Hello and welcome to a new installment of Comics That Should Be Translated; a recurring topic on this blog in which I write about a comic that I feel deserves to be available to an English-speaking audience. Today's comic is Le Cri du Peuple (The People's Cry), by Jacques Tardi, based on the novel by Jean Vautrin. Tardi and Vautrin are both friends and the two have collaborated closely on this adaptation. As was the case with Ibicus, I am not familiar with the original novel, but if Vautrin's enthusiastic foreword is any indication, the comic is to be regarded as the more or less, definitive version of this story.
Le Cri du Peuple was originally published in French between 2001 and 2004. Recently, a translation was available over here in Sweden thanks to Placebo Press, who published the first two parts in one volume, with the conclusion to be released in the fall. Its this edition that I've read.
Le Cri du Peuple takes place in 1871, during the few tumultuous months in which the people of Paris, tired of the social injustices of the day and led by a small group of young anarchists and socialists, managed to seize power and drive the French government into a temporary exile. Using these bloody events a a backdrop, Vautrin adds the mystery surrounding the identity of a young woman whose corpse was found in the river Seine, holding a glass-eye, as well as the story of two men whose pasts are about to catch up with them. One of these men is Tarpagnan, a former officer in the French army, who has switched over to the people's side. Tarpagnan is head-over-heels in love with the beautiful Gabriela Pucci, who is also the unhappy mistress of a local gangster. The other man is the mysterious Horace Grondin, a police-spy, who is obsessed with tracking down Tarpagnan, since he believes that the latter was behind the murder of his beloved step-daughter many years earlier. A crime which Grondin himself was punished for, by being sent to the penal colony of Devil's Island.
Jean Vautrin has written a highly engaging drama, which reminded me in more ways than one of the sort of tales spun by 19th century authors like Hugo and Dickens. Real events, such as the toppling of the statue of Napoleon I and historical figures, like the journalist Jules Vallés, mix and mingle with fictional characters, from all parts of society. Overall, the cast is very good, containing many colorful and memorable characters, with the ruthless and obsessed Grondin being a particular favorite.
There were times when I found the dialogue to be a bit stiff, not sure if that's the fault of the Swedish translation or not. That's a minor nitpick though.
Tardi, of course, is one of the greatest living comic creators and his art here is of the high standard that one has come to expect from him over the years. After finishing the book, I found myself returning to particular panels, so that I could admire them further.
All in all, Le Cri du Peuple is a splendid read and I'm looking forward to get my hands to the conclusion. Hopefully, the second half will be as good as the first.
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