The Hartlepool Monkey
The Hartlepool Monkey by Wilfrid Lupano, published by Knockabout Comics in 2013, is a graphic novel that presents a unique narrative set in 1814. The story unfolds off the Durham coast, where a warship from the Napoleonic fleet sinks during a storm. In the aftermath, fishermen discover a monkey dressed in military attire, the sole survivor of the wreck. This unexpected arrival stirs the local populace, who harbor deep-seated animosities towards the French, despite having never encountered one.
Readers will find a tragi-comic exploration of themes such as war, jingoism, and xenophobia, as the townspeople’s ignorance leads to the monkey being court martialled. The narrative draws inspiration from the legend of the Hartlepool monkey, weaving a tale that reflects on the absurdities of prejudice and the potential for enlightenment. With 98 pages of engaging illustrations and storytelling, this edition invites readers to reflect on the complexities of human nature and societal perceptions.
Official synopsis Publisher
1814, off the Durham coast, near the little village of Hartlepool, a warship in the Napoleonic fleet founders during a storm and sinks. At daybreak, amid the wreckage and flotsam on the beach, fishermen discover a survivor: a monkey dressed in full military regalia, the mascot of the shipwrecked French vessel. Now, the good people of Hartlepool despise all Frenchmen, though they have never seen one in the flesh. Nor have they ever seen a monkey. But this brutish, bestial castaway tallies with the vague impression they have of the enemy … this alone is enough for the ape to find himself court martialled. Inspired by the famous legend of the Hartlepool monkey, this is a tragi-comic fable of war and jingoism, of xenophobia and ignorance and of the glimmering of enlightenment …
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