Deogratias: A Tale of Rwanda by Stassen September 9, 2007

Do you remember where you were in 1994 and 1995? I do. Moreover I remember a trial of a certain ex-NFL player that eclipsed all other news stories. I feel a guilt about my ignorance of world events that have come and gone. Books like Stassen’s Deogratias: A Tale of Rwanda explain events in this world that I wish I knew more about. The Rwanda Genocide in my opinion is difficult information to process. However Deogratias presents difficult information in a way that will no doubt leave you to your own thoughts after completion.

As soon as I picked up this graphic novel, I did not want to set it down. The story of the protagonist Deogratias and his path to insanity unfolds in 78 pages. Amazing is an understatement for what I think of this particular graphic novel. I am awestruck with how Stassen could convey his ideas so effectively. Of course when dealing with any type of event that is labeled genocide a reader should be prepared for the pages to come.

Is Deogratias a tale of love, a tale of hate, a tale of history? Yes. It is a tale about the human race and our interactions. How politically sanctioned hate can run a muck and cause extreme tragedy. How love sometimes fails. How history repeats itself.