Silence enveloped the land.

Captain Tikhomiroff

A White Russian Captain's View of the October Revolution
The Confusion and Struggle of Individuals in the Tides of the Times
A Travelogue Artist Uses Exquisite Painting Techniques
To Create the Literary Beauty of a Graphic Novel with Unparalleled Visual Art
"It turns out we were just pawns to be sacrificed, how ridiculous..."
★ Editor's Recommendation
◎ Adapted from a true story, the extraordinary experiences of a White Army captain during the October Revolution.
This book is adapted from the biography "La Tasse de Thé" (The Teacup) written by Alexandre Tikhomirov (son), recounting his father's experiences during the war. On the Russian-German front in 1916, Captain Tikhomirov, who had never attended military academy or served as a soldier, was given the privilege of going directly to the front line after only one machine gun training session with an instructor. From then on, he began a long and arduous journey of survival. He stayed behind to cover the retreat of the main force, enduring days of continuous shelling and bombing, with only three survivors; he almost got shot on the spot by the Bolsheviks during a train inspection because his hands were too fair; he walked for four days to a sanatorium to treat malaria, encountering a pack of wolves in the mountains at night... He set off from his hometown Nikolayev, sometimes marching with the troops, sometimes separated from them, and even, for survival, infiltrated a Cheka camp of the Red Army, and was finally abandoned by the White Army on the Crimean Peninsula. With his courageous and resolute character and the favor of heaven, he miraculously completed a decade-long arduous migration, arriving in France via Bulgaria.
◎ Writing about historical changes through personal biography, peeking into the truth of history from the perspective of a survivor.
From World War I to the October Revolution, and then to the Russian Civil War, Russia in the first two decades of the 20th century was both weak and chaotic. The White Army supporting the Tsar, the Red Army of the Bolsheviks, the Black Army of anarchists, the Green Army composed of peasants who swore to defend their property, and armed detachments of Western powers, different armies fought in chaos, and the entire land was shrouded in panic. Unidentified armed elements roamed the cities, burning, killing, looting, and committing all kinds of evil. Soaring prices, crowds scrambling for goods, separated families, collapsing order... In such a dangerous environment, the evil of human nature was exposed. The most pressing priorities at that time were to fill one's stomach and survive. Captain Tikhomirov was just a grain of dust in the vast crowd, but he was an indispensable participant and witness to these turbulent years. "He would always tear up when recalling the deaths of his comrades." From the perspective of a war survivor, he restores for us that period of history that was a nightmare for many.
◎ Carefully considered visuals and panel design, superb mastery of lines and colors, bringing an incredibly smooth and engaging reading experience.
Gaëtan Nocq, a designer and art teacher, drew travelogues for 20 years before starting to create comics at the age of 46. To draw travelogues, he had to travel around, which led to his on-site sketching-style visual approach. Both characters and scenes have a more dynamic fluidity and aesthetic. Acrylic paint coloring, supplemented by graphite pencil hatching, creates a hazy feeling full of nostalgia and uncertainty. Narration and dialogue are perfectly interwoven, and wordless panels replace textual descriptions, creating a natural and comfortable rhythm like breathing. Accurate perspective and cinematic paneling provide an immersive experience. The balance of negative space, abandoning redundant detail, makes the visuals both light and sharply focused. The strong contrast between warm and cool tones conveys captivating emotions and atmosphere. From beginning to end, every page reveals the author's thoughtfulness and ingenuity. The entire book flows like a single coherent work. Although it is a non-fiction comic, the artist's brush imbues it with the thrilling charm of an adventure novel.
★ Content Introduction
In early 20th century Russia, a storm of revolution swept across the country. Tikhomirov, pressured by his father, joined the White Army as a captain. Young and accustomed to a life of privilege, he suddenly faced the brutal realities of war. Imminent death, involuntary flight, desperate struggles... He was like a precarious small boat, adrift in the chaotic and turbulent currents of the times, wondering where he was headed and when he would reach the shore, but he had no way of knowing...
★ Celebrity Endorsements
Gaëtan Nocq has transformed a memoir into an epic story that is both vibrant and full of twists and turns, while also revealing a profound insight: how absurd war is. "The Silence Over the Land" proves that Nocq is a heavyweight artist, whose art is fully realized in the medium of the graphic novel.
——bodoi.info comic news website
A family biography that is both ordinary and great, a grand personal epic. The gently flowing narrative rhythm makes every chapter moving.
——bdgest.com comic review website
A rare story accompanied by excellent drawing, about a White Russian captain lost in the heart of the revolution. It subtly yet clearly shows the horrors of the civil war. It is a model for biographical comics.
——bablio.com comic review website
Gaëtan Nocq presents us with a brilliant graphic novel. He uses powerful illustrations to show the various hardships the protagonist experienced: cold, hunger, fear, escape.
——actuabd.com comic review website
The extraordinary fate of Captain Tikhomirov, a journey for freedom. A good story is even more wonderful because it comes from real experience. The private documents provided in the appendix at the end of the book undoubtedly add to the authenticity of this story.
——Sceneario.com comic review website
He (Nocq) has since embarked on a narrative path, giving the graphic novel the stance of a witness.
——Amazon reader review

2024-05-01

湖南美术出版社

the new wave

240

9787574602298