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Les esclaves oubliés de Tromelin
L'île des Sables, un îlot perdu au milieu de l'océan Indien dont la terre la plus proche est à 500 kilomètres de là... À la fin du XVIIIe siècle, un navire y fait naufrage avec à son bord une "cargaison" d'esclaves malgaches. Les survivants construisent alors une embarcation de fortune. Seul l'équipage blanc peut y trouver place, abandonnant derrière lui une soixantaine d'esclaves.Les rescapés vont survivre sur ce bout de caillou traversé par les tempêtes. Ce n'est que le 29 novembre 1776, quinze ans après le naufrage, que le chevalier de Tromelin récupérera les huit esclaves survivants : sept femmes et un enfant de huit mois.Une fois connu en métropole, ce "fait divers" sera dénoncé par Condorcet et les abolitionnistes, à l'orée de la Révolution française.Max Guérout, ancien officier de marine, créateur du Groupe de recherche en archéologie navale (GRAN), a monté plusieurs expéditions sous le patronage de l'UNESCO pour retrouver les traces du séjour des naufragés. Ses découvertes démontrent une fois de plus la capacité humaine à s'adapter et à survivre, en dépit de tout.L'archéologue a invité le dessinateur à les rejoindre lors d'une expédition d'un mois sur Tromelin. De là est né ce livre : une bande dessinée qui entremêle le récit "à hauteur humaine" (on "voit" l'histoire du point de vue d'une jeune esclave, l'une des survivantes sauvées par le chevalier de Tromelin) avec le journal de bord d'une mission archéologique sur un îlot perdu de l'océan Indien. Après le succès international de Marzi, Sylvain Savoia offre à nouveau aux lecteurs une magnifique leçon d'humanité.
120 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2015
3 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Sylvain Savoia
98 books9 followersSylvain Savoia is a French comic artist.
He is the partner of Marzena Sowa.
He is the partner of Marzena Sowa.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
August 17, 2018
The author penned in sordid detail the atrocity that befell slaves left to carve out a meager existence upon a deserted rock - an island reef. Sylvain Savoia is given full credit for the creation of both script and illustrative artwork. The drawings were outstanding. This graphic novel elevated reading to a whole new level. It was like watching a movie with closed captions. The single plot saw to it that the storyline would not wander and remained on track. It was an entertaining and easy read.
In 1761, on Madagascar, slave merchants took possession of over 100 innocent victims and stored them down below, aboard their ill-fated ship, the Utile. On the way to Mauritius the seagoing vessel became grounded just off the island of Tromelin, 300 miles east of Madagascar. For many, they would come to call that wayward atoll home for endless years to come.
Those poor, wretched souls had to endure treacherous cyclones that mercilessly swept over their prison island and took many of its stranded inhabitants with it. With every pounding, thunderous storm more perished. Fifteen years later, out of nowhere, a ship dropped anchor just offshore and rescued the remaining handful of slaves. Not a one looked back.
In 2008 a group of archaeologists traveled to the island in search of hidden clues to the slave’s existence. Their excavations turned up coral huts, spoons, plates and even a human skull. More artifacts would be soon to follow. It was speculated that in consideration of their abominable living conditions how anyone could have possibly survived for as long as they had. It was a true testament to the human will to survive.
My gratitude is sent to NetGalley and Europe Comics for this digital edition in exchange for an unbiased review.
In 1761, on Madagascar, slave merchants took possession of over 100 innocent victims and stored them down below, aboard their ill-fated ship, the Utile. On the way to Mauritius the seagoing vessel became grounded just off the island of Tromelin, 300 miles east of Madagascar. For many, they would come to call that wayward atoll home for endless years to come.
Those poor, wretched souls had to endure treacherous cyclones that mercilessly swept over their prison island and took many of its stranded inhabitants with it. With every pounding, thunderous storm more perished. Fifteen years later, out of nowhere, a ship dropped anchor just offshore and rescued the remaining handful of slaves. Not a one looked back.
In 2008 a group of archaeologists traveled to the island in search of hidden clues to the slave’s existence. Their excavations turned up coral huts, spoons, plates and even a human skull. More artifacts would be soon to follow. It was speculated that in consideration of their abominable living conditions how anyone could have possibly survived for as long as they had. It was a true testament to the human will to survive.
My gratitude is sent to NetGalley and Europe Comics for this digital edition in exchange for an unbiased review.
September 28, 2018
This is a remarkable true account of survival against all the odds.
It shows the inhuman nature of the 'civilised' French being nothing but people traffickers, taking the indigenous inhabitants of Madagascar for profit, to be sold on as slaves. Perfectly legal at the time.
A quite shocking read on the face of it. The Forgotten Slaves of Tromelin is a both the worst of humankind and the best in terms of spirit and adaptability to live against the odds.
It is a great title as when word reaches the East India Company of abandoned survivors on this inhospitable island, they are ignored because they were slaves; little economic value to rescue and an embarrassment how they came to be on board the shipwrecked vessel.
The story of the shipwreck is told in episodes alternating with the modern research team and archaeological expedition who visited Tromelin.
This is a clever approach because it is only through painstaking research that the story has come to be told. The facts are indisputable but the story is a creation literary genius weaving this evidence together. I found the modern similarities between abandonment even for a short stay at the weather station fascinating as modern technology often failed and the native Malagasy coped adjusting to their new situation. Having been taken from their homes by force; having been shipwrecked and then left alone, while the French sailors journeyed for help they somehow found the will to live on. not knowing how long their isolation would last. Having little hope for the future as to be rescued would be to be recaptured into slavery. Perhaps better to die on this new island as free people. But they we removed from their culture, religious practices and customs and their community values.
Again, fascinating that something of the modern scientists is mirrored in their solitude and deprivations, although death wasn't a constant fear as the new plane was scheduled in a set number of days.
A graphic novel that I hope is shared as part of France's national curriculum. Since the Malagasy as seen in this true account, were poorly treated, but worked tirelessly to live with dignity.
A privilege to read and share with others.
August 16, 2018
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley
There are many stories from history that we do not know. It isn’t that in every case they are totally forgotten, though that is true in some cases, for sometimes people do know the story, but the story is not widely known. This graphic novel relates one of those known but unknown stories.
The novel tales two stories. The first is that of the slave who not only find themselves kidnapped but then stranded on a small island. The second is group of scholars many years later as they struggle to piece together what happened. There is the stark contrast between the deprivations that the shipwrecked people suffered to that of the relative ease in which the researchers live.
The dual stories work, as the graphic novel is true. It is a non-fiction graphic novel. Once you realize this is account and that is why some of the characters aren’t as fully developed as they would be in more fictional and less scholarly accounts.
The amount of information that the book conveys is quite nice and the art work is lovely.
There are many stories from history that we do not know. It isn’t that in every case they are totally forgotten, though that is true in some cases, for sometimes people do know the story, but the story is not widely known. This graphic novel relates one of those known but unknown stories.
The novel tales two stories. The first is that of the slave who not only find themselves kidnapped but then stranded on a small island. The second is group of scholars many years later as they struggle to piece together what happened. There is the stark contrast between the deprivations that the shipwrecked people suffered to that of the relative ease in which the researchers live.
The dual stories work, as the graphic novel is true. It is a non-fiction graphic novel. Once you realize this is account and that is why some of the characters aren’t as fully developed as they would be in more fictional and less scholarly accounts.
The amount of information that the book conveys is quite nice and the art work is lovely.
August 4, 2018
This tale of the shipwreck of the the French ship L'Utile in 1761 was fascinated. The cargo of slaves and surviving crew built a raft in which the crew left the island of Tromelin and reached Madagascar. Meanwhile the surviving slaves carried on and after 15 years the remaining 7 women and one child were rescued. The graphics and the story were brilliant.
Interspersed with this story was one of an exploration of the island to find evidence of the slaves and how they survived. This second part was not as interesting, partially due to the amount of details it contained.
Interspersed with this story was one of an exploration of the island to find evidence of the slaves and how they survived. This second part was not as interesting, partially due to the amount of details it contained.
September 16, 2018
Find this and other reviews at: http://historicalfictionreader.blogsp...
Based on the true story of the L’Utile and those who survived its sinking, Sylvain Savoia’s The Forgotten Slaves of Tromelin chronicles a little-known story of cruelty, prejudice, and survival against unimaginable odds. Told in two parts, the book relays its content through both the eighteenth centuries inhabitants of the island and the dedicated research team who pieced together the survivors’ story in the early 2000s.
I personally found Tsimiavo and the historical storyline more compelling than the modern one, but that’s just me. The tenacity of the Malagasy survivors and the brutal realities of their experience were poignantly drawn and while I appreciated the story of the researchers, I must feel it paled in comparison.
The illustrations were not overly detailed, but the artwork is clean. I found the historical storyline easy to follow, but the modern story is illustrated without cell borders with text crammed between images. The end result felt unnecessarily jumbled and took some getting used to. Beyond that, however, I have not complaints with the book and am happy with the time I spent reading it.
Based on the true story of the L’Utile and those who survived its sinking, Sylvain Savoia’s The Forgotten Slaves of Tromelin chronicles a little-known story of cruelty, prejudice, and survival against unimaginable odds. Told in two parts, the book relays its content through both the eighteenth centuries inhabitants of the island and the dedicated research team who pieced together the survivors’ story in the early 2000s.
I personally found Tsimiavo and the historical storyline more compelling than the modern one, but that’s just me. The tenacity of the Malagasy survivors and the brutal realities of their experience were poignantly drawn and while I appreciated the story of the researchers, I must feel it paled in comparison.
The illustrations were not overly detailed, but the artwork is clean. I found the historical storyline easy to follow, but the modern story is illustrated without cell borders with text crammed between images. The end result felt unnecessarily jumbled and took some getting used to. Beyond that, however, I have not complaints with the book and am happy with the time I spent reading it.
September 30, 2021
This is the first time I’ve ever heard of this real life story. It’s incredible.
August 6, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley, Europe Comics, and Sylvain Savoia for a copy of the comic to review. As always, an honest review.
I read the entire graphic novel in a day. By nature, they're not too long, but since I hadn't heard about Tromelin before I absolutely had to find out what happened to all the slaves shipwrecked on the island.
I'm not a huge fan of graphic novels and comics, because most of them are based on superheroes. Not my thing! However, when I saw this one I knew I had to read it. I first noticed the illustrations. They're gorgeous, detailed, evocative of so many emotions, and incredibly powerful. They tell the story wonderfully. The combination of the illustrations and text makes the emotions jump off the page. I felt as if I was right there trapped on the ship with the slaves ~ tired, scared, hot, hungry.
Not too many graphic novels discuss slavery, especially a part of history that's as forgotten as Tromelin. I certainly hadn't heard of it before reading this. The story is told by alternating from present day scientists, journalists, archeologists, etc. excavating the site, and the historical events as they were occurring.
While the history was wonderfully done, the parts about the present day excavations were only okay. Their findings of long lost artifacts did help to complete the story. Also definitely a trigger warning for slavery, assault, abandonment, etc.
Overall, I highly recommend reading The Forgotten Slaves of Tromelin. Powerful, emotive, impactful, an important part of history that's told through gorgeous illustrations in this graphic novel.
I read the entire graphic novel in a day. By nature, they're not too long, but since I hadn't heard about Tromelin before I absolutely had to find out what happened to all the slaves shipwrecked on the island.
I'm not a huge fan of graphic novels and comics, because most of them are based on superheroes. Not my thing! However, when I saw this one I knew I had to read it. I first noticed the illustrations. They're gorgeous, detailed, evocative of so many emotions, and incredibly powerful. They tell the story wonderfully. The combination of the illustrations and text makes the emotions jump off the page. I felt as if I was right there trapped on the ship with the slaves ~ tired, scared, hot, hungry.
Not too many graphic novels discuss slavery, especially a part of history that's as forgotten as Tromelin. I certainly hadn't heard of it before reading this. The story is told by alternating from present day scientists, journalists, archeologists, etc. excavating the site, and the historical events as they were occurring.
While the history was wonderfully done, the parts about the present day excavations were only okay. Their findings of long lost artifacts did help to complete the story. Also definitely a trigger warning for slavery, assault, abandonment, etc.
Overall, I highly recommend reading The Forgotten Slaves of Tromelin. Powerful, emotive, impactful, an important part of history that's told through gorgeous illustrations in this graphic novel.
August 28, 2018
This book is based on true events and tells the tale of a shipwrecked slave ship. It's both an interesting and sad story. Peppered throughout are bits and pieces of the author's own story- his travel to the island of Tromelin, how he spent his time there, etc. I'm still torn as to whether or not his additions add to or take away from the story of the castaways. While it was interesting to read about the findings of the archaeologists, sometimes it felt like too much info when I really just wanted to know the fate of the castaways.
October 10, 2018
Un sensacional ejemplo que cómo el cómic puede ser un excelente instrumento para narrar la historia. Muy acertado el trabajo de Sylvain Savoia quién, invitado a la expedición arqueológica para encontrar vestigios del asentamiento de los esclavos en la isla de Tromelin, plasma el naufragio y supervivencia de los esclavos (un hecho histórico impactante y, al menos para mi, desconocido hasta la fecha) junto con el diario de campaña de la expedición arqueológica.
September 16, 2018
The Forgotten Slaves of Tromelin is one of many tragic stories out of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade. Savoia was part of an archeological expedition to Tromelin to unearth evidence left behind by shipwrecked slaves over a 15 year time span and the book is the account of this expedition along with flashbacks to this time based on historical records.
While it's interesting content, I really didn't care for how the book was mostly carried by the written content and not as much by the illustrations.
While it's interesting content, I really didn't care for how the book was mostly carried by the written content and not as much by the illustrations.
August 6, 2018
(I received a copy of this work from NetGalley for an honest review)
I had absolutely no idea about the wreck of the L'Utile, or about the abandoned slaves on Tromelin, and I doubt that there are very many have. So for its subject matter alone I give this work high marks for shining attention to this incredible and heart-wrenching bit of history.
Unfortunately, it then goes on to suffer a bit from the contrast between the two simultaneous stories that it tells - that of the shipwreck and the slaves' plight, and that of an archeological expedition taken to better understand the life that the shipwreck survivors managed to scrape out. The latter, while interesting in its own right, is also a little overloaded. The pages covering it are so packed with multiple drawings and accompanying text that it honestly becomes a challenge to read.
However, I found that such inconvenience was balanced out by the former tale of the Tromelin slaves. Thanks to Sylvain Savola's work, one doesn't merely learn about their plight, but actually is able to get a glimpse of what they experienced, including their despair, their fear, and the incredible will to live that allowed them to survive for years on such an inhospitable speck in the ocean.
This is both a recommended read, and definitely a work I would definitely like to have added to my library's collection of graphic novels.
I had absolutely no idea about the wreck of the L'Utile, or about the abandoned slaves on Tromelin, and I doubt that there are very many have. So for its subject matter alone I give this work high marks for shining attention to this incredible and heart-wrenching bit of history.
Unfortunately, it then goes on to suffer a bit from the contrast between the two simultaneous stories that it tells - that of the shipwreck and the slaves' plight, and that of an archeological expedition taken to better understand the life that the shipwreck survivors managed to scrape out. The latter, while interesting in its own right, is also a little overloaded. The pages covering it are so packed with multiple drawings and accompanying text that it honestly becomes a challenge to read.
However, I found that such inconvenience was balanced out by the former tale of the Tromelin slaves. Thanks to Sylvain Savola's work, one doesn't merely learn about their plight, but actually is able to get a glimpse of what they experienced, including their despair, their fear, and the incredible will to live that allowed them to survive for years on such an inhospitable speck in the ocean.
This is both a recommended read, and definitely a work I would definitely like to have added to my library's collection of graphic novels.
March 11, 2019
I started this graphic novel believing it would be an illustrated story about a group of slaves in the 18th century. And though it was partly that, it was much more a recounting of a group of archeologists coming to a tiny island named Tromelin in 2006, where they were trying to find evidence of how those slaves, who were abandoned on an island with almost no chance of survival, lived on the island. The story moved me. I had never heard of it and it's terrible to think what these people must have gone through! 15 years on a tiny island with almost no vegetation...no hope of being rescued...
The art is beautiful and the storytelling not bad either. I especially liked the flashbacks about what life could have been like for this little society of slaves back then and I also grew to like the parts that told of the archeological pursuits in the much more recent past better with time, but I have to admit that it was often rather boring and it took me very long to finish, because I just couldn't bring myself to continue reading.
I thank Europe Comics and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.
The art is beautiful and the storytelling not bad either. I especially liked the flashbacks about what life could have been like for this little society of slaves back then and I also grew to like the parts that told of the archeological pursuits in the much more recent past better with time, but I have to admit that it was often rather boring and it took me very long to finish, because I just couldn't bring myself to continue reading.
I thank Europe Comics and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.
August 12, 2018
A fascinating look at an event that apparently turned the French against the slave trade. A shipwreck leaves Africans who have been captured for the slave trade alone on a small desert island, where some manage to survive for 15 years.
The island has nothing on it, and somehow, they manage to get rain water, and catch fish, and survive.
The second story in the book is of Sylvian, the author, flying to the island, to learn by what was left behind, how these people survived. I tended to skip over those parts, that were sprinkled into the story of the people left behind, because I was more interested in that part of the story.
Not sure if this story is well know by the French, but I had never heard of Tromelin, or the people left behind. Glad that it got translated.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
The island has nothing on it, and somehow, they manage to get rain water, and catch fish, and survive.
The second story in the book is of Sylvian, the author, flying to the island, to learn by what was left behind, how these people survived. I tended to skip over those parts, that were sprinkled into the story of the people left behind, because I was more interested in that part of the story.
Not sure if this story is well know by the French, but I had never heard of Tromelin, or the people left behind. Glad that it got translated.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
July 27, 2024
Sylvain s’empare du drame du naufrage de « L’Utile » pour nous proposer un roman graphique très bien documenté et captivant.
1761. « L’Utile », navire de la Compagnie des Indes Orientales prend la mer, avec à son bord le Capitaine Jean de Lafargue et plus de 150 esclaves noirs. Tsimiavo et sa mère ont été enlevées dans leur village malgache et embarquées sur « L’Utile ». Lafargue souhaitant être discret sur sa cargaison, décide de prendre une route inhabituelle qui précipitera « L’Utile » au fond de l’océan. Les quelques survivants trouvent refuge sur une île, enfin plutôt une bande de sable d’à peine 1 km2, hostile, surgie de nulle part. Tsimiavo et sa mère sont parmi eux. Tous joignent leurs forces pour construire une embarcation de fortune mais seuls les blancs embarquent, tout en promettant aux noirs de revenir les chercher…Ce qui ne sera fait que 15 ans plus tard…
De nos jours, Sylvain prend part à une expédition archéologique sur le banc de sable, « Tromelin », baptisé ainsi du nom du commandant de la corvette ayant secouru les naufragés. Tromelin est le paradis des Bernard-L’Hermite et des tortues en ont fait leur lieu de ponte.
J’avais l’impression d’être face à un Pompéï en plein cœur de l’Océan Indien. On suit les recherches de Sylvain, ses découvertes, on en viendrait presque à prendre un petit pinceau ou une balayette miniature pour l’aider à creuser ! Sylvain et l’équipe ont mis à jour des objets du quotidien, ainsi que des constructions en dur. On découvre comment ces gens, à qui on a ôté toute humanité, se sont organisés et ont reconstruit une micro-société. Ils ont dû transgresser leurs croyances en érigeant des abris en pierre pour se protéger contre la fureur des éléments. Or, dans la culture malgache, ce matériau n’est réservé qu’aux tombeaux. On imagine très bien l’effort psychologique que demandait une telle démarche.
« Pour nous, ce voyage est un choix, libre et grisant. A quoi peut-on bien penser lorsqu’on est emmené de force vers un destin inconnu ? »
« Les esclaves oubliés de Tromelin » est un ouvrage passionnant. Découpé en plusieurs parties, il alterne le récit du voyage en mer, du naufrage et de l’organisation de la survie des survivants, ainsi que les recherches de Sylvain sur place, sous forme de carnet de voyage. On ne se perd jamais entre les différentes périodes, puisque les illustrations sont totalement différentes.
Le passé est dessiné de manière très réaliste, net, aux couleurs foncées. Les détails sont minutieux, précis, représentant assez fidèlement l’époque. L’immersion du lecteur est intense. Les expressions des visages, le langage corporel renforcent l’impact émotionnel. Le lecteur souffre avec les personnages.
Le présent se révèle plutôt sous la forme d’une aquarelle, aux couleurs douces, rendant ces passages plus subtils, plus picturaux. J’ai aimé le sens des détails, la profondeur apportée. Les dessins prennent vie sous nos yeux. Ces moments apportent beaucoup de nostalgie et de rêve, je trouve.
La mise en page est différente également en fonction de l’époque. Si la partie historique est présentée sous forme de grille asymétrique (apportant une belle dynamique au récit), la partie se déroulant aujourd’hui est relatée avec le texte narratif positionné sous les vignettes, la rendant contextuelle et descriptive. C’est un réel journal de voyage.
Côté rédaction, si la partie passé est écrite à la troisième personne, la partie présent place Sylvain en narrateur, permettant au lecteur de s’immerger totalement à ses côtés et renforçant le sentiment d’appartenance à l’équipe.
On prend vite la mesure de ce qu’est la vie sur Tromelin. Car, l’expédition, même si elle comporte le minimum de confort, se révèlera néanmoins compliquée. Qu’en était-il des esclaves, sans eau potable, sans aménagement, et surtout, sans échéance de sortie ? J’ai aimé ce parallèle, discret, mais pourtant bien réel.
L’émotion est présente à chaque page, différemment en fonction de l’époque. Avec Sylvain, on ressent la frénésie des découverte, le poids de la solitude et l’impression d’être vraiment coupé du monde. Avec les esclaves, c’est l’indignation et la colère qui prennent le dessus. La société française a joué un rôle significatif dans l’histoire de l’esclavage, l’histoire des naufragés de Tromelin permet de ne pas l’oublier.
Une intrusion écologique interpelle le lecteur et le met face à nos déchets et à leur gestion. Les nombreux objets en plastique échouant dans l’environnement, et l’île de Tromelin ne fait pas exception, ont un impact désastreux sur la faune et la flore.
« Planète, mon amie, on te piétine la gueule par tous les moyens. »
Une partie documentaire en fin d’ouvrage reprend le contexte historique, le naufrage, la vie quotidienne sur l’île. Les dates clés de l’esclavagisme français et son abolition sont reprises.
Cette lecture m’a apporté un belle expérience de lecture, multidimensionnelle, stimulante. J’ai apprécié l’immersion émotionnelle, le côté recherches scientifiques, ainsi que le dynamisme de la narration couplée aux illustrations.
« Les esclaves oubliés de Tromelin » est un roman graphique fort, instructif et divertissant que je vous conseille.
« Et pourtant, au fond de moi, une petite voix me murmure que c’est une douce illusion. Viendra le moment où l’humain dans toute sa diversité me manquera, ceux qui sont proches bien sûr, mais les autres aussi. Les belles rencontres à venir, les voyages, les histoires. Je n’ai pas de vocation monacale. »
#LesesclavesoubliésdeTromelin #Savoia #Romangraphique #Dupuis
1761. « L’Utile », navire de la Compagnie des Indes Orientales prend la mer, avec à son bord le Capitaine Jean de Lafargue et plus de 150 esclaves noirs. Tsimiavo et sa mère ont été enlevées dans leur village malgache et embarquées sur « L’Utile ». Lafargue souhaitant être discret sur sa cargaison, décide de prendre une route inhabituelle qui précipitera « L’Utile » au fond de l’océan. Les quelques survivants trouvent refuge sur une île, enfin plutôt une bande de sable d’à peine 1 km2, hostile, surgie de nulle part. Tsimiavo et sa mère sont parmi eux. Tous joignent leurs forces pour construire une embarcation de fortune mais seuls les blancs embarquent, tout en promettant aux noirs de revenir les chercher…Ce qui ne sera fait que 15 ans plus tard…
De nos jours, Sylvain prend part à une expédition archéologique sur le banc de sable, « Tromelin », baptisé ainsi du nom du commandant de la corvette ayant secouru les naufragés. Tromelin est le paradis des Bernard-L’Hermite et des tortues en ont fait leur lieu de ponte.
J’avais l’impression d’être face à un Pompéï en plein cœur de l’Océan Indien. On suit les recherches de Sylvain, ses découvertes, on en viendrait presque à prendre un petit pinceau ou une balayette miniature pour l’aider à creuser ! Sylvain et l’équipe ont mis à jour des objets du quotidien, ainsi que des constructions en dur. On découvre comment ces gens, à qui on a ôté toute humanité, se sont organisés et ont reconstruit une micro-société. Ils ont dû transgresser leurs croyances en érigeant des abris en pierre pour se protéger contre la fureur des éléments. Or, dans la culture malgache, ce matériau n’est réservé qu’aux tombeaux. On imagine très bien l’effort psychologique que demandait une telle démarche.
« Pour nous, ce voyage est un choix, libre et grisant. A quoi peut-on bien penser lorsqu’on est emmené de force vers un destin inconnu ? »
« Les esclaves oubliés de Tromelin » est un ouvrage passionnant. Découpé en plusieurs parties, il alterne le récit du voyage en mer, du naufrage et de l’organisation de la survie des survivants, ainsi que les recherches de Sylvain sur place, sous forme de carnet de voyage. On ne se perd jamais entre les différentes périodes, puisque les illustrations sont totalement différentes.
Le passé est dessiné de manière très réaliste, net, aux couleurs foncées. Les détails sont minutieux, précis, représentant assez fidèlement l’époque. L’immersion du lecteur est intense. Les expressions des visages, le langage corporel renforcent l’impact émotionnel. Le lecteur souffre avec les personnages.
Le présent se révèle plutôt sous la forme d’une aquarelle, aux couleurs douces, rendant ces passages plus subtils, plus picturaux. J’ai aimé le sens des détails, la profondeur apportée. Les dessins prennent vie sous nos yeux. Ces moments apportent beaucoup de nostalgie et de rêve, je trouve.
La mise en page est différente également en fonction de l’époque. Si la partie historique est présentée sous forme de grille asymétrique (apportant une belle dynamique au récit), la partie se déroulant aujourd’hui est relatée avec le texte narratif positionné sous les vignettes, la rendant contextuelle et descriptive. C’est un réel journal de voyage.
Côté rédaction, si la partie passé est écrite à la troisième personne, la partie présent place Sylvain en narrateur, permettant au lecteur de s’immerger totalement à ses côtés et renforçant le sentiment d’appartenance à l’équipe.
On prend vite la mesure de ce qu’est la vie sur Tromelin. Car, l’expédition, même si elle comporte le minimum de confort, se révèlera néanmoins compliquée. Qu’en était-il des esclaves, sans eau potable, sans aménagement, et surtout, sans échéance de sortie ? J’ai aimé ce parallèle, discret, mais pourtant bien réel.
L’émotion est présente à chaque page, différemment en fonction de l’époque. Avec Sylvain, on ressent la frénésie des découverte, le poids de la solitude et l’impression d’être vraiment coupé du monde. Avec les esclaves, c’est l’indignation et la colère qui prennent le dessus. La société française a joué un rôle significatif dans l’histoire de l’esclavage, l’histoire des naufragés de Tromelin permet de ne pas l’oublier.
Une intrusion écologique interpelle le lecteur et le met face à nos déchets et à leur gestion. Les nombreux objets en plastique échouant dans l’environnement, et l’île de Tromelin ne fait pas exception, ont un impact désastreux sur la faune et la flore.
« Planète, mon amie, on te piétine la gueule par tous les moyens. »
Une partie documentaire en fin d’ouvrage reprend le contexte historique, le naufrage, la vie quotidienne sur l’île. Les dates clés de l’esclavagisme français et son abolition sont reprises.
Cette lecture m’a apporté un belle expérience de lecture, multidimensionnelle, stimulante. J’ai apprécié l’immersion émotionnelle, le côté recherches scientifiques, ainsi que le dynamisme de la narration couplée aux illustrations.
« Les esclaves oubliés de Tromelin » est un roman graphique fort, instructif et divertissant que je vous conseille.
« Et pourtant, au fond de moi, une petite voix me murmure que c’est une douce illusion. Viendra le moment où l’humain dans toute sa diversité me manquera, ceux qui sont proches bien sûr, mais les autres aussi. Les belles rencontres à venir, les voyages, les histoires. Je n’ai pas de vocation monacale. »
#LesesclavesoubliésdeTromelin #Savoia #Romangraphique #Dupuis
June 16, 2016
Quel histoire! j'ai beaucoup aimé l'intégration du passé avec le présent. j'ai trouvé la mise en page un peu trop en termes de texte-un peu difficile à savoir quel case correspond à quel texte mais peu importe, c'était fascinant quand même
August 12, 2018
Another brilliant graphic novel, published by Europe Comics!
My heart was in my mouth as I read this. The story flashes between the past and the story of the abandoned slaves, and the present which is a story of an excavation. The excavation uncovers the village that the slaves built for themselves and has helped people understand how the slaves survived on the tiny sandbank/island for fifteen years!
It is a shocking story of human inhumanity and cruelty. At the same time it is not a surprising story because it is a story of slavery. It is yet another illustration of how slaves were treated during the transatlantic slave trade. They were treated worse than animals. The lesson is that we should never forget this because it shows us the depths to which humanity can descend.
In 1761 the French ship L'Utile (The Useful), was transporting slaves from Madagascar to Mauritius, and it ran aground on the tiny island of Tromelin. With the help of the slaves the sailors built a new boat promising to takes the slaves with them, but they betrayed them and left sixty slaves behind promising to return for them.
Of course they didn't because when they reached Madagascar and asked for help the French government refused to provide a rescue ship because France was fighting the seven years war. Most of the abandoned slaves died in the first few months. It took the French government 15 years to send a ship to rescue the slaves and by that time there were only six women and small baby alive. Some of the other slaves had tried to leave the island by raft but it is clear they didn't make it and must've perished. Others perished on the island.
The graphic novel portrays this story with really great artwork and characters that bring the story to life. We are told the story of the slaves alongside the story of an excavation and the past and the present stories just add to the richness of reading this.
I always find it hard to read true stories of slavery because the suffering is unimaginable. With this story part of me was thinking that the abandoned slaves at least had their freedom even if it was on a small sandbank of an island. Who knows if the island would've been a better fate than captivity.
It is a story that is well worth reading. I really enjoyed it despite all the pain and the heart rending feel of the story, because there are still aspects of hope within the story. The slaves were indomitable and courageous. They survived for 15 years with nothing and that in itself is amazing. I have reviewed a number of comics for Europe comics and they always so good to read especially the historical stories.
This is hard to read but at the same time it is a brilliant comic.
Many thanks to Europe comics who provided this for review via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
My heart was in my mouth as I read this. The story flashes between the past and the story of the abandoned slaves, and the present which is a story of an excavation. The excavation uncovers the village that the slaves built for themselves and has helped people understand how the slaves survived on the tiny sandbank/island for fifteen years!
It is a shocking story of human inhumanity and cruelty. At the same time it is not a surprising story because it is a story of slavery. It is yet another illustration of how slaves were treated during the transatlantic slave trade. They were treated worse than animals. The lesson is that we should never forget this because it shows us the depths to which humanity can descend.
In 1761 the French ship L'Utile (The Useful), was transporting slaves from Madagascar to Mauritius, and it ran aground on the tiny island of Tromelin. With the help of the slaves the sailors built a new boat promising to takes the slaves with them, but they betrayed them and left sixty slaves behind promising to return for them.
Of course they didn't because when they reached Madagascar and asked for help the French government refused to provide a rescue ship because France was fighting the seven years war. Most of the abandoned slaves died in the first few months. It took the French government 15 years to send a ship to rescue the slaves and by that time there were only six women and small baby alive. Some of the other slaves had tried to leave the island by raft but it is clear they didn't make it and must've perished. Others perished on the island.
The graphic novel portrays this story with really great artwork and characters that bring the story to life. We are told the story of the slaves alongside the story of an excavation and the past and the present stories just add to the richness of reading this.
I always find it hard to read true stories of slavery because the suffering is unimaginable. With this story part of me was thinking that the abandoned slaves at least had their freedom even if it was on a small sandbank of an island. Who knows if the island would've been a better fate than captivity.
It is a story that is well worth reading. I really enjoyed it despite all the pain and the heart rending feel of the story, because there are still aspects of hope within the story. The slaves were indomitable and courageous. They survived for 15 years with nothing and that in itself is amazing. I have reviewed a number of comics for Europe comics and they always so good to read especially the historical stories.
This is hard to read but at the same time it is a brilliant comic.
Many thanks to Europe comics who provided this for review via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
September 24, 2018
In 1760, the ship, Utile, carrying African captives bound for the slave market, was shipwrecked on Tromelin, a small desolate island 500 kilometres away from Madagascar. With the aid of the Africans, a new ship was built from the remnants of the old but, when it was finally finished and able to leave, the black captives were abandoned. Despite the promises of the captain that he would send rescue, it would be fifteen years before any came for them. When the story of the Tromelin slaves spread around France, it became one of the major pushes for both the abolition of slavery and the Enlightenment.
The Forgotten Slaves of Tromelin is written and drawn by Sylvain Savoia who, two hundred years after this event, accompanied an archaeological crew to the island to try to uncover how the slaves survived on what was hardly more than a barren sandbar. The graphic novel is divided between the dig and life for the archaeological crew and that of the slaves which is based both on what is objectively known about the event both then and now and Savoia's own conjecture based on what the archaeologists uncover. Savoia's art is stunning, showing in great detail what life was like for the captives both on the ship and the island. The story is also beautifully written especially as it shows the suffering of the captives again both on the ship and on the island as well as the indifference to their suffering displayed by their captors. It is a heartrending indictment of the cruelty of the slave trade and the people who plied it. It is also a testament to the resilience of the people who survived and even built a life for themselves in some of the worst conditions imaginable.
The parts of the story concerning the dig are, not surprisingly, much less emotional both in the art and the storyline providing a stark contrast to the shipwreck: the crew has supplies flown in, they have a time schedule for when they will leave, they are in no real danger. Interestingly, although the island is still unoccupied for the most part, there are signs of human existence everywhere in the debris that floats up onto the island and that is having a negative impact on the marine life that exists there.
The Forgotten Slaves of Tromelin is a brilliant use of the graphic novel to tell a true and tragic tale, one that should be more widely known. If I have any criticism, it would be that the prose was often fairly dense and sometimes difficult to read. But this is just a small problem and I would recommend this to anyone interested to better understand the consequences and tragedies of the international slave trade...actually, to everyone because it provides the kind of history that should never be forgotten but is known by few outside a university classroom.
Thanks to Netgalley and Europe Comics for the opportunity too read this book in exchange for an honest review
The Forgotten Slaves of Tromelin is written and drawn by Sylvain Savoia who, two hundred years after this event, accompanied an archaeological crew to the island to try to uncover how the slaves survived on what was hardly more than a barren sandbar. The graphic novel is divided between the dig and life for the archaeological crew and that of the slaves which is based both on what is objectively known about the event both then and now and Savoia's own conjecture based on what the archaeologists uncover. Savoia's art is stunning, showing in great detail what life was like for the captives both on the ship and the island. The story is also beautifully written especially as it shows the suffering of the captives again both on the ship and on the island as well as the indifference to their suffering displayed by their captors. It is a heartrending indictment of the cruelty of the slave trade and the people who plied it. It is also a testament to the resilience of the people who survived and even built a life for themselves in some of the worst conditions imaginable.
The parts of the story concerning the dig are, not surprisingly, much less emotional both in the art and the storyline providing a stark contrast to the shipwreck: the crew has supplies flown in, they have a time schedule for when they will leave, they are in no real danger. Interestingly, although the island is still unoccupied for the most part, there are signs of human existence everywhere in the debris that floats up onto the island and that is having a negative impact on the marine life that exists there.
The Forgotten Slaves of Tromelin is a brilliant use of the graphic novel to tell a true and tragic tale, one that should be more widely known. If I have any criticism, it would be that the prose was often fairly dense and sometimes difficult to read. But this is just a small problem and I would recommend this to anyone interested to better understand the consequences and tragedies of the international slave trade...actually, to everyone because it provides the kind of history that should never be forgotten but is known by few outside a university classroom.
Thanks to Netgalley and Europe Comics for the opportunity too read this book in exchange for an honest review
August 11, 2018
'The Forgotten Slaves of Tromelin' by Sylvain Savoia is two true stories woven together. One is from history, and one is from those looking to discover that history.
In 1760, a French ship named the Utile ran aground on an island called Tromelin. It had 160 slaves aboard that it wasn't supposed to be carrying. Of the 80 that survived the shipwreck, we follow the life of a young woman trying to survive. The white men build a boat and leave the island. One promises to return, and the young woman believes him.
In the current day, the island of Tromelin has a remote weather station. A group of men, including the author/illustrator are there to uncover what can be found of the life that the castaways found. Along with this, are the feelings of being on a remote island with limited water and power. In a place of sparseness and beauty, the author finds a rhythm to life.
Along with the story, is a written account in the back with maps, letters and photographs of the event and the archaeological dig that took place.
I found it fascinating. I liked both stories, and how the lives of these two people centuries apart intermingled. The art works really well for the story. Since the drawings have no borders, I sometime found reading to be confusing, as I wasn't sure if the text was below the line I was reading, or above the line below. That's a minor quibble and shouldn't stop you from reading this.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
In 1760, a French ship named the Utile ran aground on an island called Tromelin. It had 160 slaves aboard that it wasn't supposed to be carrying. Of the 80 that survived the shipwreck, we follow the life of a young woman trying to survive. The white men build a boat and leave the island. One promises to return, and the young woman believes him.
In the current day, the island of Tromelin has a remote weather station. A group of men, including the author/illustrator are there to uncover what can be found of the life that the castaways found. Along with this, are the feelings of being on a remote island with limited water and power. In a place of sparseness and beauty, the author finds a rhythm to life.
Along with the story, is a written account in the back with maps, letters and photographs of the event and the archaeological dig that took place.
I found it fascinating. I liked both stories, and how the lives of these two people centuries apart intermingled. The art works really well for the story. Since the drawings have no borders, I sometime found reading to be confusing, as I wasn't sure if the text was below the line I was reading, or above the line below. That's a minor quibble and shouldn't stop you from reading this.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
April 2, 2019
Bonjour les lecteurs...
Voici une Bd qui nous ramène à un passé colonial pas si lointain
1760, un navire de la Compagnie française des Indes orientales, s’échoue le 31 juillet 1761 sur l’île de Sable, un îlot désert de 1 km² au large de Madagascar, à 500 km de la première terre.
Il transporte 160 esclaves malgaches achetés en fraude, destinés à être vendus à l’île de France (l’île Maurice actuelle).
L’équipage regagne Madagascar sur une embarcation de fortune, laissant 80 esclaves sur l’île, avec la promesse de venir bientôt les rechercher.
Ce n’est que quinze ans plus tard, le 29 novembre 1776, que l'enseigne de vaisseau, futur chevalier Tromelin, sauve les huit survivants : sept femmes et un enfant de huit mois.
Max Guérout, créateur du Groupe de recherche en archéologie navale, a monté plusieurs expéditions sous le patronage de l'UNESCO pour retrouver les traces du séjour des naufragés. L'archéologue a invité le dessinateur à les rejoindre lors d'une expédition d'un mois sur Tromelin.
La BD alterne l'histoire des esclaves, racontée du point de vue d'une des rescapées, avec le présent de la mission archéologique
On y voit la capacité humaine à s'adapter et à survivre, en dépit de tout. La volonté de survivre les empêchant de sombrer tout au long de ces années.
Très joli coup de crayon de Savoia, et histoire plus qu'intéressante.
Petit bémol .. les dessin et écritures de la période moderne ( les recherches archéologiques ) , sont trop peu aérés à mon goût. Tout est tassé, rendant la lecture de cette partie un peu fastidieuse.
Lecture indispensable pour tous ceux qui s'intéresse au passé colonial de nos nations.
Voici une Bd qui nous ramène à un passé colonial pas si lointain
1760, un navire de la Compagnie française des Indes orientales, s’échoue le 31 juillet 1761 sur l’île de Sable, un îlot désert de 1 km² au large de Madagascar, à 500 km de la première terre.
Il transporte 160 esclaves malgaches achetés en fraude, destinés à être vendus à l’île de France (l’île Maurice actuelle).
L’équipage regagne Madagascar sur une embarcation de fortune, laissant 80 esclaves sur l’île, avec la promesse de venir bientôt les rechercher.
Ce n’est que quinze ans plus tard, le 29 novembre 1776, que l'enseigne de vaisseau, futur chevalier Tromelin, sauve les huit survivants : sept femmes et un enfant de huit mois.
Max Guérout, créateur du Groupe de recherche en archéologie navale, a monté plusieurs expéditions sous le patronage de l'UNESCO pour retrouver les traces du séjour des naufragés. L'archéologue a invité le dessinateur à les rejoindre lors d'une expédition d'un mois sur Tromelin.
La BD alterne l'histoire des esclaves, racontée du point de vue d'une des rescapées, avec le présent de la mission archéologique
On y voit la capacité humaine à s'adapter et à survivre, en dépit de tout. La volonté de survivre les empêchant de sombrer tout au long de ces années.
Très joli coup de crayon de Savoia, et histoire plus qu'intéressante.
Petit bémol .. les dessin et écritures de la période moderne ( les recherches archéologiques ) , sont trop peu aérés à mon goût. Tout est tassé, rendant la lecture de cette partie un peu fastidieuse.
Lecture indispensable pour tous ceux qui s'intéresse au passé colonial de nos nations.
January 19, 2021
J'ai entendu parler très récemment de l'histoire des naufragé·e·s de l'île de Tromelin, j'ai donc décidé d'acheter cette BD pour avoir plus de précisions. Elle a été au delà de mes espérances. L'histoire des naufragé·e·s en elle-même y est comptée avec justesse, mais on y trouve également des précisions sur les fouilles archéologiques, l'historique de l'île, ainsi que des considérations personnelles de l'auteur que j'ai trouvées pour ma part très pertinentes, en terme d'écologie et de considération de l'autre. Il y reste pudique et respectueux.
Un passé colonial que nous avons tendance à oublier, alors qu'il n'est pas si lointain (peut-être même encore d'actualité si on y réfléchit bien, nous sommes bien contents de nos "DOM-TOM" quand ils s'agit des cartes postales, bien moins quand il s'agit de respecter les droits fondamentaux des gens qui y vivent...), qui conduit un groupe de personnes à devoir survivre à un endroit totalement inhospitalier. C'est une réalité bien dure à lire, et à la fois fascinante, l'humain peut développer des ressources insoupçonnées en cas de nécessité. Mais je ne peux m'empêcher de penser à la détresse de ces pauvres gens abandonnés de tous pendant si longtemps, à cause de la soif de pouvoir et du manque profond d'humanité dont nous pouvons faire preuve...
Un passé colonial que nous avons tendance à oublier, alors qu'il n'est pas si lointain (peut-être même encore d'actualité si on y réfléchit bien, nous sommes bien contents de nos "DOM-TOM" quand ils s'agit des cartes postales, bien moins quand il s'agit de respecter les droits fondamentaux des gens qui y vivent...), qui conduit un groupe de personnes à devoir survivre à un endroit totalement inhospitalier. C'est une réalité bien dure à lire, et à la fois fascinante, l'humain peut développer des ressources insoupçonnées en cas de nécessité. Mais je ne peux m'empêcher de penser à la détresse de ces pauvres gens abandonnés de tous pendant si longtemps, à cause de la soif de pouvoir et du manque profond d'humanité dont nous pouvons faire preuve...
August 29, 2019
I received this via NetGalley for an honest review.
This graphic novel tells a dual perspective of the events of 18 Th century shipwreck to Tromelin and the archaeological finds in 2008. The art is the watercolor palette that I really love. And it was quite close to real view. I appreciated this format to tell an unknown tale of slavery but more so of survival of those stranded on this tiny island. It is truly an amazing tale. Unfortunately, the narrative overwhelmed the artwork at times. It was choppy, not sure if this was due to translation or it was needed to fit the space limits. And there were times I was confused to how to read the texts as there were blocks of writing around the art. Both stories were interesting enough on their own but not sure if the meshing was as smooth as it could be. And the real photos afterwards seemed more like appendix, really source material, for the tale. But I’m not clear to its exact purpose. It wasn’t that much different to what was presented earlier.
The story was great, the format used needed a bit more work. Putting environmental spin onto a historical story seemed inappropriate. But as a teaser to do more reading, it works well.
This graphic novel tells a dual perspective of the events of 18 Th century shipwreck to Tromelin and the archaeological finds in 2008. The art is the watercolor palette that I really love. And it was quite close to real view. I appreciated this format to tell an unknown tale of slavery but more so of survival of those stranded on this tiny island. It is truly an amazing tale. Unfortunately, the narrative overwhelmed the artwork at times. It was choppy, not sure if this was due to translation or it was needed to fit the space limits. And there were times I was confused to how to read the texts as there were blocks of writing around the art. Both stories were interesting enough on their own but not sure if the meshing was as smooth as it could be. And the real photos afterwards seemed more like appendix, really source material, for the tale. But I’m not clear to its exact purpose. It wasn’t that much different to what was presented earlier.
The story was great, the format used needed a bit more work. Putting environmental spin onto a historical story seemed inappropriate. But as a teaser to do more reading, it works well.
May 8, 2025
Very let down by this. It's a miss in storytelling.
The writing is absolutely confusing, badly put together, and at times barely coherent. His sentences are often inner thought nonsense one can't figure out. I was wondering if I had stumbled upon a badly translated edition. Most comic books are in French so English versions are typically translated. Here all text boxes are overly long with very little info. I was wondering when he would get to the history. But that part is like 25 pages?
Most stuff is introspection about what people see. The author spends half the pages on describing his own situation taking us away from the history. Slaves were stranded on an island for years and he's there now. Yet even in the history setting the Black slaves are extremely wise, brooding, and introspective in a way that would put a philosophy professor to shame. The writing is jut never clean. Storytelling jarring and dull. I was wondering why his own timeline needed to be drawn. Photos would be way more effective. And then do MORE research into the history instead of replacing most of the book with your stories about what you eat and drink.
The writing is absolutely confusing, badly put together, and at times barely coherent. His sentences are often inner thought nonsense one can't figure out. I was wondering if I had stumbled upon a badly translated edition. Most comic books are in French so English versions are typically translated. Here all text boxes are overly long with very little info. I was wondering when he would get to the history. But that part is like 25 pages?
Most stuff is introspection about what people see. The author spends half the pages on describing his own situation taking us away from the history. Slaves were stranded on an island for years and he's there now. Yet even in the history setting the Black slaves are extremely wise, brooding, and introspective in a way that would put a philosophy professor to shame. The writing is jut never clean. Storytelling jarring and dull. I was wondering why his own timeline needed to be drawn. Photos would be way more effective. And then do MORE research into the history instead of replacing most of the book with your stories about what you eat and drink.
August 4, 2018
I have to admit to liking this book much more than I thought I would. Yet another evocation of the slave trade, I thought – but this is much more surprising and unusual to be discounted in such a way. Here the slaves were stuffed into a boat that was shipwrecked on a slip of an island – and their supposed history is presented here – all fifteen years of it. Interspersed with the ligne clair comic version of their lot is a painterly, postcard-styled reportage of the much more recent archaeology that recovered their habitation and gave some long-lost clues to how they managed to survive. I disliked this to some extent for its visual style – with narrow gutters, and captions both above and below the images it's impossible to read some pages in the right order. But on a whole the two distinct narratives are distinctive, and worth exploring.
December 10, 2019
History part is good, self-reflection is not
The story of the Malagasy left to die on Tromelin is incredible and making it into a comic was a great idea. That said, there was way too much melodramatic, typical French self-reflection by the white male author that no one cares about. Even if the expedition parts were included (I personally didn’t care for them), the stuff about his feelings didn’t need to be.
My biggest issue with the art was that it appeared the artist did not know how to draw African features & hair for the Malagasy from the shipwreck, or even the expedition members who looked mostly white until I realized some were local-ish from nearby islands and might have had less French features. Did not deter from the story, but still noticeable.
The story of the Malagasy left to die on Tromelin is incredible and making it into a comic was a great idea. That said, there was way too much melodramatic, typical French self-reflection by the white male author that no one cares about. Even if the expedition parts were included (I personally didn’t care for them), the stuff about his feelings didn’t need to be.
My biggest issue with the art was that it appeared the artist did not know how to draw African features & hair for the Malagasy from the shipwreck, or even the expedition members who looked mostly white until I realized some were local-ish from nearby islands and might have had less French features. Did not deter from the story, but still noticeable.
September 1, 2019
The graphic nonfiction account tells two stories: the history of a group of enslaved people shipwrecked and then abandoned on the small, remote island of Tromelin in the Indian Ocean between 1761 and 1776; and that of a recent (2008) archeological expedition that sought to recover material evidence for insight into the experiences of the castaways. I found this account respectful, grounded in the evidence, and yet also intensely moving. It assumes no familiarity with archeology, but may be especially enjoyable for readers whose imaginations are fired by the thought of understanding the past through the traces our predecessors have left behind.
August 30, 2018
This book is a comic version of a real story. Over two hundred years ago, a ship crashed near a tiny speck of an island and caused the entirety of their crew to be stranded, including the slaves they had stolen from their homes. This story also shows the author and the people documenting their struggles in comic form, as well as in actual documents and pictures from their study.
Check out the rest of my review here!
https://radioactivebookreviews.wordpr...
Check out the rest of my review here!
https://radioactivebookreviews.wordpr...
December 11, 2018
Nisam ljubitelj stripova reportaža, ali ovaj je iznimka od pravila. Isprepliće reportažni dio, odlazak u arheološku ekspediciju na mjesto brodoloma, sa rekreaciom vremena brodoloma. Razlika u ta dva dijela postignuta je različitim izgledom stranice, bez čvrstih okvira kadra u suvremenosti i sa klasičnom strip stranicom za radnju u prošlosti. Dvije paralelne radnje se nadopunjuju tvoreći potpunu sliku bez potrebe za dodatnim pojašnjenjima, tako da je dosje na kraju više sumarizacije nego dopuna nejasnoća.
December 15, 2020
This is an interesting story and one that I had not heard before. A French ship with a cargo of Malagasy slaves runs aground on a tiny, desolate island hundreds of miles from the nearest human habitation. The story is split between a fictional imagining of the shipwreck and life on the island afterwards and a documentary account of a contemporary archeological expedition. The account of the shipwreck is interesting. The contemporary story is a little verbose.
I mostly liked this, but it's two stars because the layout and lettering (kindle version) are terrible. Many panel have text at the top and bottom, which often makes it difficult to tell if a block of text is attached to the image above or below. On the kindle the book feels really cramped and the lettering and font size make it difficult to read.
I mostly liked this, but it's two stars because the layout and lettering (kindle version) are terrible. Many panel have text at the top and bottom, which often makes it difficult to tell if a block of text is attached to the image above or below. On the kindle the book feels really cramped and the lettering and font size make it difficult to read.
April 10, 2023
It is surprising this slave story is not better known. It is hard to imagine living for 12 years on a small treeless island of sand waiting for rescue. That the ship-wrecked sailors didn't bring the slaves who helped them build their boat along with them seems too obvious to be true. The story of the archeological dig told in sequence with the slave tale emphasizes the barrenness of the island. I was amused at all the modern-day trash washed up by the ocean and how it bothered the author.
August 5, 2018
The history of the shipwreck who left slaves on the Island of Tromelin for 15 years is both good and sad, there is still hope, maybe, in this world.
La storia del naufragio che lasciò gli schiavi abbandonati sull'isola di Tromelin per 15 anni é sia bella che triste e lascia anche un minimo di speranza, forse.
THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!
La storia del naufragio che lasciò gli schiavi abbandonati sull'isola di Tromelin per 15 anni é sia bella che triste e lascia anche un minimo di speranza, forse.
THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!
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