Vidal

by Danila Botha

Part Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis, and Art Spiegelman’s Maus, Danila Botha’s powerful debut graphic novel, follows young Vidal who grows up in Tiberias (Ottoman Empire and then British Mandate Palestine) and moves to Paris to pursue his art and freedom and gets trapped there during World War II. Danila Botha traces the steps of Vidal’s life through Chagallian vignettes, from his Sephardic upbringing in Tiberias to studies in the Technion in Haifa, his artistic life in Paris, his work with the underground resistance, and his ultimate arrest and time in Auschwitz.

Poignantly capturing the Sephardic Jewish experience, and Like Vidal and his family, the author’s family were fifth generation Moroccan Jews who grew up speaking both Hebrew and Arabic and coexisting with their neighbours and friends.

A rich artistic and cultural experience, Vidal brings to light the untold stories of family, hope, freedom, and what their pursuit can cost. Vidal reminds us all that it’s possible for things to be different.

"Vidal is one of the most powerful, moving, and respectful holocaust / Shoah narratives that I’ve ever encountered. The voice is true, the imagery explodes with a kind of joy that would do justice to the incredible character that Botha portrays. It left me both shattered and elevated at the same time. Thank you for this work."

Ken Krimstein, author of When I Grow Up, The Three Escapes of Hannah Arendt and Einstein in Kafkaland

"Vidal is a vivid and moving portrait of one man’s irrepressible drive to revel in life, love, and art. Told in bold, beautiful paintings that evoke the lyrical spirit of Modernism and testify to a range of resonant emotions, Vidal immortalizes the richness of Sephardic life before WW2, the strength of Jewish resistance during the Shoah, and the enduring legacy of artistic survival."
Amy Kurzweil, author of Artificial: A Love Story and Flying Couch: A Graphic Memoir

How do you render a lost world, a story that has almost vanished into history? With realistic precision? Or impressionistically, with the bright colours of the imagination? Danila Botha’s Vidal does both, delivering a remarkable narrative with clear, matter-of-fact style and accompanying it with illustrations that are a vivid delight to the eye. It’s an impressive achievement.

Adam Sol, author of Broken Dawn Blessings

"Vidal is such a beautifully realized work…a narrative that encompasses the world at large with its immense joys and tragedy, all within the journey of one individual…the greatest strength is in its prose narrative followed closely by her passionate paintings… Vidal undoubtedly offers a wonderful window into history and a rich cultural experience...Botha is creating very compelling work, providing that valuable window of accessibility. It brings to life such subjects as Sephardic Jewish life and the Shoah in ways beyond words and, for that, it is essential. This is an important work any way you look at it."

Henry Chamberlain, Comics Grinder

Genres: Comics

120 pages, Paperback

Published May 25, 2026

About the author

Danila Botha is the author of the critically acclaimed short story collections, Got No Secrets, For All the Men (and Some of the Women) I’ve Known, which was a finalist for the Trillium Book Award, The Vine Awards and the ReLit Award and most recently, Things that Cause Inappropriate Happiness. Things that Cause Inappropriate Happiness won an Indie Reader Discovery Award for Women's Issues, Fiction, and was a finalist for the Canadian Book Club Awards, the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and the National Indie Excellence Book Awards. She is also the author of the award-winning novel Too Much On the Inside, which was optioned for film by Pelee Entertainment. Her new novel, A Place for People Like Us was published in Sept 2025 by Guernica Editions. It won an Independent Press Award for Contemporary novel and was a Finalist for the Eric Hoffer Book Award, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and National Indie Excellence Awards.
Her first graphic novel, Vidal, which she wrote and illustrated was published in May 2026 by At Bay Press.
She is currently working on new short fiction, and a new graphic novel.

Reviews

[Erika Dreifus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this graphic novel as a gift from the author (I'm also mentioned in the acknowledgments). And I'll tell you what I have told her: I hold special admiration for author-illustrators, not least because I have some inkling as to how difficult it is to be just ONE of those two things (I'm a competent writer; I have no visual-art skills whatsoever). The idea of having so much talent and dedication and using them to create something so truly beautiful honestly overwhelms me. But Danila Botha has done it.

And the protagonist's trajectory is unlike any I have seen to date--going from pre-state Israel to Europe and then to Canada. I also admire the way the author has chosen to frame the narrative of Vidal's story (I'm not going to spoil that discovery for you).

I'm told that some minor proofreading oversights will be remedied in the next edition. But you needn't wait to immerse yourself in the power and beauty of this book.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vidal was a wonderful story about a man who protects his daughters from the horrors of Nazi occupied France. Vidal almost loses himself but manages to live just to see his daughters again. I really enjoyed reading about this character and his family. I wanted to know more about him, before World War 2 and his experiences in the concentration camp. He was a wonderful character. Danila's great uncle would be proud.

[Lucy Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vidal by Danila Botha is one of the first ever graphic novels that has ever really engaged me, and I cannot overstate the importance of that experience. As a writer of historical fiction, I often attempt to highlight those things in our past with a view to promoting reflection about subjects that transcend time and place. Botha has done this brilliantly by gifting us with a novel that addresses ethnic cleansing and the Holocaust. Vidal could easily be used to teach important concepts such as democracy, humanity, propaganda, resistance, terrorism, and accountability. Although her main character Vidal is a Sephardic Jew with his own journey, the heart of the story is universal, with a great deal of cross-contextual contemporary relevance. Botha is herself an artist and has illustrated the novel with vibrant images reminiscent of Chagall’s later work. In Vidal, she reminds us of our duty to remember but also our responsibility to take action. Highly recommended.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The striking artwork and bold use of line and exploding colour brings the story to life. The vivid descriptions bring you along with Vidal from childhood into adulthood where tragedy strikes, the worst tragedy imaginable. When I really got into the story I found myself there with Vidal as he was navigating the stages of his life and as it descends into crises. I was taken off guard and found myself rereading passages to make sure I didn’t miss anything but these sudden major events made the story even more realistic. The horror of the experiences mentioned throughout the holocaust are difficult but necessary. Ultimately a deeply sad story that ends on a note of survival and resilience. Definitely worth reading.

[Deb Lernout-Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to win this book in a draw. I wasn't sure if I would like it but I absolutely did. It was a sad story but was rich in heart and history. I learned about some new traditions I was not aware of in a fun form. The art work was beautiful abstract and I thought it added to the story as it went along. Defintely, a nice change of pace from the last few books I have explored by other authors.

[Shannon Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Botha has given us a gorgeous debut graphic novel in VIDAL. Beautiful illustrations accompany a compelling narrative. Must read.

[Mary Yarde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spanning Vidal Ben Soussan's life from his childhood in Tiberias to his experiences as a prisoner in Auschwitz, Vidal by Danila Botha is an ambitious venture that successfully creates a novel depicting the culturally diverse experiences of multiple societies during one of history's most turbulent periods. Through Vidal, readers are introduced to life in early twentieth-century Tiberias before following his journey to Paris, where he settles and begins a new life before the Nazi occupation changes everything.

This novel carries a wonderfully nostalgic tone throughout. Reading it often feels like sitting beside a grandparent, listening as they share memories of their childhood and the events that shaped their life. The depictions of Vidal's early years, growing up alongside his twin brother and his younger sister, Mazal, with whom he shares a particularly close bond, are full of warmth and vibrancy. The descriptions of aromatic food, bustling markets, and family life are beautifully complemented by the colourful artwork. During these opening chapters, the illustrations are especially striking, with rich colours bringing the food, clothing, and landscapes vividly to life. It is a joyful period in Vidal's life, and that happiness translates wonderfully to the reader.

As the story progresses, Vidal's move to Paris introduces a new chapter filled with excitement and possibility. Ever since childhood, he and Mazal had dreamed of experiencing Paris, and finally reaching the city brings with it a genuine sense of achievement. Coming from a large and loving family, Vidal soon embraces his new life, finding love and settling into married life. Even as Paris falls under Nazi occupation, life initially appears to continue with a fragile sense of normality. This innocence is perhaps best reflected through Vidal's young daughter. The yellow star, intended as a badge of persecution, becomes to her a symbol of belonging, as she proudly wishes to wear one like her parents. It is a bittersweet moment that perfectly captures the innocence of childhood, while reminding readers of the terrible reality that lies just beyond her understanding.

Vidal's involvement with the Jewish Resistance proved one of my favourite aspects of the novel. It adds another fascinating dimension to his story while demonstrating his quiet courage. Although aware of the growing dangers surrounding him, Vidal remains determined to help others, risking his own safety to forge documents and support those facing persecution. His greatest concern, however, is always his family. His determination to protect his daughters, even when he knows the risks involved, highlights the strength of his character and his willingness to sacrifice everything for those he loves.

The novel undergoes a dramatic shift when Vidal arrives at Auschwitz, both in its writing and in its artwork. The vibrant colours of earlier chapters give way to darker blues, greys, and reds, creating an immediate sense of fear and uncertainty. The introduction of Josef Mengele brings with it an overwhelming feeling of dread, particularly for readers already familiar with the atrocities committed in Auschwitz. Rather than dwelling on graphic descriptions, the novel allows the horror to emerge through implication, making many scenes all the more unsettling. Vidal's own identity as a twin adds another chilling dimension as the experiments carried out on twins become part of his daily existence, creating a haunting connection between the innocence of his childhood and the horrors of the camp.

The artwork remains one of the novel's defining features. Rather than simply illustrating the story, the paintings become part of the narrative itself, often conveying emotion through colour and composition. The changing palette mirrors Vidal's journey, moving from warmth and hope to darkness and despair. While I admired this artistic approach, there were occasions when I found myself lingering over the paintings and missing some of the accompanying narrative. Likewise, the inclusion of signs and notices in their original languages adds authenticity, but readers who speak only English may occasionally find themselves wishing for translations so that they can fully appreciate every visual detail without breaking their immersion in the story.

Vidal is ultimately a deeply personal tribute to one family's history. Through both words and artwork, Danila Botha preserves the remarkable life of Vidal Ben Soussan, ensuring that his experiences are not forgotten. While there were moments where I wished the narrative lingered longer on some of the story's most emotional events, I admired the originality of its presentation and the care taken to bring this important story to life. It is a thoughtful and visually distinctive work that offers readers a moving insight into a lesser-known perspective of the Holocaust.

Review by Ellie Yarde
Yarde Book Promotions

[Literary Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danila Botha’s Vidal is a vivid historical fiction graphic novel inspired by her family’s history. It follows Vidal Ben Soussan from a lively Sephardic Jewish childhood in Tiberias to the freedom and glamour of Paris, then into the terror of the Holocaust. The first-person narration makes Vidal feel immediate and complicated. He’s charming, impulsive, affectionate, vain, creative, and sometimes painfully selfish. That complexity gives this graphic novel its energy. Rather than presenting history as a sequence of dates, Botha builds a life out of family rituals, multilingual conversations, food, flirtation, artistic ambition, and the small decisions that become devastatingly consequential.

The early chapters are especially rich in sensory detail. Tiberias smells of jasmine, coriander, garlic, mint tea, and Vidal’s mother’s Moroccan cooking, while Paris offers lace, pastries, cafés, studios, and the excitement of becoming an artist. These pleasures matter because they establish exactly what war destroys. As this Jewish historical fiction story moves into occupation, antisemitic restrictions, the Vel d’Hiv roundup, resistance work, and Auschwitz, the tone tightens without flattening Vidal into a symbol. His decision to hide his daughters, even against his wife Sylvie’s wishes, becomes the emotional center of the book. It saves their lives, but it also leaves a wound that survival can’t simply close.

The artwork is central to the storytelling. Botha uses thick black lines, distorted faces, layered blocks of saturated color, handwritten text, and collage-like page designs that resemble journals, family albums, street posters, and painted memories. In the Tiberias and Paris sections, pinks, oranges, blues, and greens crowd the pages with warmth and movement. As the book enters its Holocaust passages, the palette grows harsher and more claustrophobic, with barred windows, crowded figures, repeated uniforms, identification papers, and cramped architectural shapes. The images don’t aim for photographic realism. They capture how memory feels: bright in places, fragmented in others, and sometimes almost unbearable to look at.

What stayed with me most was the book’s insistence that survival includes contradiction. Vidal lives because he’s adaptable, persuasive, talented, reckless, and lucky, yet those same qualities complicate his relationships long after the war. The ending, in which he reunites with daughters who barely remember him, is moving because it allows love, estrangement, grief, and relief to occupy the same space. Vidal works as a Holocaust memoir-inspired graphic novel, a family saga, and a portrait of an artist whose hunger for life persists through catastrophe. It’s an intimate, visually distinctive book about memory and inheritance, told with color, tenderness, and a clear understanding that being remembered means being remembered whole.

[Briann Shear · Rating 5 out of 5]

This stunning graphic novel is both written and illustrated by Danila Botha. Although I knew her as an excellent writer having read both her short stories (Things That Bring Inappropriate Happiness and her novel (A Place For People Like Us), this new one showcases her talent in visual arts as well. The richly colored paintings and the simple prose tell in first person a fictionalized family story of Vidal, the authors great uncle. We meet Vidal, which appropriately means "alive"at his birth and journey with him through his life. He tells the story simply and bravely without self-pity, but we can feel the emotional toll through the text as well as the illustrations. The paintings add a powerful emotional punch, from the simple joys of childhood to the struggle to save his family and survive as a Jewish man during the Holocaust. A very beautiful book.