A Contract with God
- 179 pages
- 7 hours of reading
A gorgeous, collectible hardcover edition of Will Eisner's pioneering graphic novel to celebrate the author's 100th birthday.
The Contract With God Trilogy Series
This trilogy of graphic novels delves into the spectrum of human emotions and life experiences. Set in a legendary, mythical neighborhood, the stories weave together tales of joy, exuberance, tragedy, and drama. It's a profound exploration of the human condition presented through powerful visual storytelling. The series is celebrated as a foundational work that redefined the art form of the graphic novel.
Recommended Reading Order
The Will Eisner Library: A Life Force
- 139 pages
- 5 hours of reading
Master of the Comics medium Will Eisner offers more of his imagination to his readers with this tale of real people simply experiencing life. Set during the Depression, A Life Force tells the hard-luck story of a tenement dweller living in the same neighborhood that served as the setting for A Contract with God. Eisner's everyman, Jacob Shtarkah, and his family and neighbors come to life in this moving urban portrait.
Dropsie Avenue
- 188 pages
- 7 hours of reading
The narrative explores the rich history of Dropsie Avenue, illustrating its evolution through four centuries and the diverse communities that have inhabited it. Eisner vividly captures the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, showcasing the personal stories of residents that reflect broader social changes. This graphic depiction offers a compelling panorama of urban life, emphasizing the resilience and transformation of the neighborhood over time.
Related books
A Contract with God and Other Stories of Dropsie Avenue
- 328 pages
- 12 hours of reading
"This inaugural Norton Critical Edition of a graphic novel features Will Eisner's A Contract with God, originally published in 1978 from Baronet Press. Eisner's pioneering work draws on his upbringing in the Bronx to produce realistic narratives surrounding Jewish American culture within New York City's tenements. Excerpts from A Life Force (1988), Invisible People (1993), and Dropsie Avenue (1995) are also included in this edition, followed by Eisner's thoughts on the American graphic novel. "Reviews and Assessments" section presents the reactions of Eisner's contemporaries, selected from multiple art and comic journals of the time. "Criticism" offers modern analyses of Eisner's work in respect to art, race, and underrepresented history. A selected bibliography and chronology are also included"--
The Contract With God Trilogy
- 498 pages
- 18 hours of reading
Frimme Hersh breaks his contract with God and ends up as a Depression-era slumlord, while Jacob Shtarkah strives to help an old friend trapped in Nazi Germany and struggles with poverty and the corruption of the residents of Dropsie Avenue.