Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia: From the Sunday Times Bestselling Author

Set against the background of violence and state repression in a turbulent period of French history The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia chronicles the incredible and outrageous life of Louise Michel the revolutionary feminist dubbed ‘The Red Virgin of Montmartre’. A utopian dreamer notorious anarchist teacher orator and poet she was decades ahead of her time. Always a radical she fought on the barricades defending the short-lived Paris Commune of 1871 against the reactionary regime that massacred thousands of French citizens after the Commune’s defeat. Deported to a penal colony on the other side of the Earth she took up the cause of the indigenous population against French colonial oppression.Celebrating the utopian urge in nineteenth-century literature and politics and the origins of science fiction The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia is the third collaboration of best-selling academic and graphic novelist Mary M. Talbot with her husband the graphic novel pioneer Bryan Talbot. Their first book together Dotter of her Father’s Eyes won the 2012 Costa Biography Award. Review A fascinating story…the stark illustrations match the story well… A fascinating piece of graphic biography and it’s certainly a daring piece of work. -- Doug Johnstone ―Big IssueA work of consummate mastery… The work is deftly done… If you’ve read their previous books you’ll know the level of professionalism being brought to bear here and you’ll know they are just about cornering the market on intelligent historical retellings of pivotal feminist characters.It’s a great read and we highly recommend. ―Bookmunch[A] gripping unforgettable account… [The Red Virgin is] a moving example of how a book can become an emotional experience as you turn each page. -- Lisa McKenzie ―Times Higher EducationI highly recommend this beautiful and enjoyable read that will make you want to learn more about the Paris Commune and Louise Michel. -- Jenny Sutton ―Socialist Review About the Author Bryan Talbot was born in 1952. He has worked on underground comics science fiction and superhero stories such asJudge Dredd andBatman: Legends of the Dark Knight. His books includeAlice in SunderlandDotter of Her Father’s Eyes (with Mary Talbot) the first graphic novel to win the Costa biography award and theGrandville series.Mary Talbot is an internationally acclaimed scholar who has published widely on language gender and power particularly in relation to media and consumer culture. She is the co-author of the graphic novelsDotter of her Fathers Eyes andSally Heathcote: Suffragette.