The Professor's Daughter - Softcover

Sfar, Joann; Guibert, Emmanuel

3.41

2,394 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 159643130X ISBN 13: 9781596431300

Publisher: First Second, 2007

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Imhotep IV is an Egyptian mummy who's just opened his eyes for the first time in 3,000 years. Lillian Bowell is the daughter of a renowned Egyptologist. One day, when the Professor's away, the two go out for an afternoon on the town. The heap of trouble that they land in--brought on by Mozart, afternoon tea, and a passing gentleman's sensitive nature--only deepens when they learn Imhotep IV's father is in town. Can Imhotep IV and Lillian stay together when both their fathers, the London Police, and even the Archeological society are desperate to drag them apart?

Written by the hilarious and insightful Joann Sfar and painted in muted, sepia-toned watercolors by Emmanuel Guibert, this book is something to keep as a display piece, a thing of beauty--if you can put down the engaging story long enough for others to admire it!

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About the Author:

Emmanuel Guibert and Joann Sfar are two of the most ridiculously talented comics authors to come from France. Prolific, inventive, and versatile beyond common sense, the two shared a Paris studio from 1995 to 1999, and stories grew there like ragweed.

Taking turns writing scripts and drawing pictures, Joann and Emmanuel have collaborated on a number of prize-winning graphic novels, such as SARDINE IN OUTER SPACE, the BLACK OLIVES series, and now THE PROFESSOR'S DAUGHTER.

Working solo, Sfar is the author of the popular LITTLE VAMPIRE and VAMPIRE LOVES series, as well as the bestselling THE RABBI'S CAT. As for Guibert, his many works for readers young and old include ALAN'S WAR, an extraordinary biography of his late father Alan Cope, an

Review:

Review in January 15th 2007 issue of Kirkus

Mummies and fathers complicate a love story that spans centuries in this gorgeously illustrated fable.

Originally published in French in 1997, this English translation highlights the playful collaboration of two masters of the graphic narrative, with Sfar (The Rabbi's Cat, 2005) providing the story and Guibert (Sardine in Outer Space 1 and 2, both 2006, illustrated by Sfar) the colorful, impressionistic visuals. The elegantly slim volume details the romance of a 19th-century British professor's daughter and the 16th-century mummy of an Egyptian emperor (a witty and erudite fellow), who is one of her father's prized possessions. The daughter is one of her father's prized possessions as well, thus rendering their illicit relationship all the more problematic. The mummy's attempt to live with his lover in her world results in an afternoon of mayhem and perhaps even murder, so they try to return to his world, with equally disastrous results. A trial highlights class inequities in Victorian England, while the Queen herself makes a brief (and soggy) appearance. Ultimately, a climactic encounter between the mummy's estranged father and the professor gives the finale a surprising, satisfying twist.

No glorified comic book, this graphic novel aspires to fine art.

Review in February 5th 2007 issue of Publisher's Weekly

Two of France's best graphic novel talents, the ever-prolific Sfar and the subtle illustrator Guibert, collaborate. The result is a fun--if slight (effort, as much a love letter to Victorian London as a story unto itself. Very simply, a mummy, somehow alive and walking around London, has a charming romance with a professor's daughter. The logistical complications involved are comically dismissed, and the pair have a grand old time together. That is, until the mummy's father appears to complicate matters. Sfar has written an utterly engaging romp comparable to a fine 1930s romantic comedy. His dialogue is snappy, and he moves from thrills to chills to humor without missing a beat. But Guibert's work is the real treat. His deft brushwork and spectacular sense of color bring the places and dramas to life. In his hands, otherwise stock characters gain a real presence and liveliness, and he has a filmic sense of drama, describing the characters with detail and wit. A section of Guibert's sketches at the end of the book is extraneous, but otherwise this is an excellent little volume. (Apr.))

Review in March 15th 2007 issue of Booklist

Lillian is the daughter of an eminent Egyptologist. Seeking relief from the stifling propriety of her daily life, she invites Pharaoh Imhotep IV, a dashing mummy from her father's collection, to escort her on a walk. As they stroll through Victorian London, arm in arm, they find themselves falling in love. Their subsequent attempts to stay together lead to mystery, kidnapping, murder, and the sudden return of Imhotep III. Comical disasters ensue, and the situation becomes increasingly absurd, but the romance at the core of the story remains innocent and charming. The art--with a fluidity that expresses emotion and movement to equal advantage (is stunning, and the soft colors are a good match for the setting and mood of the sweet, inspired romance. This will attract adult as well as teen graphic-novel fans.)

Review in April 1st 2007 VOYA

In Victorian London, Lillian is the daughter of a brilliant archaeologist, and she is falling in love with the mummy of Imhotep IV. Their quietly blooming love is awkward: He has no internal organs, and she is the very image of his long-dead wife. As a mysterious gentleman pirate, an unlucky policeman, and the queen herself interfere, the lovers find just what their feelings are made of.

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