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Little Tulip
A serial killer haunts the city streets, a stalker of isolated women who leaves a Santa Claus hat at the scene of his crimes. Pavel, a Russian émigré, assists the police investigation as a sketch artist. But Pavel's true calling is as a tattoo artist, and the so-called Bad Santa killings conjure up memories of the nightmarish world in which he learned his craft: a Russian prison camp that shattered his childhood and destroyed his family. Shifting between the living hell of a 1940s Siberian gulag and the crime-ridden chaos of New York City during the 1970s, this graphic novel's stunning artwork provides an atmospheric backdrop to its tale of corruption, murder, and revenge.
Author Jerome Charyn was acclaimed by The New York Review of Books as "a fearless writer. Brave and brazen." This edition of Little Tulip, which was originally published in French, features Charyn's new English translation. Award-winning illustrator François Boucq also collaborated with Charyn on the acclaimed graphic novels The Magician's Wife and Billy Budd, KGB. Suggested for mature readers.
Author Jerome Charyn was acclaimed by The New York Review of Books as "a fearless writer. Brave and brazen." This edition of Little Tulip, which was originally published in French, features Charyn's new English translation. Award-winning illustrator François Boucq also collaborated with Charyn on the acclaimed graphic novels The Magician's Wife and Billy Budd, KGB. Suggested for mature readers.
96 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2014
2 people are currently reading
406 people want to read
About the author
Jerome Charyn
221 books229 followersJerome Charyn is an award-winning American author. With more than 50 published works, Charyn has earned a long-standing reputation as an inventive and prolific chronicler of real and imagined American life.
Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael Chabon calls him "one of the most important writers in American literature." New York Newsday hailed Charyn as "a contemporary American Balzac," and the Los Angeles Times described him as "absolutely unique among American writers."
Since the 1964 release of Charyn's first novel, Once Upon a Droshky, he has published thirty novels, three memoirs, eight graphic novels, two books about film, short stories, plays, and works of non-fiction. Two of his memoirs were named New York Times Book of the Year.
Charyn has been a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. He received the Rosenthal Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and was named Commander of Arts and Letters by the French Minister of Culture. Charyn is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Film Studies at the American University of Paris.
In addition to writing and teaching, Charyn is a tournament table tennis player, once ranked in the top ten percent of players in France. Noted novelist Don DeLillo called Charyn's book on table tennis, Sizzling Chops & Devilish Spins, "The Sun Also Rises of ping-pong."
Charyn's most recent novel, Jerzy, was described by The New Yorker as a "fictional fantasia" about the life of Jerzy Kosinski, the controversial author of The Painted Bird. In 2010, Charyn wrote The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson, an imagined autobiography of the renowned poet, a book characterized by Joyce Carol Oates as a "fever-dream picaresque."
Charyn lives in New York City. He's currently working with artists Asaf and Tomer Hanuka on an animated television series based on his Isaac Sidel crime novels.
Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael Chabon calls him "one of the most important writers in American literature." New York Newsday hailed Charyn as "a contemporary American Balzac," and the Los Angeles Times described him as "absolutely unique among American writers."
Since the 1964 release of Charyn's first novel, Once Upon a Droshky, he has published thirty novels, three memoirs, eight graphic novels, two books about film, short stories, plays, and works of non-fiction. Two of his memoirs were named New York Times Book of the Year.
Charyn has been a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. He received the Rosenthal Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and was named Commander of Arts and Letters by the French Minister of Culture. Charyn is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Film Studies at the American University of Paris.
In addition to writing and teaching, Charyn is a tournament table tennis player, once ranked in the top ten percent of players in France. Noted novelist Don DeLillo called Charyn's book on table tennis, Sizzling Chops & Devilish Spins, "The Sun Also Rises of ping-pong."
Charyn's most recent novel, Jerzy, was described by The New Yorker as a "fictional fantasia" about the life of Jerzy Kosinski, the controversial author of The Painted Bird. In 2010, Charyn wrote The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson, an imagined autobiography of the renowned poet, a book characterized by Joyce Carol Oates as a "fever-dream picaresque."
Charyn lives in New York City. He's currently working with artists Asaf and Tomer Hanuka on an animated television series based on his Isaac Sidel crime novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 17, 2017
The collaborations of Jerome Charyn and François Boucq, Little Tulip, Billy Budd, KGB, and The Magician’s Wife, have been released in English in the past year, though this is the first one that has come into my library. It’s an intense tale, often brutal, for “mature readers,” clearly not a kid comic, with a focus on Pavel, a Russian émigré, a tattoo artist who also helps police investigations as a sketch artist. A serial killer, Bad Santa (nothing to do with the comic movie!), is killing women in NYC. Two stories emerge: Pavel’s hard life in a Russian labor camp, in the forties, and NYC in the seventies, and the two stories entertwine. Horrible things happen, and touching things happen, too, as Pavel makes connections with a young girl in his neighborhood.
Not surprisingly, the tattoos on Pavel's now flesh are important and interesting, a record of his life. The art is great, and the story, though sometimes violent, is powerful and ultimately touching as Pavel comes alive. I will definitely seek out the rest of these collaborations, and the individual work of both artists.
Not surprisingly, the tattoos on Pavel's now flesh are important and interesting, a record of his life. The art is great, and the story, though sometimes violent, is powerful and ultimately touching as Pavel comes alive. I will definitely seek out the rest of these collaborations, and the individual work of both artists.
December 4, 2020
Interesting look into life in gulag, where gangs and their leaders are true rulers over the life of prisoners. Young kid is making reputation as tatoo artist and rising in ranks in search for vengeance. Pretty good story, with theme and setting that we doesn't see that often. Ending is quite hasty and I didn't like that 'mythical' part of it. But it kind of works if you close your eyes over some small things that doesn't make sense.
April 21, 2017
This is absolutely brilliant. The story goes to some dark and violent places, but there are touches of sweetness and beauty as well.
Here we have an illustrator from Europe (France?) showing the world how it is done, with flawless, exciting work.
And the story touches on some pretty amazing ideas.
If my warnings do not scare you off,
read this!
Here we have an illustrator from Europe (France?) showing the world how it is done, with flawless, exciting work.
And the story touches on some pretty amazing ideas.
If my warnings do not scare you off,
read this!
February 12, 2017
This is my first exposure to Charyn's work or any sort, comics or prose. This is an engaging story, and Boucq's art is a certainly a highlight.
September 8, 2018
Une BD extrêmement brutale et dure, mais très belle et poétique à la fois sur certains aspects, des dessins que j'ai beaucoup aimés. Bref, une découverte inattendue !
March 10, 2021
(3,5/5, J'ai bien aimé)
Deux histoires racontées en parallèle. La plus intéressante se déroule en Union Soviétique, dans les goulags, durant les années 40-50. On y suit le parcours d’un jeune prisonnier américain qui, par son art ―le tatouage―, réussi à infiltrer les gangs qui contrôlent le quotidien du camp de travaux forcés. La quête du jeune Paul (devenu Pavel) : retrouver ses parents, eux aussi incarcérés en ce lieu. Toutes ses machinations sont orchestrées en fonction de cette soif.
Pour la seconde intrigue, Paul est maintenant à New York en 1970. Il est portraitiste pigiste pour la police. Des meurtres en série sont commis dans les ruelles de la ville. Y a-t-il un lien avec son passé? Le lecteur averti se doute bien que oui; la convention l’exige.
Bien que non inintéressant, le volet new-yorkais de LITTLE TULIP n’est pas à la hauteur de la décennie passée dans les goulags. Des dizaines de pages auraient pu (dû?) être ajoutées pour développer davantage la vie et les personnages dans cette fascinante micro-société carcérale. Tout y est laid. C’est sale. Ça pue. C’est dangereux. La survie passe par la violence.
Les tatouages sont au cœur de l’album : ce sont eux qui définissent l’appartenance aux gangs dans le goulag, c’est grâce à eux que le garçon a pu circuler dans le camp et poursuivre ses recherches, c’est à cause d’eux ―à cause du talent d’artiste de Pavel― que l’équilibre de la paix fragile entre gangs est sur le bord d’exploser et, finalement, c’est par eux que Paul trace son histoire, son vécu.
Les illustrations de l’artiste François Boucq sont superbes. J’ai été impressionné par le fait que la transition entre les deux époques se fasse sans artifice pour le signifier au lecteur. Nul besoin de changer les couleurs ou les polices, l’intrigue est si bien ficelée (le scénario est de Jerome Charyn) que la navigation est fluide et naturelle.
Outre que j’en aurais pris davantage dans l’épisode soviétique, j’ai trouvé que, dans l’épisode américain, le personnage de l’apprentie tatoueuse est trop peu développé. Quel est son lien d’origine avec Paul? Il manque d’explications. Ce personnage est trop accessoire, pourtant, on la voit beaucoup.
LITTLE TULIP marque ma première rencontre avec le duo Boucq-Charyn. Bien hâte de pousser mon exploration, car ce fut pour moi une belle expérience de lecture.
Deux histoires racontées en parallèle. La plus intéressante se déroule en Union Soviétique, dans les goulags, durant les années 40-50. On y suit le parcours d’un jeune prisonnier américain qui, par son art ―le tatouage―, réussi à infiltrer les gangs qui contrôlent le quotidien du camp de travaux forcés. La quête du jeune Paul (devenu Pavel) : retrouver ses parents, eux aussi incarcérés en ce lieu. Toutes ses machinations sont orchestrées en fonction de cette soif.
Pour la seconde intrigue, Paul est maintenant à New York en 1970. Il est portraitiste pigiste pour la police. Des meurtres en série sont commis dans les ruelles de la ville. Y a-t-il un lien avec son passé? Le lecteur averti se doute bien que oui; la convention l’exige.
Bien que non inintéressant, le volet new-yorkais de LITTLE TULIP n’est pas à la hauteur de la décennie passée dans les goulags. Des dizaines de pages auraient pu (dû?) être ajoutées pour développer davantage la vie et les personnages dans cette fascinante micro-société carcérale. Tout y est laid. C’est sale. Ça pue. C’est dangereux. La survie passe par la violence.
Les tatouages sont au cœur de l’album : ce sont eux qui définissent l’appartenance aux gangs dans le goulag, c’est grâce à eux que le garçon a pu circuler dans le camp et poursuivre ses recherches, c’est à cause d’eux ―à cause du talent d’artiste de Pavel― que l’équilibre de la paix fragile entre gangs est sur le bord d’exploser et, finalement, c’est par eux que Paul trace son histoire, son vécu.
Les illustrations de l’artiste François Boucq sont superbes. J’ai été impressionné par le fait que la transition entre les deux époques se fasse sans artifice pour le signifier au lecteur. Nul besoin de changer les couleurs ou les polices, l’intrigue est si bien ficelée (le scénario est de Jerome Charyn) que la navigation est fluide et naturelle.
Outre que j’en aurais pris davantage dans l’épisode soviétique, j’ai trouvé que, dans l’épisode américain, le personnage de l’apprentie tatoueuse est trop peu développé. Quel est son lien d’origine avec Paul? Il manque d’explications. Ce personnage est trop accessoire, pourtant, on la voit beaucoup.
LITTLE TULIP marque ma première rencontre avec le duo Boucq-Charyn. Bien hâte de pousser mon exploration, car ce fut pour moi une belle expérience de lecture.
May 29, 2023
J'ai adoré cette BD sombre et violente présentée à la fois comme un polar et une présentation de la vie dans les goulags.
Les dessins de Boucq sont précis et très expressifs faisant ressortir à la fois la laideur ou les horreurs des crimes commis par les hommes et la beauté des créations du tatoueur Paul aka Pavel.
Le scénario de Jérôme Charyn est habile, permettant au lecteur de découvrir le passé du héros tout en suivant une enquête sordide à Brooklyn.
Les dessins de Boucq sont précis et très expressifs faisant ressortir à la fois la laideur ou les horreurs des crimes commis par les hommes et la beauté des créations du tatoueur Paul aka Pavel.
Le scénario de Jérôme Charyn est habile, permettant au lecteur de découvrir le passé du héros tout en suivant une enquête sordide à Brooklyn.
January 2, 2021
Povestea nu merită cinci stele, dar mă dau în vânt după stilul lui Boucq, așa că banda desenată primește o stea în plus. Sunt și eu om, nu? :)
Pe scurt, un copil e internat în Gulag și supraviețuiește pentru că tatuajele pe care le desenează sunt fără pereche. Peste ani, în New York, copilul devenit adult are un salon de tatuaj și își rotunjește veniturile desenând portrete robot pentru poliție. Albumul alternează între trecut (ororile lagărului sunt descrise cu precizie chirurgicală) și prezent (anchetă polițistă pe urmele unui criminal invizibil). Finalul e fantastic cu tente mistice, oarecum facil și previzibil, dar probabil că s-a simțit nevoia de happy-end după toate momentele crude de până atunci.
Pe scurt, un copil e internat în Gulag și supraviețuiește pentru că tatuajele pe care le desenează sunt fără pereche. Peste ani, în New York, copilul devenit adult are un salon de tatuaj și își rotunjește veniturile desenând portrete robot pentru poliție. Albumul alternează între trecut (ororile lagărului sunt descrise cu precizie chirurgicală) și prezent (anchetă polițistă pe urmele unui criminal invizibil). Finalul e fantastic cu tente mistice, oarecum facil și previzibil, dar probabil că s-a simțit nevoia de happy-end după toate momentele crude de până atunci.
August 11, 2018
I read this to learn more about the Goulags and what happened in them. The first part of this BD does indeed paint a portrait of the soviet camps. A harrowing depiction of violence and inhumanity. What surprised me was how much parallels could be drawn with Elie Wiesel's "Night". I guess the japanese and american camps must have been pretty similar too : pretty depressing that horrors were committed on all sides. War makes monsters indeed.
While the depiction of history was very captivating and enriching, the addition of fantastical elements in the present timeline dampens the impact of the horrors of the Goulag. In fact, the whole present timeline was quite unecessary. It would have been better to broach the topic of how the MC rebuilt his life after his release from the camps.
Overall an interesting read.
While the depiction of history was very captivating and enriching, the addition of fantastical elements in the present timeline dampens the impact of the horrors of the Goulag. In fact, the whole present timeline was quite unecessary. It would have been better to broach the topic of how the MC rebuilt his life after his release from the camps.
Overall an interesting read.
September 28, 2017
A nice unique art style with muted colours and limited colour palette really shines in this volume. I was less enthralled with the "modern" part of this volume but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless. Dark and challenging throughout; it doesn't hold any punches.
February 7, 2015
Waw...
Deze strip heeft alles in zich om de status van stripklassieker te verwerven : de tekeningen voelen zeer klassiek aan (zou evengoed een album uit de jaren '80 kunnen zijn) en getuigen van een oerdegelijk vakmanschap. Ondertussen hebben we hier ook te maken met een zeer sterk scenario van Charyn, een vertelling die de lezer doet meeleven met de gebeurtenissen in Siberië en New York. Wat we lezen is niets voor tere zieltjes maar het verhaal heeft een groot hart. Hierdoor heb ik enorm meegeleefd zelfs al vraagt men van de lezer een zekere 'suspension of disbelief'.
Het stripjaar 2015 is met deze strip en het eerste deel van 'Undertaker' (Dorison/Meyer) goed ingezet.
Deze strip heeft alles in zich om de status van stripklassieker te verwerven : de tekeningen voelen zeer klassiek aan (zou evengoed een album uit de jaren '80 kunnen zijn) en getuigen van een oerdegelijk vakmanschap. Ondertussen hebben we hier ook te maken met een zeer sterk scenario van Charyn, een vertelling die de lezer doet meeleven met de gebeurtenissen in Siberië en New York. Wat we lezen is niets voor tere zieltjes maar het verhaal heeft een groot hart. Hierdoor heb ik enorm meegeleefd zelfs al vraagt men van de lezer een zekere 'suspension of disbelief'.
Het stripjaar 2015 is met deze strip en het eerste deel van 'Undertaker' (Dorison/Meyer) goed ingezet.
June 7, 2015
Absolutely brilliant!
June 22, 2017
very beautiful artwork, very intense story, violent and haunting
September 18, 2018
A parallel story of a tattooer's past in a Russian gulag catching up with him in New York. Little Tulip has seen it all, slavery, rape gangs, prostitutes, pedophilia, murder, but his talent for artistry and his love for family convinces him still to have a heart.
The art is lovely and detailed, carrying an oppressive mood across it all. Though many barbaric acts are shown, the violence is done in a semi-realistic way, without excessive blood spatter. However there are many round protruding breasts. The violence, both physical and sexual, will be too much for many readers.
I liked the transitions back and forth from past to present. The story is alright for most parts, except for the massive coincidence at the end, and the jump into fantasy that appears out of nowhere. The tattooists jump into knife fighting seemed a little forced. Also, why Santa?
I'm sad that the main character is the only one who is really developed. All the skills, the feelings, really go towards him.
I wonder if the translation at the end did not butcher the connecting narrative ties between Little Tulip and his new apprentice: these really could have been developed more throughout the story, had the apprentice had more of a focus in the present, but perhaps they didn't want to be too obvious. Maybe the horrors of the Gulag could not possibly compare to those of modern day.
Overall, an alright read with warning for violence (physical and sexual).
The art is lovely and detailed, carrying an oppressive mood across it all. Though many barbaric acts are shown, the violence is done in a semi-realistic way, without excessive blood spatter. However there are many round protruding breasts. The violence, both physical and sexual, will be too much for many readers.
I liked the transitions back and forth from past to present. The story is alright for most parts, except for the massive coincidence at the end, and the jump into fantasy that appears out of nowhere. The tattooists jump into knife fighting seemed a little forced. Also, why Santa?
I'm sad that the main character is the only one who is really developed. All the skills, the feelings, really go towards him.
I wonder if the translation at the end did not butcher the connecting narrative ties between Little Tulip and his new apprentice: these really could have been developed more throughout the story, had the apprentice had more of a focus in the present, but perhaps they didn't want to be too obvious. Maybe the horrors of the Gulag could not possibly compare to those of modern day.
Overall, an alright read with warning for violence (physical and sexual).
November 15, 2022
Esta história mistura vários géneros e, na realidade, é pena que alguns deles não sejam mais aprofundados. Fica, nomeadamente, por dar uma explicação acerca do poder algo 'sobrenatural' que o protagonista possui, que é a percepção apurada das descrições físicas que lhe fazem. Além disso, a parte 'policial' (os assassínios na Nova Iorque dos anos 70) também parece resolvida demasiado à pressa, como se os autores tivessem sabido só a meio do livro que teriam um número limitado de páginas para preencher. É pena... Mas em todo o caso, dou 4 estrelas, pois gostei da parte da história que se passa na Rússia. Ainda que folhetinesca e um pouco inverosímil, não deixa de ser bastante boa e cativante para quem lê. Eu, pelo menos, senti-me interessado.
June 19, 2017
Not very often do story and art rival each other, save for this book.
I began reading yesterday and were it not for feeling unwell I would have finished it immediately.
Unique story, pulls you in, with a dark undertone of isolation.
New perspective of storytelling and the art of tattoos.
Highly recommended!
I began reading yesterday and were it not for feeling unwell I would have finished it immediately.
Unique story, pulls you in, with a dark undertone of isolation.
New perspective of storytelling and the art of tattoos.
Highly recommended!
April 18, 2021
Realistische strip van Boucq naar een verhaal van Charyn, een chroniqueur van de achterbuurten van New York. Een Russische immigrant, tatoeage-kunstenaar en portrettekenaar voor de politie, bovenal overlevende van de Goelag komt oude bekenden tegen. Eenvoudige, rauwe tekeningen, passend bij rauw verhaal.
April 21, 2025
Zaskakująco dobra historia, oszałamiająco przy tym zilustrowana. To rysunek przyciągnął mnie do tej historii, która okazała się bardzo angażująca. I brutalna na obu liniach fabularnych - w Nowym Yorku lat 70-tych oraz wcześniej, na zesłaniu w Kołymie na Syberii. W obu wątkach stawiająca przed głównym bohaterem wyzwanie, o co i jak będzie walczyć i czy pozostanie chelovekiem.
July 27, 2020
Charyn / Boucq um Americano, outro Francês. Pra mim resume com perfeição o que é a coleção de obras da dobradinha. Vc percebe influências das duas escolas, apesar de estar mais pra um quadrinho europeu com um dedinho americano colocando o pé no chão e tentando maneirar no apelo erótico.
February 18, 2023
Een goed verhaal over de goelags, met een interessante kijk op tatoeages en identiteit.
Het tekenwerk is realistisch met eerder sombere kleuren. Het paste beter bij de flashbacks dan bij het heden.
Het tekenwerk is realistisch met eerder sombere kleuren. Het paste beter bij de flashbacks dan bij het heden.
May 2, 2024
O fato de falar de ser parcialmente ambientado na Sibéria deixa a história interessantíssima.
Gostei muito dos traços, me choquei varias vezes. Tem que ter uma suspensão de crença algumas vezes, mas valeu muito a pena.
Gostei muito dos traços, me choquei varias vezes. Tem que ter uma suspensão de crença algumas vezes, mas valeu muito a pena.
May 31, 2024
I feel like this has the same problems as the other Charyn/Boucq works: the setup is incredible, the story is well written, but suddenly, at the end, there's a bad surprise coming. But the art is just amazing from cover to cover.
October 14, 2019
masterpiece
August 24, 2020
L'histoire de cette BD nous révèle comme c'était la vie en Russie pendant la période Staline pour des considérés "criminels". Qui étaient en grand partie des immigrants et pas vraiment des criminels.
April 11, 2021
A la fois très cruel et violent cette BD sur l'histoire d'un tatoueur qui a grandi au goulag est géniale
June 22, 2021
Bien que la conclusion soit assez poétique, le reste est beaucoup trop violent, barbare et brutal pour la petite nature que je suis... ça va me filer des cauchemars !
December 9, 2023
"killin' bitches--send em to the gulag." ~megan thee stallion
March 6, 2024
Beautiful artwork, gripping, fast-paced plot.
More of a short-story than novel.
More of a short-story than novel.
May 29, 2025
Heb genoten van de lectuur. Scenario, setting (New York, jaren 1970; Siberië, jaren 1940-1950) en tekenstijl waren goed uitgewerkt en boeiend. Een strip voor volwassenen, da's heel duidelijk.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews