Where does a young boy turn when his whole world suddenly disappears? What could change two brothers from an unstoppable team into a pair of bitterly estranged loners? How does the work of one middle-aged nurse reveal the scars of an entire community, and can anything heal the wounds caused by a century of deception?
Critically-acclaimed cartoonist Jeff Lemire pays tribute to his roots with Essex County, an award-winning trilogy of graphic novels set in an imaginary version of the Ontario county where he was born. In Essex County, Lemire crafts an intimate study of one community through the years, and a tender meditation on family, memory, grief, secrets, and reconciliation. With the lush, expressive inking of a young artist at the height of his powers, Lemire draws us in and sets us free.
This new edition collects the complete Essex County trilogy (Tales from the Farm, Ghost Stories, and The Country Nurse) in one deluxe volume! Also included are over 50 pages of previously unpublished material, including sketches, promotional art, and two new stories. -- Softcover Graphic Novel with French Flaps, 512 pages, 6 1/2" x 9"
"Essex County is a tremendous achievement ... This heartfelt piece of graphic literature surpasses its form to stand as an enduring example of the finest in Canadian literature." -- from the introduction by Darwyn Cooke
"The subtle inter-weaving of Jeff Lemire's Essex County Trilogy is brilliant and constantly surprising. The cumulative impact left a lump in my throat." -- Jeff Smith, creator of Bone and RASL
"A quiet, somber, haunting masterpiece... Lemire is writing about loneliness and regret, and I'm at a loss to explain how he manages to illustrate the devastating toll they take on his characters even as he inspires his readers." -- Steve Duin, The Oregonian
"This is the comics medium at its best." -- Booklist (from one of three starred reviews)
Winner of the 2008 Joe Shuster Award for Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Cartoonist
Winner of the 2008 Doug Wright Award for Best Emerging Talent
Winner of the 2008 American Library Association's Alex Award (For Adult Books with Teen Appeal)
Nominated for the 2007 Ignatz Awards, the 2008 Harvey Awards, and two 2008 Eisner Awards
