Sensibility

This book highlights the significant role played by Ignatius Sancho (c. 1729-80), the first black man to vote in England, in the British abolitionist movement. Examining the letters of Sancho, and especially his correspondence with the influential novelist and preacher, Laurence Sterne, the author analyses the relationship between sensibility and antislavery in eighteenth-century Britain. The book demonstrates how Sancho navigated the bawdy, riotous conditions of commercial London, which was the headquarters of a growing and war-torn Empire.

Nancy Butler, who successfully translated Jane Austen's superlative into graphic novel format for Marvel Comics, here attempts the same feat for Jane Austen's earlier novel, , that Marvel published as a 5-part miniseries later collected and published as a trade paperback. This might be a more difficult challenge, as much of the story is told through letters, while the plots turns on the very different approaches to romance of two long-suffering sisters. Ms. Butler succeeds admirably, aided by Sonny Liew who provides the necessary graphic artistry. She did an excellent job in preserving the essentials of the story along with the romantic and comedic elements that enable the plot, adding a little dialogue for transition purposes, which alteration may be seamless to the average reader. Sonny Liew's artwork is a revelation, his whimsical style supporting the story while remaining authentic to the period. Recommended to those Jane Austen fans looking for a way to introduce their digital-age children or grandchildren to a classic romance novel in a form that is apt to hold their attention, and perhaps motivate them to read the original or for teen-agers to drop their Twilight books and become interested in the timeless masterpieces of old. All high-quality Minutemen scans.