A 3,000 year-old romance. The Professor’s Daughter is written by Joann Sfar and illustrated by Emmanuel Guibert, copyright 2007, published by First Second, 80 pages. This cute fable features the love between a Egyptian Pharaoh and a high society lady in Victorian London. Imhotep IV, King of Egypt is taken out of his sarcophagus and taken for a stroll through London by the professor’s daughter, Lillian Bowell. It is curiously accepted that Imhotep is dead but able to walk and talk about London society. He is a well preserved mummy (and expensive too!) who was destined to be exhibited in the British Museum by Lillian’s father who’s a famous archaeologist. Thus as fate would have it, Imhotep falls in love with the society miss and what follows is murder, mayhem and romance with a little legal suspense thrown into the mix to keep readers just on the edge of their seat.
This is a rather short story at 80 pages. A quick 20 minute read at the bookstore. However, I was looking for something different and nothing else grabbed my attention except for this little gem of a novel. Besides, I’m a fan of Victorian romance and I couldn’t help buying this book and adding it to my collection. Most of the romances I’ve been reading lately have had no bite, so I ditched them for this graphic novel. The artwork is just lovely. Evoking a soft touch to the characters and story. The story is a nice one but the ending left me more than a little baffled. Anyway, glad to have read it. Mayhap if you see a copy at your nearest bookstore, read it. It’s cute. My grade, B.
Technorati Tags: Victorian Romance, Graphic Novel, Joann Sfar, Emmanuel Guibert
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Dance Chica 06.21.07 at 6:43 am
The plot of this book reminds me of Anne Rice’s The Mummy! It featured an ancient mummy (Ramses) from Egypt who’d been transported to England to be displayed at a museum, but he come back to life and along the way, fell for the daughter of the man who’d found his sarcophagus. I never finished the book though, so I don’t know how it all worked out. LOL.
Tilly Greene 06.21.07 at 8:59 am
This looks like a fun read, and you’re right, the artwork being different drew me right in! It’s going on the list - thank you :-)
Avid Reader 06.25.07 at 8:52 am
Enjoy!