Customer Reviews

Isadora Duncan: A Graphic Biography

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I came to this book knowing a few things about Isadora Duncan, namely that she spawned the "Isadorables;" that her style of dance, which was supposed to be free of training and structure, evolved into a new form of dance altogether in which students can now train and learn choreography that is passed down from body to body much in the way that ballet, which she despised for its "rigidness," has been for centuries; and that she was kind of a boozer. Basically, I know the kinds of things they tell you at the beginning of a modern dance class held during a summer workshop for ballet dancers.

All of these things are laid out beautifully in the book. But there is so much more! Isadora traveled the (Western, including Russia) world, to showcase her dancing. She gave political performances, that were not all that well-received, and yet she gave them over and over again because she believed in what she had to say. She was a professional dancer who GOT PREGNANT without ending her career. She started schools for underprivileged girls in Europe where they could learn to dance (be "Isadorables") and eat three square meals a day free of charge.

She also had the first historically recorded wardrobe malfunction and a rather scandalous string of lovers. As Jones says, we all have Isadora to thank for the widespread acceptance of "comfortable dress and serial monogamy" (125).

Throughout this biography, Jones manages to balance Isadora's personal, professional and family personas. Rather than focusing on just the scandal, just the ground-breaking accomplishments, just the prevalent eccentricities, Jones shows how each was affected and usually enhanced by the others. She also manages to convey a lot of movement, which is what modern dance is all about, for a book of black and white illustrations. Almost every spread shows a swaying, jumping, or somehow dancing Isadora. Her innocent little "I'm not up to anything" face peeks out from every page as well.

By drawing from Isadora's own autobiography, as well as her other publications and the work of other biographers, including Isadora's most loyal adopted Isadorable, Irma Duncan, Jones puts forth a wonderful look at all of the facets of Isadora's life. This book expresses the freedom and artistry that Isadora spent her life sharing with others.


Book source: the library

This is a fascinating life story, great for telling in the graphic novel form. The art style, to me, is pitch perfect. Somewhat reminiscent of Marjane Satrapi but more graceful/loose. Works well for a dancer's story! I am glad to have this in my graphic novel collection.

Great for adults and children. Sabrina Jones is a talented artist and writer. She has done all the drawings by hand! Read about the extraordinary life of Isadora Duncan. Marvel at the drawings! A fun and informative read! Highly recommended!

Here's what's amazing (and a little eerie): I read this graphic novel and then actually had the opportunity to watch a performance of Isadora Duncan's dances. What I couldn't believe was that I already KNEW the steps -- what they'd look like and feel like -- thanks to THIS BOOK. I knew what the spins would be like, and how the costumes would flow -- everything. I hadn't realized how incredibly accurate this novel's drawings were, or even that graphic novels could BE that accurate. What a great experience. And on top of it, I really enjoyed the book.

I was very disappointed when I got this book. I expected a more abstract illustration of Isadoras movements and words, but this book is really more like a caricature comic strip. The image on the cover does not resemble those inside the book, and I found many of the "stories" in this book to be quite black and white, or portraying Duncan as a spoiled brat, which is fine, if thats your perseption of this woman. But there is nothing indicating that this perseption might not be completely correct, or anyway: that maybe there are other perseptions as well.
As I said, I was really disappointed, I really thought this book was more abstract, also in the actual written parts, but this is really a book made of comic strips and it never gets to the core of anything. It just rushes through lacking depth and different perspectives, and it often gets too comic for my taste. It fails to broaden my perspective on the movement of the body (dance) as an art form, a form of expression, a form of life, and instead focuses (too much I think) on what supposedly was Isadora Duncans personal life.