A graphic novel classic from one of the world's best-known
cartoonists
Gentleman Jim is the story of Jim Bloggs, an imaginative toilet
cleaner who, dissatisfied with his station in life, devotes his time to
envisioning a world beyond it. His walls are lined with books like Out
in the Silver West, The Boys' Book of Pirates, and Executive
Opportunities, which provide fodder for his ruminations on career
change. Encouraged by his wife, who is also eager to incorporate more
adventure into her life, Jim sets out to bring these dreams to fruition
by accumulating various accoutrements, only to discover that the life of
an executive, an artist, or a cowboy is more complicated and costly than
it appears.
Jim's childlike understanding of the world that surrounds him is
enhanced by Raymond Briggs's subtle and inventive illustrations.
Fantasies are portrayed as organic clouds that move between and overlap
outlined panels of his reality, and myopic Jim is drawn smaller and
softer than the policemen and bureaucrats interested in impeding his
search for adventure. As he begins to infringe more seriously on the
law, the city workers and their speech boxes become increasingly
angular, much like the rigid rules and regulations restricting his
sincere quest. With this playful style, Briggs expertly transforms
common feelings of inadequacy into an endearing and enjoyable experience
that speaks across generations, concluding with an optimistic
implication that even a misfortunate outcome can be better than no
change at all.
This classic novel, originally published in 1980, is presented by Drawn
& Quarterly in a new edition.
