrir autrement la littérature classique qui effraie souvent les gens à cause des préjugés ou des craintes infondées.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

This is an excellent introduction to George Sand's novel of marriages of convenience and unrequited emotion. At first glance, it may seem overwrought and Indiana herself rather shallow and simple. But it is a novel of its time (1830s France) and, more importantly, was from a female author about women and their society cages.

Story: At 19, Indiana lives well with her older and more tyrannical husband. She is bored and feels no affection for her husband, creating a listless existence of every day being as unremarkable as the next. Then she is introduced to the young and handsome next door neighbor. Unsure of her new feelings and wanting more life than she has, Indiana and Raymon begin an affair. But are her goals with the relationship the same as his?

First and foremost, this is a very well done graphic novelization of the original material. It isn't overly wordy, the illustrations are engaging, and there is some really good emotive quality going on. We can see Indiana's frustration, her husband's highhandedness, Raymon's flightiness, and Ralph's steadfast (and apparently boring-appearing) nature. The plot takes place in Paris as well as an island off the Southeast of Africa where Indiana was brought up.

One excellent addition is that we get perspectives from the author herself at the beginning and the end - each from a very important time in Sand's life. Those two sections are excellent and really put the novel into perspective.

For me, I always appreciate historical accuracy and the costuming is done right here for the period. But this also stays true to the story and doesn't try to 'modernize' it for today's audience. We can feel how trapped Indiana is but also just how young and inexperienced as well. I don't know that I was convinced as much with her handmade Noun's story and how it relates to Indiana. As well, there are vagueries in character that somehow just didn't translate well into the page. But for the most part, this really is well done.

In all, I enjoyed this novelization of the George Sand novel. Excellent illustration work with very good translations into the graphic novel format make this a worthwhile read. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Laetitia]

Je remercie #NetGalleyFrance et les �ditions Dargaud pour cette d�couverte de #Indiana par Catel Murel et Claire Bouilhac.L'album s'ouvre sur une sc�ne biographique de la vie de Georges Sand, l'autrice d'Indiana paru en 1832. Le style graphique change compl�tement d�s l'ouverture de l'histoire d'Indiana ! Et pour cause : Catel Muller a dessin� le prologue (et l'�pilogue) tandis que l'on doit les planches de l'adaptation du roman, Indiana, � Claire Bouilhac. Les deux artistes ont con�u le sc�nario de cette adaptation � quatre mains. Je n'ai pas lu le roman original, et cette adaptation m'a permis de d�couvrir l'histoire d'Indiana : son mariage d'un ennui mortel, qui n'est pas sans rappeler l'ennui d'Emma Bovary, en beaucoup moins path�tique. Quoi que... L'ennui est tellement profond qu'il gagne m�me l'amant de l'h�ro�ne ! Il est donc question d'ennui, mais pas que. Outre la politique de l'�poque (R�publique, Royaut�, Empire : que choisir ?), le livre aborde aussi le th�me de l'�go�sme du genre humain, et particuli�rement de la gent masculine, � une �poque o� les femmes pouvaient difficilement choisir leur �poux, et o� elle devait prendre un nom d'emprunt masculin pour se faire publier... J'ai trouv� le personnage d'Indiana plut�t tr�s aga�ant et les personnages masculins compl�tement condescendants ! Cela ne m'a pas emp�cher d'appr�cier cette lecture, qui a remu� en moi quelques flammes f�ministes. J'ai trouv� tr�s astucieux et tout � fait appropri� le fait que certaines explications du roman soit retranscrites � la mani�re de didascalies, dans de courts cartouches surplombant certaines vignettes. J'ai appr�ci� les illustrations simples, claires et expressives de Claire Bouilhac et celles, beaucoup plus stylis�es de Catel Muller.J'ai particuli�rement aim�� l'int�gration des �l�ments biographiques autour de G. Sand, que ce soit � l'occasion du prologue qui se d�roule avant la publication d'Indiana, ou de l'�pilogue ayant lieu bien des ann�es plus tard. Ces deux parties, brillamment dessin�es par Catel Murel permettent d'en apprendre plus sur l'autrice originale, George Sand. Elle y explicite sa fa�on de concevoir la litt�rature, ce qu'elle a voulu v�hiculer gr�ce � ce personnage d'Indiana en particulier et donne son avis sur la soci�t� du d�but du XXe si�cle. J'ai trouv� ces incursions originales, pertinentes et int�ressantes.#Indiana #NetGalleyFrance

[Katharine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I'm not going to lie, but I think I may be a bit too dumb to understand the nuances of this story. I had never heard of the author George Sand or the book Indiana. I saw from the plot blurb it was considered a ground-breaking feminist novel during the time it was released. I will have to take their word on that. The plot feels a bit scattered, and it's hard to understand any character's motivations. They all feel rather flat and none of them are very good people. Be they either outright malicious or just victims of their own naivete, I found myself slowly coming to dislike all of them. Also, what is with the characters constantly jumping to suicide as a solution to literally anything? Ralph thinks Indiana has been thrown from her horse after running into a boar, and possibly dead, so he whips out a hunting knife and almost slits his own throat before getting stopped?! He didn't even check if she really was dead. The only suicide I understand is Noun, but even then, she could have just fled? I also really hate how wishy-washy Indiana is. She's married but lets herself get entranced by this random man, and keeps wailing how it's true love. But after finding out he's married now, she ends up WITH HER COUSIN? AND IT ENDS WITH THEM JUMPING OFF A CLIFF IN A SUICIDE PACT? What the hell is that?! Then the little epilogue is supposed to be the author talking about the novel, saying "Oh but they don't really die, they get to live happily!". NO?? THEY DON'T??? THEY'RE DEAD?? IT ENDS WITH THEM JUMPING OFF THE CLIFF!? I'm so confused by this graphic novel. The art style was honestly the only thing about this graphic novel that I liked. Though, in the end, I think being redone as a graphic novel hurts the story. From the excerpts I've now read of the original novel, it appears the graphic novel version makes the story even harder to comprehend.

[Aïkà bouquine. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une épouse rebelle,

J'étais curieuse de découvrir cette histoire de Georges Sand que je n'avais jamais lue en roman.

À mon avis, grâce aux beaux dessins, aux couleurs vives et attrayantes ainsi qu'aux dialogues simplifiés, la bande dessinée est une adaptation intéressante. Mais l'histoire en elle même n'est pas trop ma tasse de thé.

J'ai surtout découvert une jeune héroïne en fleurs contrainte de se marier à un colonel retraité converti en homme d'affaires acariâtre afin de perpétuer l'héritage familial.

Malgré sa dignité, elle succombe aux charmes d'un scélérat qui finira par la laisser tomber, avec un cadavre, pas exquis, au passage.

Ce genre de péripéties a fait son temps au XIXe siècle : à l'époque, romantisme oblige, les littératures d'amours bourgeoises contrariées avec malaise vagal à répétition avaient le vent en poupe.

En 2023, interprétons l'histoire d'Indiana comme les prémices de notre révolte pour notre émancipation et notre liberté à toutes, le chemin vers l'égalité des droits des femmes et des hommes : en effet si l'héroïne rebelle avait vécu à notre époque, dans notre société occidentale, elle serait débarrassée de ses carcans, libre de choisir sa vie et de la partager avec la personne qu'elle aime.

À vrai dire, plus qu'autre chose, j'ai cédé au charme un tantinet hautain et envoûtant de cette Indiana-ci , car elle me rappelle les traits de la sublime actrice Monica Bellucci.

Mention spéciale tout de même, pour avoir pris le soin de recréer le contexte de la naissance du roman de Georges Sand en guise de prologue en 1832 et d'épilogue en 1854.

J'ai trouvé ma lecture plaisante, et grâce aux crayons de Bouilhac & Catel, les héroïnes tragiques et romantiques Indiana et Noun resplendissent, auréolées de courage, chacune à sa façon.

+ À lire pour découvrir l'adaptation graphique fidèle du premier roman historique de Georges Sand, le temps de lire ce bel album.

- S'abstenir si et seulement si les mœurs peu enviables et le romantisme d'époque ne sont pas votre tasse de thé.

#Indiana#NetGalleyFrance

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite the surprising read for me. Although I had heard of George Sand before I was not super familiar with her work and her biography so it was quite cool to read this old classic in a completely new format.

The book tells the story of Indiana, a sad noble lady married to a tyrant of a husband. She lives with ber cousin Ralph, a widower who has been devoted to her since childhood and Noun, her foster sister.

She then meets Raymon, another nobleman and his arrival complicates her sad but stable life. Raymon's presence challenges the dynamics among the characters, revealing hidden desires and testing the boundaries of societal norms. The narrative explores themes of love, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness against the backdrop of 19th-century France.

Indiana, as a character, infuriated me a bit. I truly could not believe some of the choices she makes in this book. But I also believe that part of it was due to the style of writing that was popular at that time.

The art was quite good, specially when it came to the characters. I could understand why people fell in love with Indiana by simply looking at her and her character design managed to portray both her beauty and her fragility. But I wish the backgrounds and environments were a bit more detailed.

All in all it was an enjoyable evening read but it didn't move me all that much emotionally, which is why I'm not giving it a higher rating.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite the surprising read for me. Although I had heard of George Sand before I was not super familiar with her work and her biography so it was quite cool to read this old classic in a completely new format.

The book tells the story of Indiana, a sad noble lady married to a tyrant of a husband. She lives with ber cousin Ralph, a widower who has been devoted to her since childhood and Noun, her foster sister.

She then meets Raymon, another nobleman and his arrival complicates her sad but stable life. Raymon's presence challenges the dynamics among the characters, revealing hidden desires and testing the boundaries of societal norms. The narrative explores themes of love, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness against the backdrop of 19th-century France.

Indiana, as a character, infuriated me a bit. I truly could not believe some of the choices she makes in this book. But I also believe that part of it was due to the style of writing that was popular at that time.

The art was quite good, specially when it came to the characters. I could understand why people fell in love with Indiana by simply looking at her and her character design managed to portray both her beauty and her fragility. But I wish the backgrounds and environments were a bit more detailed.

All in all it was an enjoyable evening read but it didn't move me all that much emotionally, which is why I'm not giving it a higher rating.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sylvaine Yvenou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catel et Claire Bouilhac nous offrent une superbe adaptation du premier roman de George Sand publié en 1832

Avoir pensé à un prologue et à un épilogue qui donnent l'un et l'autre la parole à George Sand est une superbe idée. le prologue permet de replacer la publication du roman dans le contexte de l'époque : une femme publier un roman était chose impensable pourtant elle a réussi ..
Quant à l'épilogue à Nohant en 1854 , il éclaire mieux l'ensemble y compris la fin de l'histoire , dramatique comme il était de bon ton dans la littérature romantique .

Indiana est un roman que j'ai découvert il y a déjà plusieurs années et que j'avais apprécié.
Le découvrir en version graphique m'a tout d'abord un peu perturbée. Je n'avais pas gardé le souvenir du côté très mélodramatique des situations, ne retenant je l'avoue que le côté "engagé" de George Sand .
Le regard porté sur ce roman par Catel et Claire Bouilhac lui confère plus de modernité .Sans que le texte original soit dénaturé il leur a "juste" fallu mettre plus en lumière certains partages et en laisser d'autres dans l'ombre.
Les dessins ajoutent au plaisir de la lecture.

Au final une BD de grande qualité qui permettra à beaucoup de découvrir l'immense écrivaine que fut George Sand.

Un grand merci aux éditions Dargaud pour ce partage via Netgalley
#Indiana #NetGalleyFrance !

[charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

*thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

I sincerely wish I had been exposed to “indiana” at the same age I began reading other classics. the knowledge that it was read more than “the hunchback of notre dame” at their times of publication is easy to believe, and given the story is written by a woman, makes sense that it has lost its power. but the story itself is enduring, captivating, and honest. I was drawn in immediately by the characters and their dynamics.

in terms of the graphic novelization, I was in love. the coloring, expressions, and settings were all beautiful. I enjoyed how the prologue and epilogue were done by different artists, and show the contrast between sand’s life and “indiana”. I found myself drawn to the colors and patterns used throughout and could differentiate the meanings of why they were each used.

overall, I quite enjoyed this graphic novel. I did notice quite a few spelling errors (considering this is an arc, it makes sense, but it did detract from my reading). I felt I did not understand ramiere’s intentions with indiana at first, and felt this could be better portrayed with letters or deeper facial expressions focusing only on ramiere. even though I have not read the source material, I absolutely feel this was a full story and took into account all of the story details.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

TW: attempted rape, assault, suicide, domestic abuse.

For me an unnknown classic about women's need for equality in revolutionary period France, Indiana is a beautifully illustrated and well told story of Indiana and her will to break free, from two two awful men very different in awfulness.

Married young to an older man who treats her like a doll to keep around the house and show off at parties, Indiana's story is depressing but fiercely told in this comic as she finds her way into a romantic affair with a controlling, narcissistic, manipulative man who has already led her half sister to commit suicide.

Indiana is a smart but innocent woman and these entanglements eventually lead her to Ralph, thank god who seems to be the only decent man in France. As this comic goes on, Indiana is a frustrating but well written character surrounded by people who are only in her life for themselves and though it's a slow process I'm glad as a person she grows.

This story on beautifully drawn illustrations. Her dresses are stunning, they really are and the buildings, gardens and places feautured are beautifully pictured throughout this book that tell this story so incredibly well, for that work alone, you should take a look at this comic.

A well told story, if you want a graphic novel of a feminist classic this is perfect for you.

[Brittany ✨Bookishlyyoursforever✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this free copy of the graphic novel in exchange for my honest opinion! I was not familiar with George Sand or her story, this was a fascinating read for me as someone who has an interest in history, classic literature, and feministic ideas. The illustrations for this novel were simply gorgeous, Indiana was as alluring as the novel made her seem, and I found it quite ironic that she (despite George's protests to the contrary) largely reflected her creator in appearance and story. The story featured many of the common Victorian themes of the time, and I found myself strongly rooting for Indiana and her cousin while praying for Raymon's downfall at every turn. I'm pleased with the ending of the story, and although I wish the true ending of the novel had been illustrated, I understand why there was an author interlude instead. Altogether, I loved learning about George Sand and her iconic first novel under that name, and I found this translated work to be so enriching. I would love to have a physical copy of this novel, and may even try to read the original at some point.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

The typical upper-class goings-on amongst the French, or so suggests a very weak and poor survey of French literature. Here, our cad of an anti-hero is playing off a young and unhappily married woman with her own maid. When that is no longer an option it's to the wife he concentrates, with suitably unsavoury aims. What follows is a set of grim entanglements, ill feeling, and all that passionate stuff. It's presented kind of successfully – the art direction certainly makes the panels a varied bunch, but the captioned panels with speech bubbles can be quite novelistic at times, the font has a very awkward 'd' making "god" look like "goal", etc, and at times the reading order of the bubbles requires too much thinking about, until you work out the pattern.

Still, this outsold "Hunchback of Notre Dame" upon first release, apparently, so this is a cheat's way to get what I have to assume is a reasonable precis of the novel. It seems respectful to Sand, and to its audience – but three and a half stars is my maximum.

[Morgane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think this book was for me. And I think that if this wasn't presented as a graphic novel I would have never found a interest in this classic. The story is not appealing to me from the beginning but that is because I am not usually a romance reader. I also didn't like the characters and their personality, but Indianna was the worst.
The story is understandable but I don't think I have the knowlegde to unserstand everything it is suppose the said but that can also be because I found myself skipping pages because the story wasn't interesting me.
The main thing I like about this book are the graphic. They were consistent throughout the story, the emotions of the characters were well depicted and understandable and each characters had distinct features.

Thanks to NetGalley and Europe Comics for the copy of this book.

[Kindle Addict · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had never read George Sand’s work before and this introduction through graphic novel was interesting!
The art style was absolutely gorgeous and a treat to look at! The story itself is full of passion and secrets/treasons…A true classic.
I admit I was very surprised by the end since the book seems to be over with several white pages until we go back to George Sand talking about her book, (now as an older woman) revealing the end of her novel.

I recommend for those who want to discover this classic in another form!

[Hermusings · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️
I can honestly say I would have never gravitated towards this classic novel if it wasn’t for it being turned into a comic. I think this is a great and accessible way for classics to be read.
In terms of the plot itself… it was a bit lackluster & scattered. I felt no real attachment to any character — I would say due to their selfishness. It just felt like watch something descend very slowly.
The illustration was great and I enjoyed the brief insight into George Sand.
Thank you to Europe Comics and NetGalley for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

[BooksToTheGrave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Indiana isn't satisfied with her married life. But different and new is not always better...

Although I enjoyed the drawings, I didn't feel immersed in the narrative.
There were moments when something was lacking that would give the story more life.

My favorite parts were the beginning and end, where we can learn a little about the author.

Overall, it's a good adaptation, with good coloring and lettering.

Read through NetGalley

[AnoukLibrary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Adaptée du roman éponyme de George Sand, cette bande dessinée dresse le portrait d’Indiana, une jeune femme métisse coincée dans un mariage malheureux avec un riche bourgeois. Si je n’ai malheureusement pas du tout été sensible aux illustrations et si j’ai trouvé l’héroïne très agaçante, les messages portés par cette œuvre demeurent à mon sens importants, rendant compte de la condition féminine navrante de l’époque.

[Liliana Stojanov · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love some of the narrative choices they made with this adaptation, like having Ralph’s dog (Ophelia) be a part of the scene where M. Delmare assaults Indiana. I was anticipating how they would adapt Ralph’s confession, given how creepy it was in the original novel (umm, he was a bit much). Perhaps unsurprisingly, they chose to skip over most of it.

This is a solid adaptation. I’d recommend it.