It was April 1, 1873. In the middle of the night, Sarah Jane spotted flares off the coast of her island home. She woke her father, who quickly gathered their neighbours. Over the next several hours, rescuers pulled 429 traumatized survivors out of the wreckage of the SS Atlantic. But 535 people didn't survive, including Bill, a sailor. However, this story isn't about death--it's about living. Swapping out their dress for a pair of pants, Bill had run away from New Jersey in search of adventure, anonymity, and a place in the world. Everything seemed to fall into place when they were hired to work on a cargo steamer--but it didn't take long for Bill to discover that they weren't quite as anonymous as they thought. In Call Me Bill, debut graphic novelist Lynette Richards explores the history behind the worst maritime disaster of the 19th century, and uncovers the remarkable life story of a tenacious adventurer called Bill. This story explores identity, courage, and the radical imagination of someone who took huge risks to live an authentic life that others would have had difficulty imagining.
It was April 1, 1873. In the middle of the night, Sarah Jane spotted flares off the coast of her island home. She woke her father, who quickly gathered their neighbours. Over the next several hours, rescuers pulled 429 traumatized survivors out of the wreckage of the SS Atlantic. But 535 people didn't survive, including Bill, a sailor. However, this story isn't about death--it's about living. Swapping out their dress for a pair of pants, Bill had run away from New Jersey in search of adventure, anonymity, and a place in the world. Everything seemed to fall into place when they were hired to work on a cargo steamer--but it didn't take long for Bill to discover that they weren't quite as anonymous as they thought. In Call Me Bill, debut graphic novelist Lynette Richards explores the history behind the worst maritime disaster of the 19th century, and uncovers the remarkable life story of a tenacious adventurer called Bill. This story explores identity, courage, and the radical imagination of someone who took huge risks to live an authentic life that others would have had difficulty imagining.
