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Liberated: The Radical Art and Life of Claude Cahun
Claude Cahun was a gay, Jewish, genderqueer artist who produced an incredible collection of surrealist photography with their life partner, Marcel Moore.
The two were active in 1920s-30s antifascist circles in Paris before moving to the Island of Jersey, where they engaged in creative ant-Nazi resistance work during World War 2. This graphic novel will explore Cahun’s life and work. Keep an eye out for it!
The two were active in 1920s-30s antifascist circles in Paris before moving to the Island of Jersey, where they engaged in creative ant-Nazi resistance work during World War 2. This graphic novel will explore Cahun’s life and work. Keep an eye out for it!
98 pages, Unknown Binding
First published September 1, 2023
4 people are currently reading
850 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
June 11, 2023
That's the challenge i want people to face.
Are your boxes necessary to know me, to love me?
I received a copy of This Graphic Novel ARC, in exchange for an honest review, Thanks To Kaz, Getty and NetGalley for the opportunity.
This will come out September 1, 2023, It's a biography of the amazing Claude Cahun a gender queer lesbian Artist/Writer/Photographer/Actor, Who was Phenomenal in every aspect of their artistic career, They were also a freedom fighter, that drove the Nazi occupation of Jersey (A French Island) Crazy!
Where i am tormented sky, deep and agitated ocean, She is firm ground, calm and light ocean.
I am no longer a lonely boat in that ocean.
I am in her, she is in me, and i will follow her always, never losing sight of her.
The lover that dares not speak its name lies like a golden haze upon my horizon.
It's also details the life of their partner Marcel Moore (Their real names are Lucy and Suzanne respectively) Their relationship was just beautiful, till death do us apart, that's just so rare now, They were really beautiful together, even though this wasn't really focusing on the romance aspect of their lives.
My father could offer me nothing better on my seventh birthday than this : I am very sorry for having brought you into this world.
A big part of this was also about the anti-Semitism that was running rampant in Europe, when Lucy was growing up, Myself lacking historical reads on Europe in the period of 1900+, was thinking that it was only Nazis that gave them hell, But no even France was really ugly for Lucy as they were growing up.
Our work does defy explanation, But the main message is always there beneath the surface.
It grapples with identity and the innate self, Challenging the viewer to question societal "Truths"
They were also a rebel on their current societal norms, and tried to always push the boundaries of what people perceive as normal, A writer beyond their time for sure, i was really impressed by some of the things they said here, Because the Writer was writing with Claude's own words, since they did leave behind memoirs and so many books of the highest intellectual level.
I look to my male contemporaries but find no guidance, i have never fit the expected idea of "woman"
I am not a muse, a mother, or a man's lover.
Women began careers started businesses, wrote, or joined the Red Cross, I began publishing my illustrations.
We shouldn't have to given up our gains, Just because the war ended.
They expect us to go crawling back into the domestic shadows.
We should have a choice!
They were also pioneers feminists to boot, i just loved these muses of theirs, and this part was really enlightening, i never thought that women taking over the jobs of men during world war 1, would be the catalyst to break the role forced upon them to be domestic house wives.
But now that i read it, it makes so much sense!
The government wanted them to leave their jobs, after the men were coming back from the war, They said Fuck that no deal!
Terror without end, or end with terror.
World war 2 hit heavy in this Graphic novel, because up to that point, everything was going as smoothly as can be, it was all upsides, but then war comes knocking at your door, They said it's a surreal feeling to see your world crumbling around you, I can't even imagine how horrible that is, to have a nice calm life, and then you are faced with an occupation, and you are forced to lay low, or fight, and most of us, our instinct is fight, fight to our last breath...
The Nazis' incredibly limited beliefs of what women are capable of worked against them, and we used their perception of us as feeble women to our advantage.
Both of them created the persona of the nameless soldier, Writing pamphlets as if a soldier is annoyed with the occupation, and no one doubted them till they got sold out in the end, and got imprisoned.
Her Notes kept my soul alive.
In the masquerade of our lives, the mask we choose to wear is a mask of our own making after all
The Art was simply amazing, Kaz Did an amazing job, from their choice of color, to the decorative style in some pages (I am still not entirely sure, the word i mean, translates to decorative)
To the Pencils, To including real pieces of art, and photographs made by Claud and Marcel.
It was all just fabulous, i find my self unable to say any negative critique about this entire Graphic novel, and that's the best feeling you want to have after finishing a book.
And i am not saying that because they draw the best looking cats ever!!!
I didn't include most other cat pics, which shows exactly their talent at drawing that cat beautifully, it looked very content, and very happy in every single picture, like the happiest cat ever, more happy than the Cheshire Cat!
The photo of the smuggled Peekaboo cat won in the end for me lol
I'm a hundred miles away from any hatred.
In fact, I'm having a hard time not hugging the entire world with my heart.
Thanks for the amazing read, May all your next creations be as amazing, Someone needs to make a similar Graphic Novel about this gay icon though Willem Arondeus, I would love to read that, he has many similarities with Claude, that he is a freedom fighter and a Writer/Artist as well, Not sure if it would be as easy, getting sources on him though!
But at the end of the day, I defy your attempts to perceive me, For every boundary the world sets before me, i will cross it every time.
January 7, 2024
“Masculine? Feminine? It depends on the situation"--Claude Cahun
“I put on a mask, I take another one off. I will never stop removing these faces”-Claude Cahun, Disavowals, 1930
“If identity is a performance, my body is a theater”—Cahun
Liberated by Kaz Rowe is pretty amazing. It's the biography--creative non-fiction, as if the subject were telling it themselves--of Lucy Schwob, a Jewish lesbian artist who was connected to Paul Breton and the Surrealists, but went their own way. They changed their named in the thirties to Claude Cahun, and lived until they died with Susan Malherbe, who changed their name to Marcel Moore. They performed on stage with masks, changing genders; they called themselves "gender neutral," and hoped to disrupt the world's view of a fixed identity. Gender fluid, we might call it now? They created amazing surrealist photographs and collages and did what we now would call performance art, helping us question the nature of reality.
During the Nazi invasion of France they lived on the isle of Jersey and resisted the invasion with art, creating flyers with statements and poetry that were intended to undermine the confidence of young and exhausted Nazi soldiers. Someone--for a good price, a collaborationist—turned them in and they were sentenced to death, though in the last months of the war, their sentence was commuted.
The book is really well done--simply illustrated, tightly constructed narrative using the actual words of Cahun as much as possible throughout. Inspiring, at times thrilling in the ways they illustrate how art might resist against war and fascism. How is it I--a person who loves dada and surrealism and studied it for a time--did not know of Cahun? Because the men of these movements were largely in the spotlight, just as the men of The Beats were in the spotlight. I am glad to know these two women. I strongly recommend this terrific book, one of my favorite of the year.
For the early look, thanks to Net Galley, Getty Publications and Kaz Rowe: Go!
“I put on a mask, I take another one off. I will never stop removing these faces”-Claude Cahun, Disavowals, 1930
“If identity is a performance, my body is a theater”—Cahun
Liberated by Kaz Rowe is pretty amazing. It's the biography--creative non-fiction, as if the subject were telling it themselves--of Lucy Schwob, a Jewish lesbian artist who was connected to Paul Breton and the Surrealists, but went their own way. They changed their named in the thirties to Claude Cahun, and lived until they died with Susan Malherbe, who changed their name to Marcel Moore. They performed on stage with masks, changing genders; they called themselves "gender neutral," and hoped to disrupt the world's view of a fixed identity. Gender fluid, we might call it now? They created amazing surrealist photographs and collages and did what we now would call performance art, helping us question the nature of reality.
During the Nazi invasion of France they lived on the isle of Jersey and resisted the invasion with art, creating flyers with statements and poetry that were intended to undermine the confidence of young and exhausted Nazi soldiers. Someone--for a good price, a collaborationist—turned them in and they were sentenced to death, though in the last months of the war, their sentence was commuted.
The book is really well done--simply illustrated, tightly constructed narrative using the actual words of Cahun as much as possible throughout. Inspiring, at times thrilling in the ways they illustrate how art might resist against war and fascism. How is it I--a person who loves dada and surrealism and studied it for a time--did not know of Cahun? Because the men of these movements were largely in the spotlight, just as the men of The Beats were in the spotlight. I am glad to know these two women. I strongly recommend this terrific book, one of my favorite of the year.
For the early look, thanks to Net Galley, Getty Publications and Kaz Rowe: Go!
August 23, 2023
Claude Cahun lived at the crossroads of masculine and feminine, of artist and activist, of blessed and cursed by the circumstances and time period they were born into. Rowe weaves together historical photos, direct quotes, and lyrical imagery to tell the tale of this brave queer icon to great effect. It's short but very informative, and really filled out my understanding of someone I previously only knew from a few fandom photos that circulate on tumblr. I had the opportunity to blurb this book; look forward to it's release in September 2023!
June 22, 2023
I’m incredibly happy that there’s finally a biography of Claude Cahun that does not erase their complex gender identity and is actually written by a non-binary person! I’m a big fan of Kaz Rowe’s queer historical video essays so I’ve been eagerly awaiting this book ever since it was announced.
The book itself is beautifully illustrated and also includes historical photographs, which paints Cahun’s life story very well. It’s clear that Kaz Rowe handles Cahun’s life and identity (in relation to them being both queer and Jewish) with a lot of care and attention. Especially reading about the war years made me a bit emotional.
My only complaint is that I did not like the fact that it is written in first person. This is probably just a personal preference, but I don’t like when books are written from the perspective of a historical figure because it causes the lines between fiction and non-fiction to blur in a way that makes me wonder how much is an author’s embellishment and how much is fact. For example I recognised a few of Cahun’s direct quotes that were woven seamlessly into this first person narrative, but I now have no way of telling how much of the text is quoted from Cahun and how much is the author’s interpretation, which frustrates me a little bit. But I can see why the first-person choice may have also been made in order to avoid using gendered pronouns for Cahun, which would be understandable.
My minor complaint aside, this is a beautiful short biography and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to find out more about Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore.
The book itself is beautifully illustrated and also includes historical photographs, which paints Cahun’s life story very well. It’s clear that Kaz Rowe handles Cahun’s life and identity (in relation to them being both queer and Jewish) with a lot of care and attention. Especially reading about the war years made me a bit emotional.
My only complaint is that I did not like the fact that it is written in first person. This is probably just a personal preference, but I don’t like when books are written from the perspective of a historical figure because it causes the lines between fiction and non-fiction to blur in a way that makes me wonder how much is an author’s embellishment and how much is fact. For example I recognised a few of Cahun’s direct quotes that were woven seamlessly into this first person narrative, but I now have no way of telling how much of the text is quoted from Cahun and how much is the author’s interpretation, which frustrates me a little bit. But I can see why the first-person choice may have also been made in order to avoid using gendered pronouns for Cahun, which would be understandable.
My minor complaint aside, this is a beautiful short biography and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to find out more about Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore.
September 23, 2025
I’m very glad I had the privilege to learn about this incredible figure from queer history
June 12, 2023
Thank you to Getty Publications and NetGalley for (finally) providing an ARC of this title. I've had my eye on this one since Kaz mentioned it on their YouTube channel, and I've been dying to get my hands on it.
Liberated is a short graphic novel about the Surrealist figure Claude Cahun's life, featuring their romantic partner Marcel Moore as a major side character. Personally, I didn't know anything about either of them before reading this. However, like Rowe's YouTube videos, I often enjoy their content because I go into it not knowing about a particular historical figure, event, etc, and coming out feeling like I've learned something important and insightful regarding queer history. Additionally, Rowe does a great job citing sources, so you can delve further into a topic if you're interested.
I'd recommend this book this anyone honestly, but that's just my own bias lol. If you're interested in queer history, Jewish history, WWII, graphic biographies or memoirs, or Kaz Rowe's YouTube channel, then I think you'd enjoy this title.
Also, I can't believe I just used my librarian privilege to read a title that doesn't come out until September and now I can't talk about it in detail until then. I'm suffering from success over here.
Liberated is a short graphic novel about the Surrealist figure Claude Cahun's life, featuring their romantic partner Marcel Moore as a major side character. Personally, I didn't know anything about either of them before reading this. However, like Rowe's YouTube videos, I often enjoy their content because I go into it not knowing about a particular historical figure, event, etc, and coming out feeling like I've learned something important and insightful regarding queer history. Additionally, Rowe does a great job citing sources, so you can delve further into a topic if you're interested.
I'd recommend this book this anyone honestly, but that's just my own bias lol. If you're interested in queer history, Jewish history, WWII, graphic biographies or memoirs, or Kaz Rowe's YouTube channel, then I think you'd enjoy this title.
Also, I can't believe I just used my librarian privilege to read a title that doesn't come out until September and now I can't talk about it in detail until then. I'm suffering from success over here.
January 13, 2025
history like this reminds me that i’m allowed to exist
October 3, 2023
Beautiful and meaningful.
May 23, 2024
What a fascinating history, and it is bittersweet to have read it only a few months after visiting for France and Jersy.
June 1, 2025
stories like this reaffirm that maybe it will all be alright
June 14, 2023
“Under this mask, another mask. I will never be finished removing all these faces.”
Claude Cahun
I would like to express my gratitude for the Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book, generously provided by the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
"Liberated: The Radical Art and Life of Claude Cahun" is a remarkable graphic novel that delves into the captivating life and artistic journey of Claude Cahun. Authored by Kaz Rowe, this work beautifully brings to light the compelling story of a gay, Jewish, genderqueer artist who left an indelible mark on the world of surrealist photography.
The graphic novel skillfully explores Cahun's life, focusing not only on their artistic accomplishments but also on their personal relationships and their active participation in antifascist circles during the 1920s and 30s in Paris. The narrative unfolds with a well-balanced blend of historical context and intimate moments, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the artist's world.
One of the standout features of this graphic novel is the stunning artwork. The illustrations are a visual feast, capturing the essence of Cahun's surrealist photography and mirroring their avant-garde style. Each panel is meticulously crafted, showcasing the artist's unique perspective and the emotional depth of their work.
Furthermore, it provides valuable insights into Cahun's relationship with Marcel Moore, their life partner and collaborator. The novel explores the dynamics of their partnership, shedding light on the profound influence they had on each other's art and activism. Their move to the Island of Jersey and their involvement in creative anti-Nazi resistance work during World War II adds another layer of complexity to their story, illustrating their unwavering commitment to their beliefs.
Overall, "Liberated: The Radical Art and Life of Claude Cahun" is a remarkable graphic novel that shines a much-deserved spotlight on an extraordinary artist. An exceptional artwork, coupled with a well-crafted narrative, offers an engaging and visually stunning exploration of Cahun's life and work. Whether you are already familiar with Claude Cahun or are discovering them for the first time, this graphic novel is a must-read for anyone interested in art, history, and the enduring power of resistance.
Claude Cahun
I would like to express my gratitude for the Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book, generously provided by the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
"Liberated: The Radical Art and Life of Claude Cahun" is a remarkable graphic novel that delves into the captivating life and artistic journey of Claude Cahun. Authored by Kaz Rowe, this work beautifully brings to light the compelling story of a gay, Jewish, genderqueer artist who left an indelible mark on the world of surrealist photography.
The graphic novel skillfully explores Cahun's life, focusing not only on their artistic accomplishments but also on their personal relationships and their active participation in antifascist circles during the 1920s and 30s in Paris. The narrative unfolds with a well-balanced blend of historical context and intimate moments, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the artist's world.
One of the standout features of this graphic novel is the stunning artwork. The illustrations are a visual feast, capturing the essence of Cahun's surrealist photography and mirroring their avant-garde style. Each panel is meticulously crafted, showcasing the artist's unique perspective and the emotional depth of their work.
Furthermore, it provides valuable insights into Cahun's relationship with Marcel Moore, their life partner and collaborator. The novel explores the dynamics of their partnership, shedding light on the profound influence they had on each other's art and activism. Their move to the Island of Jersey and their involvement in creative anti-Nazi resistance work during World War II adds another layer of complexity to their story, illustrating their unwavering commitment to their beliefs.
Overall, "Liberated: The Radical Art and Life of Claude Cahun" is a remarkable graphic novel that shines a much-deserved spotlight on an extraordinary artist. An exceptional artwork, coupled with a well-crafted narrative, offers an engaging and visually stunning exploration of Cahun's life and work. Whether you are already familiar with Claude Cahun or are discovering them for the first time, this graphic novel is a must-read for anyone interested in art, history, and the enduring power of resistance.
June 24, 2023
I hadn't heard of Cahun before this book, but I do follow the author on youtube so was very excited to see what they'd produced!
I was not disappointed. There's a lovely mix of facts and photos, alongside a fictionalised narrative that moves the timeline along.
The illustrations are lovely, and the timeline progresses quickly, whilst still being nicely informative
I read this yesterday and it's still sitting in my head. I suspect I'll go back and re-read it a few times before my review copy expires
I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley, on the expectation that I would provide an honest review.
I was not disappointed. There's a lovely mix of facts and photos, alongside a fictionalised narrative that moves the timeline along.
The illustrations are lovely, and the timeline progresses quickly, whilst still being nicely informative
I read this yesterday and it's still sitting in my head. I suspect I'll go back and re-read it a few times before my review copy expires
I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley, on the expectation that I would provide an honest review.
March 11, 2024
Gorgeous! Amazing illustrations and great storytelling - so much love!! 💖💖
June 13, 2025
People may accuse me of being biased because I think the author is beautiful and talented and lovely and is the love of my life, etc etc etc :)
genuinely a beautifully illustrated and well-narrated little graphic nonfic story. def check it out if you're interested in queer history and/or the history of resistance.
genuinely a beautifully illustrated and well-narrated little graphic nonfic story. def check it out if you're interested in queer history and/or the history of resistance.
June 17, 2023
Thanks Netgalley and publisher for giving permission to review this history graphic novel.
I have to say, I was surprised that Claude Cahun and her partner were one of the lucky ones to survive two world wars. It was tragic from the beginning that Cahuns mother was basically out of her life once she was in a mental institution and that the father doesn’t seem interested in raising her but had the grandmother to look her mostly. She literally was smart sort who knows how to create art and question it.
Now I’m not a arty farty but when I see art that’s easy on the eye, sign me up. From looking online she had a few works. I like the fact this graphic novel mixed the real photos as well as the drawings together. It just blends in the life of Claude Cahun as a successful artist!
I have to say, I was surprised that Claude Cahun and her partner were one of the lucky ones to survive two world wars. It was tragic from the beginning that Cahuns mother was basically out of her life once she was in a mental institution and that the father doesn’t seem interested in raising her but had the grandmother to look her mostly. She literally was smart sort who knows how to create art and question it.
Now I’m not a arty farty but when I see art that’s easy on the eye, sign me up. From looking online she had a few works. I like the fact this graphic novel mixed the real photos as well as the drawings together. It just blends in the life of Claude Cahun as a successful artist!
April 18, 2024
Rounded up from 4.5 because this was beautifully done, and such an important history to memorialize ✨️👏❤️🔥👏✨️
August 10, 2024
as expected, wonderful
August 7, 2024
I LOVE LEARNING ABOUT COOL PEOPLE IN HISTORY
June 15, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this graphic novel.
I had never heard of Claude Cahun before requesting this ARC, but I am so glad that I did. Learning about this gay, Jewish genderqueer artist who used their unique skills and outlook on life to resist Nazis was so delightful. And very timely for the current wave of antisemitism, homophobia, transphobia, and fascism we are experiencing. The message that any person can be a resistance activist in their own way (no matter how big or small) is very important. Not to mention the gorgeous illustrations, interspersed with photos from Claude's life, that make up this graphic novel. Highly recommend.
I had never heard of Claude Cahun before requesting this ARC, but I am so glad that I did. Learning about this gay, Jewish genderqueer artist who used their unique skills and outlook on life to resist Nazis was so delightful. And very timely for the current wave of antisemitism, homophobia, transphobia, and fascism we are experiencing. The message that any person can be a resistance activist in their own way (no matter how big or small) is very important. Not to mention the gorgeous illustrations, interspersed with photos from Claude's life, that make up this graphic novel. Highly recommend.
February 28, 2025
4 stars
September 1, 2025
such a beautiful book, a work or art
September 23, 2023
Primer trabajo gráfico que leo de Kaz Rowe y lo he disfrutado a cabalidad. Llegué a Rowe a través de su canal en Youtube, donde su capacidad para profundizar y dar a conocer hechos históricos poco conocidos o derechamente ignorados por el canon general, sobre todo en lo que se refiere a historia queer, es remarcable. Así, esta novela gráfica ha logrado atraparme y conmoverme en ciertas secciones tal como sus deep dives.
Con una narrativa que mezcla la voz tanto de Rowe como la de Cahun (dado que existe una cantidad importantes de textos de su autoría y personales en los que es posible acceder a sus reflexiones y pensamientos), recorremos la vida de Cahun desde su nacimiento hasta su muerte, haciendo un recorrido por momentos clave que moldearon su existencia y filosofía personal, para finalizar con un mensaje de esperanza para el futuro, que también puede interpretarse como un llamado a la acción. Cahun tuvo una vida marcada por un trabajo artístico rupturista e inmensamente íntimo, además de su expresión personal en todas dimensiones de su persona privada y social, la evolución de la misma y acciones de resistencia ante los conflictos sociales que plagaron el contexto histórico del antisemitismo europeo y la Segunda Guerra Mundial. En tiempos donde corrientes políticas extremistas y fundamentalistas parecen ir al alza, dar a conocer la vida y lucha de personajes históricos como Cahun y su compañera de vida Marcel Moorde me parece necesario y tremendamente inspirador.
En cuanto al arte, el libro hace un excelente uso de este. Aunque tiende hacia lo más tradicional, eso no quiere decir que no toma riesgos o no hace uso de ciertos paneles para presentar una composición llamativa que no hace más que realzar el texto. Rowe no solo dibuja ciertas piezas artísticas realizadas por Cahun (de forma particular, junto con Moore, o como parte de algún colectivo), sino que decide usar en ciertos momentos fotografías de archivo tanto del arte como las fotografías realizadas por Cahun y Moore. Aquello ayuda a conectar incluso más con las propias palabras de Cahun cuando describe su proceso artístico.
Lo recomendaría a todo quién ha lidiado o lidia con cuestionamientos sobre su propia identidad, a aquellos que están interesados en historia queer, y a todo quien necesita un poquito de esperanza e inspiración en medio de los eventos actuales a los que nos vemos enfrentados.
"I affirm that the right to resist and help others resist natural and social evils is the primary human right."
Con una narrativa que mezcla la voz tanto de Rowe como la de Cahun (dado que existe una cantidad importantes de textos de su autoría y personales en los que es posible acceder a sus reflexiones y pensamientos), recorremos la vida de Cahun desde su nacimiento hasta su muerte, haciendo un recorrido por momentos clave que moldearon su existencia y filosofía personal, para finalizar con un mensaje de esperanza para el futuro, que también puede interpretarse como un llamado a la acción. Cahun tuvo una vida marcada por un trabajo artístico rupturista e inmensamente íntimo, además de su expresión personal en todas dimensiones de su persona privada y social, la evolución de la misma y acciones de resistencia ante los conflictos sociales que plagaron el contexto histórico del antisemitismo europeo y la Segunda Guerra Mundial. En tiempos donde corrientes políticas extremistas y fundamentalistas parecen ir al alza, dar a conocer la vida y lucha de personajes históricos como Cahun y su compañera de vida Marcel Moorde me parece necesario y tremendamente inspirador.
En cuanto al arte, el libro hace un excelente uso de este. Aunque tiende hacia lo más tradicional, eso no quiere decir que no toma riesgos o no hace uso de ciertos paneles para presentar una composición llamativa que no hace más que realzar el texto. Rowe no solo dibuja ciertas piezas artísticas realizadas por Cahun (de forma particular, junto con Moore, o como parte de algún colectivo), sino que decide usar en ciertos momentos fotografías de archivo tanto del arte como las fotografías realizadas por Cahun y Moore. Aquello ayuda a conectar incluso más con las propias palabras de Cahun cuando describe su proceso artístico.
Lo recomendaría a todo quién ha lidiado o lidia con cuestionamientos sobre su propia identidad, a aquellos que están interesados en historia queer, y a todo quien necesita un poquito de esperanza e inspiración en medio de los eventos actuales a los que nos vemos enfrentados.
"I affirm that the right to resist and help others resist natural and social evils is the primary human right."
September 10, 2023
First time crying with a graphic novel and that is an automatic 5 star.
This is a biography about Claude Cahun who was a rebel her whole life, from bending societal norms, embracing her Jewishness during anti-Semitic Europe and being a freedom fighter during the war as well as a feminist
“You are francs-tireurs Guerrilla fighters, even though you used spiritual arms instead of firearms.
It is indeed a more serious crime. With firearms, one knows at once what damage has been done.
But with spiritual arms, one cannot tell how far-reaching it may be.”
This novel is set before and during WW2 making it a very emotional and difficult to swallow story yet it remains filled with some much hope and courage.
The art is perhaps what makes this novel so incredible. It really contrasts all the chaos and fears with the choice of colour and the whimsical-like style of art.
My favourite quote:
“If my identity is a performance, then my body is the breather.”
Biggest thanks to Kaz Rowe, Getty and a NetGalley for this beautiful ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a biography about Claude Cahun who was a rebel her whole life, from bending societal norms, embracing her Jewishness during anti-Semitic Europe and being a freedom fighter during the war as well as a feminist
“You are francs-tireurs Guerrilla fighters, even though you used spiritual arms instead of firearms.
It is indeed a more serious crime. With firearms, one knows at once what damage has been done.
But with spiritual arms, one cannot tell how far-reaching it may be.”
This novel is set before and during WW2 making it a very emotional and difficult to swallow story yet it remains filled with some much hope and courage.
The art is perhaps what makes this novel so incredible. It really contrasts all the chaos and fears with the choice of colour and the whimsical-like style of art.
My favourite quote:
“If my identity is a performance, then my body is the breather.”
Biggest thanks to Kaz Rowe, Getty and a NetGalley for this beautiful ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2023
A very, very special thank you to NetGalley and Getty Publications for this ARC!
5 out of 5⭐
I absolutely loved it. The art style is phenomenal: the composition, the use of color (the contextual meaning of lavender), the use of negative space, the line art, the loving care spent on Jewish features--I can go on forever!
This graphic novel is a touching biography on a Jewish lesbian figure that I had known nothing of previously, and it was sorely missed information: I am so glad to know of her now!! It focuses on the life and many faces of Claude Cahun (Lucy Renee Mathilde Schwob) from girlhood to antifascist fighter in old age and failing health during the entirety of World War II.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves LGBT history, Jewish literature, and the mix of the two!
Absolutely breathtaking!
5 out of 5⭐
I absolutely loved it. The art style is phenomenal: the composition, the use of color (the contextual meaning of lavender), the use of negative space, the line art, the loving care spent on Jewish features--I can go on forever!
This graphic novel is a touching biography on a Jewish lesbian figure that I had known nothing of previously, and it was sorely missed information: I am so glad to know of her now!! It focuses on the life and many faces of Claude Cahun (Lucy Renee Mathilde Schwob) from girlhood to antifascist fighter in old age and failing health during the entirety of World War II.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves LGBT history, Jewish literature, and the mix of the two!
Absolutely breathtaking!
July 14, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Getty Publications for the advance digital copy of this book!
I was so excited to receive a copy of Kaz Rowe's graphic novel "Liberated". I've been a fan of their Youtube channel for some time, and was highly anticipating the release of this book. I enjoyed the first person perspective of the story. It brought Claude Cahun and their struggle with identity and oppression closer to the reader by phrasing it in their own words and with words they might have said. The illustrations were also supplemented with actual historical photographs and I thought that was another great touch. It can be difficult for the modern queer community to find queer historical figures to look back to. So many of their stories have been lost to time because of the times they lived in, or because past historians are unwilling to bring queer identities into consideration. I am immensely grateful to "Liberated" for bringing one of those stories to light, Claude Cahun and their life partner Marcel Moore's courage and art won't be forgotten.
I was so excited to receive a copy of Kaz Rowe's graphic novel "Liberated". I've been a fan of their Youtube channel for some time, and was highly anticipating the release of this book. I enjoyed the first person perspective of the story. It brought Claude Cahun and their struggle with identity and oppression closer to the reader by phrasing it in their own words and with words they might have said. The illustrations were also supplemented with actual historical photographs and I thought that was another great touch. It can be difficult for the modern queer community to find queer historical figures to look back to. So many of their stories have been lost to time because of the times they lived in, or because past historians are unwilling to bring queer identities into consideration. I am immensely grateful to "Liberated" for bringing one of those stories to light, Claude Cahun and their life partner Marcel Moore's courage and art won't be forgotten.
July 14, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Getty Publications for the advance digital copy of this book!
I was so excited to receive a copy of Kaz Rowe's graphic novel "Liberated". I've been a fan of their Youtube channel for some time, and was highly anticipating the release of this book. I enjoyed the first person perspective of the story. It brought Claude Cahun and their struggle with identity and oppression closer to the reader by phrasing it in their own words and with words they might have said. The illustrations were also supplemented with actual historical photographs and I thought that was another great touch. It can be difficult for the modern queer community to find queer historical figures to look back to. So many of their stories have been lost to time because of the times they lived in, or because past historians are unwilling to bring queer identities into consideration. I am immensely grateful to "Liberated" for bringing one of those stories to light, Claude Cahun and their life partner Marcel Moore's courage and art won't be forgotten.
I was so excited to receive a copy of Kaz Rowe's graphic novel "Liberated". I've been a fan of their Youtube channel for some time, and was highly anticipating the release of this book. I enjoyed the first person perspective of the story. It brought Claude Cahun and their struggle with identity and oppression closer to the reader by phrasing it in their own words and with words they might have said. The illustrations were also supplemented with actual historical photographs and I thought that was another great touch. It can be difficult for the modern queer community to find queer historical figures to look back to. So many of their stories have been lost to time because of the times they lived in, or because past historians are unwilling to bring queer identities into consideration. I am immensely grateful to "Liberated" for bringing one of those stories to light, Claude Cahun and their life partner Marcel Moore's courage and art won't be forgotten.
June 27, 2023
Before reading this graphic novel I knew nothing about Claude Cahun so I went into this blindly and I was not disappointed. This graphic novel does a wonderful job of introducing the reader to Claude Cahun, their history, and their work. The illustrations were beautifully rendered and the addition of actual photographs from the artist really helped to enhance the story and provide more context. I thought the author did a great job of telling the life story of Claude Cahun and educating the reader on both the reader and the time period in which the artist lived.
Thank you to NetGalley and Getty Publications for this E_ARC of "Liberated".
Thank you to NetGalley and Getty Publications for this E_ARC of "Liberated".
September 13, 2023
Kaz Rowe has presented a remarkable depiction of a remarkable life. The weaving of direct quotes and photographs into the narration from Cahun's perspective really immerses you in their mind.
"I defy your attempts to perceive me. For every boundary the world sets before me, I will cross it every time." 💛
"I defy your attempts to perceive me. For every boundary the world sets before me, I will cross it every time." 💛
June 4, 2024
Happy pride! I liked the part where two queers fell in love and made cool art together.
Always love the little details included in historical books, like quotes from parents or specific experiences from childhood.
The illustrations didn’t always line up with the topics at play. Eg: Claude’s face when being sentenced to death almost reads as smug. Obviously what they are doing is good fighting evil. But, there’s no part where they are illustrated looking frightened or hopeless. Maybe that’s true to life, though. Wouldn’t want a biography to border on sensationalism for the sake of storytelling, if evidence wasn’t provided in real documents.
Overall, great story, worth the read. Go Kaz Rowe!
Always love the little details included in historical books, like quotes from parents or specific experiences from childhood.
The illustrations didn’t always line up with the topics at play. Eg: Claude’s face when being sentenced to death almost reads as smug. Obviously what they are doing is good fighting evil. But, there’s no part where they are illustrated looking frightened or hopeless. Maybe that’s true to life, though. Wouldn’t want a biography to border on sensationalism for the sake of storytelling, if evidence wasn’t provided in real documents.
Overall, great story, worth the read. Go Kaz Rowe!
June 9, 2023
My review will be live on my blog - donnasbookblog on 12th September 2023 - publication day!
I have read a lot of books on this period of history and this one attracted me to it straight away due to the different way that the author has used to tell the story – it is definitely one that stands out for me.
The story was told well, you got the full understanding of what was going on, the perils that they were involved with being Jewish and lesbians and I was quite shocked to read that they were given the death penalty only for them to be saved at the end.
The books shined a light on the prejudices that were common at the time, especially when the Nazi’s invaded Jersey where they had looked to relocate with a view initially to the island being safer than mainland France, only for the island to be pretty much abandoned by the UK government until after the liberation.
It is 4 stars from me for this one – highly recommended and a good insight in to two people that I had not heard of before – really informative too!
I have read a lot of books on this period of history and this one attracted me to it straight away due to the different way that the author has used to tell the story – it is definitely one that stands out for me.
The story was told well, you got the full understanding of what was going on, the perils that they were involved with being Jewish and lesbians and I was quite shocked to read that they were given the death penalty only for them to be saved at the end.
The books shined a light on the prejudices that were common at the time, especially when the Nazi’s invaded Jersey where they had looked to relocate with a view initially to the island being safer than mainland France, only for the island to be pretty much abandoned by the UK government until after the liberation.
It is 4 stars from me for this one – highly recommended and a good insight in to two people that I had not heard of before – really informative too!
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