Veils

by Pat McGreal

Book Overview

This trade paperback was originally released to great acclaim as a hardcover in Spring of 1999. Reviewed in a diverse range of magazines from Entertainment Weekly to Computer Graphics World, this graphic novel is an historical fiction piece steeped in eroticism and intrigue.Juxtaposing photography, computer-generated effects and backgrounds, and pages of fully-painted artwork, this piece portrays the opulent, but tortured existence of Vivian Pearse-Packard...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1563895617
• ISBN13: 9781563895616
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Vertigo
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.7" x 10.2"

Customer Reviews

Awe Inspiring

This work is one of the best things I have ever read/seen. The symbolism in Veils is simply breathtaking if you analyze the value of the veils, the concept of power through anonymity (and subsequently the exploration of the meaning of the veil in Islamic/Asian cultures from a less problematized perspective), fate, karma, etc. It's a poets delight, really. I can rant on nerdily, but the truth is that this book is simply gorgeous to look at. I do love the possible reference of Vivian's name back to Desert Hearts, the first American lesbian film ever made, which actually bears some similarities in plot. All in all, I feel like I am going to be spending a ton of time picking this book apart symbolically, and I'm going to love every minute of it. If you like House of Leaves, Neil Gaiman, Poe... or anything beautifully postmodern, get this now.

A Woman's Graphic Novel aka "Comic Book"

Graphic novel is the name given now to beautiful full length "comics" which come in hardback or trade paperback size. What's truly unusual about this one is that it is not male-oriented. This one was meant for a female audience! The only other graphic novel I've read that does the same is Gaiman and McKean's "Black Orchid". "Veils" totally succeeds as both a story and an art work and you can't ask any more of a "comic book" than that. The art work is done by 2 different artists since 2 different media are used: actual hand drawings/paintings and computer-enhanced photography. Using both together was a brilliant idea. This story of a Victorian English woman, fleeing her abusive English husband into a Middle Eastern harem, is quite tantalizing. None of the names are familiar to me of the people who collaborated on this book but I certainly hope they all plan to work together again and soon!

More Literary than Comic book

This is a striking and visually stimulating product. Very smartly written, full of thought provoking issues, and drawn/photographed to the best of 1998's technology. The story follows a Victorian woman's journey to the "orient" and all the orient's mysteries and sterotypes. The protagonist must shed her "veils" in order to find her true calling and desires. For years, woman are preceived in certain ways and must uphold their appearance and thoughts in a certain way to uphold their status. Well, Veils does the opposite. It allows the protagonist the daring decision to liberate her feminity and desires and in the process, sheds all her outer burdens. Truely literary and deep. Deals with the orient, feminism, and of course male domination on the female body. The art? WEll, a blend of hand art and photography makes this stunning and beautiful. The reason for only four stars is because I felt this book could've been expanded with more twists. I felt some scenes were longer than necessary and at times I wanted the plot to go faster. That's what Comic Books are about, right? But overall, this is stunning and deep. Expect a good read. Not a wham bang type of comic.

Beautiful, haunting book...

like nothing you've ever seen

Beautiful images, haunting writing

I happened to pass this book on the way to Neil Gaiman. Always fascinated with Islamic culture, particularly its female culture, I gave it a read. What a treat! THe use of traditional art mixed with photography and computer images is wonderful! Recommended!