In
1807 a young woman sails into the harbor at Constantinople with the
intention of stealing valuable scrolls from the sultan's library.
Imprisoned before she can complete the deed, Delilah Dirk is interviewed
by Erdemoglu Selim, a low-level lieutenant in the sultan's army, who
happens to speak English. When Delilah escapes her bonds and robs the
sultan, Selim is blamed and faces the executioner's hatchet. Delilah,
however, loves Selim's skill at blending tea and whisks him away with
her, sailing off on her flying ship.For the swashbuckling Delilah, it's a just another adventure, but for poor Selim, life will never be the same again.
Tony Cliff's Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant is the first installment in a new graphic novel series based on his award-winning webcomic starring the delightful Delilah Dirk. From childhood, Delilah traveled the world with her lenient parents (he was an English diplomat; she was a Greek artisan), learning a variety of fighting techniques and methods of survival. She is brave, a little reckless, and full of self-confidence.
Selim,
however, is used to the city and the court and all the pleasures they
have to offer. He doesn't take quickly to the hardships of life on the
sea and in the woods. Yet, he is obligated to Delilah for saving his skin, and so he endures, offering her a stabilizing influence. When he's
given a chance to start over and become a farmer, will he give up his
pirate ways and say good-bye to Delilah?Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant is a fun romp through early-nineteenth-century Turkey and Europe and introduces two likable characters whose partnership is never dull. Readers from early teens to adults will fall for Delilah and hope that Selim soon toughens up for his new adventurous life.
Tony Cliff's artwork is gorgeous, with a beautiful earthy color palette. He allows us to see his characters' emotions and feel the action through his expressive drawings (see the scan from Chapter One; click to enlarge). I can't wait to see what scrapes Delilah gets into next.
Roaring Brook Press / First Second, 2013
ISBN-13: 9781596438132
Source: Review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).
This looks like it would be great fun for kids. I think I will actually try navigating the graphic novel section in the library to see if I can find it! (yes, the graphic novel section intimidates me....)
ReplyDeleteGraphic novels are just terrific for young readers, and especially reluctant ones. Sounds good!
ReplyDeleteThe title's a mouthful but the book sure looks like fun!
ReplyDeleteSomething about the title gave me the idea this was going to be an entertaining, fast-paced story filled with fun and adventure. The graphics are fantastic and so well-detailed. I've wanted to read more graphic novels and this looks and sounds like a good choice.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
sounds dellightful. can you believe i have never read a graphic novel?
ReplyDeleteScrolling through a huge list of unread feeds, I see this review and got excited because I was just looking for this at the library a couple of weeks ago.. the YA section was covered with tarps though for a ceiling repair so I meant to come back for it but never got around to it. I'm getting it next time for sure... sounds right up my alley! I'm such a sucker for swashbuckling books. ;)
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