Sankha Banerjee – illustratör

"An ambitious biography – in graphic-novel style – of an early Anabaptist martyr. Intriguing watercolors – evocative of both Hieronymus Bosch and 1970s pop art – precede the opening pages. … The chapters that follow use accessible language and abundant visual cues in softly colored, action-packed art." —Kirkus ReviewsIn a time of social upheaval, in a city astir with dangerous new ideas, the son of a Catholic priest becomes a leader of a nonviolent revolution.Five hundred years ago, in an age marked by war, plague, inequality, and religious coercion, there were people across Europe who dared to imagine a society of sharing, peace, and freedom of conscience. These radicals were ready to die for their vision. They were executed by the thousands—by water, by fire, and by sword—in both Catholic and Protestant states. Their stories come to life in this graphic novel series that dramatically recreates a little-known chapter in the history of the Reformation.By Water, is a true story of friendship and betrayal set in the Swiss city of Zurich. It chronicles the conflict between establishment reformer Ulrich Zwingli (1484–1531) and his student Felix Manz (1498–1527), who at first reveres Zwingli as a father figure but ends up drowned on Zwingli’s orders for insisting that only adult believers should be baptized. In this dramatic visualization of the birth of the Radical Reformation, water is both wonder and weapon, a symbol of new life and a death sentence.This action-packed, historically accurate account of young people standing up for their convictions against the corrupt political and religious leaders of their day will awaken courage and commitment in young readers today.

A graphic novel dramatizes a true story of a corrupt ruler, a courageous resister, a daring alpine escape, a refugee love story, a reckless return, a jealous traitor, and a martyr burned alive at the stake. King Ferdinand, who will later become Holy Roman Emperor, orders the eradication of all heretics in Tyrol, and especially their leader, Jakob Hutter. Like other Anabaptists, Hutter has rejected armed revolt and embraced nonviolence. What if instead of overthrowing oppressive rulers, he asks, we create a peaceful and just alternative society ourselves? Driven into hiding and eventually forced to flee through the mountains into Moravia, Hutter realizes his dream and finds love. But persecution follows him. Despite death warrants, he and his pregnant wife, Katharina, return to Tyrol to support the underground movement there. They are betrayed by a friend turned informant and captured along with their baby. Jakob is burned at the stake in the town square of Innsbruck. Katharina escapes but soon meets a similar fate. Their story comes to life in this graphic novel, the second in a series that dramatically recreates a little-known chapter in the history of the Reformation. These radicals, labeled Anabaptists by their enemies, were ready to die for their vision. They were executed by thousands – by water, by fire, and by sword – in both Catholic and Protestant lands. This action-packed account of young people daring to stand up for their convictions will appeal to today’s nonconformists.

In Reformation-era Europe, a peaceful Christian group known as Hutterites has been battered by persecution and migration. Their leader, Jakob Hutter, has been burned at the stake. When a new edict forbids them to share their money and goods, will they go back to living private lives? Or flee yet again? Or take up arms?Peter Riedemann, a thirty-year-old who has already spent four years in a castle dungeon, is tasked with leading the weary band and uniting its scattered factions. But it will take more than the zeal and faithfulness of one man to come through the next round of challenges.That story comes to life in this graphic novel, the third in a series that dramatically recreates a little-known chapter in the history of the Reformation. These radicals, labeled Anabaptists by their enemies, were ready to die for their vision. Thousands were executed – by water, by fire, and by sword – in both Catholic and Protestant lands. This action-packed account of young people daring to stand up for their convictions will appeal to today’s nonconformists.