A fun-filled graphic novel reimagining of Lewis Carroll’s absurd poem
Aboard a boat, there is a mishmash of people—all of whom are dubbed with “B” names coinciding with their career: a Billiard-marker, a Broker, and a Barrister, to name a few. With a Bellman at the helm and an anthropomorphic Beaver along for the journey, they are embarking on the hunt for a Snark.
Amongst the crew is the Baker, who only knows how to make Bridecake, which they do not have the ingredients for. The Baker forgot all her things when she boarded the boat, including her own name, but she is courageous: “And that, after all, / Is the thing that one needs with a Snark.”
There is tension on the boat, as the Butcher claims they can only kill beavers. But the Beaver onboard is a member of the crew, and other mates offer him help, but he is still awkwardly stuck on the boat with someone who wants to cook him.
After months of sailing, the crew docks on an island. Here, the Bellman provides his crew with the five details they need to hunt a Snark. Snarks are harmless creatures, but they must be aware of finding the more dangerous Boojum instead.
At the mention of Boojums, the Baker collapses. Her uncle warned her that if she ever crossed paths with a Boojum she would “softly and suddenly vanish away, / And never be met with again!”
On the island, the crew follows the Bellman’s instructions on identifying and catching a snark. The story follows as the Baker fears the Boojum, the Beaver and Butcher get lost together, and the band of “B” named crewmates traverse the island in search of a Snark.
The Hunting of the Snark by Macy Grove is a playful and quirky graphic novel adaptation of the (oft-dubbed) nonsensical poem by Lewis Carroll. Grove honors the original poem, with only a few tweaks to pronouns. Instead of a crew of just men, the hunting party is made up of men, women, and nonbinary mates. The crew is also depicted diversely in their illustrations, with varying ages and races. The combination of Carroll and Grove’s imaginations make for a delightfully whimsical tale.
The wonderful illustrations immerse you in this amusing world. Having visual context adds a new layer to the story: we get to see the characters’ emotions on their faces and what a snark and the other creatures of this land look like. The illustrations create space to connect more with the characters where the original text had limitations with its rhyming.
Grove’s graphic novel rendition is the ultimate way to experience Carroll’s “The Hunting of the Snark.” The story is an absolute romp. If you’re looking to immerse yourself in a world of rhyming whimsy backdropped by crisp art, you’d be wise to give this graphic novel a go.
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