Glass Town: The Imaginary World of the Brontës by Isabel Greenberg (Graphic Novel Book Review)

Glass Town:
The Imaginary World of the Brontes

by Isabel Greenberg

Published by Abrams ComicArts
on March 3, 2020
Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Length: 224 pages
Ages: 14 - 18 years

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Synopsis:
A graphic novel about the Bronte siblings, and the strange and marvelous imaginary worlds they invented during their childhood.

My Thoughts:

This historical fiction graphic novel begins with the eldest two Bronte sisters' deaths, leaving the remaining four siblings, Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne to care for each other. They find solace in creating stories set in a place of words and ink that they named 'Glass Town'. But Branwell's tendency to control the stories created there urges Emily and Anne to break away and create their own fantasy world called 'Gondal'. 

Meanwhile, Charlotte falls farther and farther into the world of 'Glass Town', losing herself to its surreal seduction. 

This was a pretty cool graphic novel, based on the real lives and imaginary creations of the Bronte sisters (and their brother) before they decided to write and publish their novels. There were some obvious parallels from their novels that showed through the characters and places in their childhood stories.

The illustrations are unique in a rough and chaotic sense. I didn't love the disproportionate people and thought it looked almost childish but still appreciated the overall style, coloring, and especially enjoyed the surreal aspects of the illustrated story.

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