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Isabel Greenberg

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The Encyclopedia of Early Earth: a graphic novel Hardcover – 3 Oct. 2013

by Isabel Greenberg (Author)

4.6 218 ratings

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Winner of the Best Book Award at the 2014 British Comic Awards
Readers! This book is not a real encyclopedia!

It is an epic work of fiction, detailing the many tales and adventures of one lonely storyteller, on a quest for Enlightenment and True Love. This book contains many stories, big and small, about and pertaining to the following things: Gods, monsters, mad kings, wise old crones, shamans, medicine men, brothers and sisters, strife, mystery, bad science, worse geography, and did we already mention true love?

Critics are saying it is probably the best thing since sliced bread. Maybe even since bread knives.

From the Publisher

Product description

Review

There’s much myth and magic in the pages of this colossal work of illustrated fiction. ― Monocle

This is a hugely enjoyable and remarkable book, with much to discover below the surface. -- Jess Richards ― Guardian

It’s a whimsical, light-hearted book that reads like the best kind of bedtime story – a new take on something familiar and much loved. -- Teddy Jamieson ― Glasgow Sunday Herald

There is a pleasing unity to these far-flung stories appearing alongside one another. Greenberg is clearly fascinated by the universality of myth. -- George Pendle ― Financial Times

Timelessly brilliant… Isabel Greenberg is clearly destined to make a big contribution to British comics. ― Starburst

About the Author

Isabel Greenberg is a London-based illustrator and writer. She is the author of three critically acclaimed graphic novels, including Glass Town, and has been nominated for two Eisner Awards. She is also the illustrator of several children’s books and an associate lecturer at University of the Arts London.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0224097199
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Jonathan Cape; 1st edition (3 Oct. 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780224097192
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0224097192
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 21.7 x 1.9 x 30.4 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 335,708 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 76 in Comic Book History & Price Guides
- 755 in Food & Drink Encyclopaedias & Dictionaries
- 1,310 in Animal Sciences References

Customer reviews:
4.6 218 ratings

About the author

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Isabel Greenberg

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Isabel Greenberg is the author and illustrator of four acclaimed graphic novels; The Encyclopedia of Early Earth, The One Hundred Nights of Hero, Glass Town and the upcoming Young Hag. Her books have been New York Times Graphic Books Bestsellers, have been translated into a number of languages and have received critical acclaim.

Her work for younger readers includes The Midnight Babies, and she is the illustrator of a number of non fiction books including Athena and Gaia which she worked on with her sister, Imogen Greenberg.

She studied at the University of Brighton and The Royal College of Art, and lives in London.

Customer reviews

218 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the book's storytelling style, which resembles myths and fables. They find the story compelling and the book appealing. The artwork is clear and well-done. Readers describe the book as witty and poetic, making it a joy to read.

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Story telling Appeal Art style Wit Embossed content

19 customers mention ‘Story telling’19 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging stories. They find the stories reminiscent of myths and fables, with an emotional pull. The quirky voice works well for most parts, providing both epic and intimate elements. The book offers a refreshing break from heavier, more intense books.

"...story thread of The Storyteller of Nord ties together a wonderful set of other stories of the beginning of world, love, hope, manipulative Gods, a..." Read more

"Beautifully illustrated and the tale rollicks along. My 10 year old loved it, and so did I." Read more

"...once you get into it you forget the format and it takes you on a fabulous journey - it's funny and poignant and magical, without being mystical or..." Read more

"...a nice, uncomplicated read that gave me a break from heavier, more intense books... and it smells like crayons!" Read more

14 customers mention ‘Appeal’14 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's appeal. They find it charming, quirky, and a treasure. The idea is brilliant and the stories are great. Many describe the book as funny, poignant, and magical without being mystical.

"...read any spoiler reviews, just delve straight in and be lost in a wonderful world where you can find out what happens to The Storyteller and what..." Read more

"...and it takes you on a fabulous journey - it's funny and poignant and magical, without being mystical or preachy, which i hate...." Read more

"...I really enjoyed reading this. It was a nice, uncomplicated read that gave me a break from heavier, more intense books... and it smells like crayons!" Read more

"...Here you are guided on your journey around early Earth by very good company. I shall be making return trips on a regular basis." Read more

13 customers mention ‘Art style’13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's artwork. They find it clear and well-done.

"Beautifully illustrated and the tale rollicks along. My 10 year old loved it, and so did I." Read more

"...The art style is effective, mostly using a minimum number of colours on each page. I really enjoyed reading this...." Read more

"A beautiful, poetic work. The drawings are amazing, full of quirky details, and the story manages to have both an epic and an intimate dimension." Read more

"I bought this as a gift for someone. They loved the art a lot and enjoyed the story. I also read it myself...." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Wit’8 positive2 negative

Customers find the book has a charming and humorous style. They describe it as funny, poetic, and a joy to read. The writing is well-crafted with little witticisms in the text and art. Overall, readers find it an uncomplicated and enjoyable read that offers a break from heavier books.

"...There's an undeniable English Wit here, from little textual asides, to little bits in the art itself...." Read more

"...it you forget the format and it takes you on a fabulous journey - it's funny and poignant and magical, without being mystical or preachy, which i..." Read more

"...I really enjoyed reading this. It was a nice, uncomplicated read that gave me a break from heavier, more intense books... and it smells like crayons!" Read more

"...(even with my high powered reading machine) it will be harder to read, in this strange scripted format. But, that said, I'll still read it...." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Embossed content’4 positive0 negative

Customers like the book's embossed content. They say it's beautiful and unique.

"...and the faint drawings you can see are actually shiny and slightly embossed. The inside looks a bit like it has been drawn in fountain pen...." Read more

"A beautiful, poetic work. The drawings are amazing, full of quirky details, and the story manages to have both an epic and an intimate dimension." Read more

"Charming, witty, beautiful, original, feels like a fable and like a strange historic truth at the same time." Read more

"Beautiful and unique book...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

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Marshalsea
Soul Food Fairy Tales For A Modern World
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 November 2013
Verified Purchase
A single story thread of The Storyteller of Nord ties together a wonderful set of other stories of the beginning of world, love, hope, manipulative Gods, a bit of violence (nothing above a U/PG rating for sure), and all those other great things that make myths and fairy tales so much fun!

There's an undeniable English Wit here, from little textual asides, to little bits in the art itself. Ms Greenberg has created a lovely place to escape to and has managed to capture something of that childhood wonder.

Yet more proof (isn't it about time that the stuffy old Literati gave up denying it?) that Graphic Novels should not be derided, and are of the great tradition of storytelling. This is a perfect present for anyone young and old who will open up to the possibility of a great story from a Graphic Novel.

Do not read the synopsis, do not read any spoiler reviews, just delve straight in and be lost in a wonderful world where you can find out what happens to The Storyteller and what has happened in the world he lives in.

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9 people found this helpful

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Snowman500
charming
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 November 2018
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Beautifully illustrated and the tale rollicks along. My 10 year old loved it, and so did I.

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Laughing Aubergine
Fabulous Book for Christmas!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 November 2013
Verified Purchase
I found this book just by chance... the title caught my eye. And I love it! I suppose they'd call it a graphic novel, but once you get into it you forget the format and it takes you on a fabulous journey - it's funny and poignant and magical, without being mystical or preachy, which i hate. I'd say the humour is edgy and unpredictable... which i love... and the story keeps you engaged. I'm new to graphic novels... I've never known were to start, the graphic novel section of Waterstones is awash with stuff i can't stand – super-hero masturbatory sci-fi or teenage-dystopian-noir-angst – and this book is not like that. i feel encouraged to look for more titles like this... I will be buying this book for my teenage niece and my elderly mum this Christmas.

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6 people found this helpful

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Six Impossible Things
Lovely, quirky graphic novel
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 July 2014
Verified Purchase
The Encyclopedia of Early Earth is a graphic novel that follows a storyteller as he travels from the North to the South Pole to look for a lost part of his soul. He finds it being taken care of by a girl he meets at there. He and the girl fall in love but appear to be magnetically repelled by each other and are unable to touch (this is mentioned at the start so is in no way a spoiler).

The book recounts the stories and adventures our storyteller has experienced along the way. He collects stories from the various people he encounters, which cover a variety of folktales, and the beliefs of the people. We also get to hear about Birdman (god) and his children and how the Earth was created, as well as stories that have a familiar biblical feel - the great flood, splitting a baby in two (or three as the case may be).

The stories are told in a quirky voice which works for the most part. Occasionally, a phrase will be used that feels too modern for the setting and I know it is probably intentionally done but it grates slightly in places. Otherwise, it is nicely written and humorous.

The Encyclopedia of Early Earth is a lovely book. Before you even delve inside it looks nice on a shelf. My copy is hardcover and the faint drawings you can see are actually shiny and slightly embossed. The inside looks a bit like it has been drawn in fountain pen. Isabel Greenberg says at the end that she had a font made of her handwriting - it is so neat. The art style is effective, mostly using a minimum number of colours on each page.

I really enjoyed reading this. It was a nice, uncomplicated read that gave me a break from heavier, more intense books... and it smells like crayons!

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8 people found this helpful

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Susalaya
A beautiful, poetic work
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 January 2015
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A beautiful, poetic work. The drawings are amazing, full of quirky details, and the story manages to have both an epic and an intimate dimension.

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Robert Stephens
Beautiful and unique book.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 May 2014
Verified Purchase
I bought this as a gift for someone. They loved the art a lot and enjoyed the story.
I also read it myself. It offers something completely different.

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Uccello
Witty and knowing in a good way.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 March 2014
Verified Purchase
This is wonderful story telling. Encyclopedia is the right term if you like to open a reference book or go on the Internet and go wandering. Here you are guided on your journey around early Earth by very good company. I shall be making return trips on a regular basis.

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Tttttttttt
Great Book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 February 2014
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Love this book, brilliant illustrations very different, interesting story. Its a treasure. Looking forward to Isabel's next offering. go girl!

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Top reviews from other countries

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López
Fantástico
Reviewed in Spain on 11 March 2019
Verified Purchase
Un libro muy recomendado, excelente el trabajo de esta autora que ya apunta maneras.

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Emm Campero
Hermoso
Reviewed in Mexico on 25 May 2017
Verified Purchase
Un libro hermosamente ilustrado e historias bastante creativas e interesantes.
Esta 'enciclopedia' es una gran compra para cualquier persona que desee leer una histpria gráfica de amor y aventura.

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Natalia Cuello
Interessantíssimo e lindo
Reviewed in Brazil on 28 March 2017
Verified Purchase
Follow your gut, Storyteller, it will lead to your happy ending.
Comecei o ano lendo essa HQ super fofinha que é uma história de histórias.
Vai falando sobre um casal que não pode se tocar, ele é um contador de histórias e conta as histórias da sua vida e das aventuras, começando com como suas três mães dividiram sua alma em três, assim cada uma poder cuidar de um menino como bem entendesse. Só que um pedacinho dele se perdeu e como ele buscou no mundo inteiro pelo pedaço perdido. E acabou passando por muitos lugares e conhecendo várias pessoas.
E nos tempos em que estão casados, a maneira de se aproximarem, já que não dá para se abraçar e ficar juntinhos, é de contar essas histórias sobre o que aconteceu com ele enquanto buscava seu pedacinho perdido de alma. Afinal ele era o contador de histórias oficial da sua vida. E ele conta as histórias de sua vida, assim como a história dos povos que ele visitou, mostrando que somos sempre iguais e diferentes. E é lindo. É bem interessante ver como cada povo tem suas crenças e sua cultura, a história de como surgiu aquela terra e quão bem é retratada essa diferença no livro, mesmo que isso seja difícil no formato de HQ, mas sempre com uma pegada leve e divertida.
Achei a história principal, dele buscando um pedaço de si mesmo do outro lado do mundo, muito interessante. Não estamos sempre encontrando novos pedaços de nós mesmos por ai?
Outra coisa muito legal sobre a história é o senso de humor. Me peguei dando risadas altas enquanto lia.
A edição também é diferente da maioria das HQ's já que as páginas são grossinhas e opacas. O traçado é bem diferente também, bem simples, assim como as cores usadas. Talvez por isso chame tanto a atenção. Não são luzes e sombras e cores fantásticas, é tudo muito sóbrio e combina com a história.

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Tyrannosaurus Rose
Irreverent and well-crafted
Reviewed in the United States on 23 May 2014
Verified Purchase
Isabel Greenberg came out of nowhere for me, and I'm so glad I found her. It's hard to believe this is her first graphic novel. "The Encyclopedia of Early Earth" is unique in a lot of ways. It pulls off a text-heavy format better than many comics I've seen, with really snappy prose. The artwork is simple, with a measured use of color that really makes it pop off the page. The story is full of love and magic and all the things that make a really good fable. That said, in keeping with that fable-esque tone, the characters sometimes lack depth. However, they're always interesting to read about.

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Andre Leite
Livro chegou em péssimo estado
Reviewed in Brazil on 10 November 2021
Verified Purchase
O livro em si é incrível, porém ele chegou todo amassado.

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Andre Leite

Livro chegou em péssimo estado
Reviewed in Brazil on 10 November 2021
O livro em si é incrível, porém ele chegou todo amassado.

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