An Evening with Joann Sfar

Posted: Saturday, September 10, 2005
Posted By: Rik Offenberger

The Toronto Comic Arts Festival

and

The Friends of the Merril Collection are pleased to present

AN EVENING WITH JOANN SFAR

Tuesday, September 20th 2005 at 7pm
The Lillian H. Smith Library,
Basement Auditorium
239 College St., Toronto * FREE

TORONTO, Ontario - The Beguiling, Canada's premier comic book retailer, is pleased to announce a rare North American appearance by Joann Sfar, one of France's most talented and prolific comic artists. Touring in support of his latest graphic novel THE RABBI'S CAT (Pantheon Books/$29.95), Sfar will be the featured guest at an evening presentation of his new book and discussion of his career. The event is free and open to the public, and takes place on Tuesday, September 20 at 7pm at The Lillian H. Smith Branch of the Toronto Public Library, 239 College St., in Toronto. It is Sfar's only Canadian tour date.

THE RABBI'S CAT is a vibrant tale set in 1930s Algeria, with characters that include an endearing rabbi, his beautiful daughter, their colorful neighbors and friends and the truly unforgettable cat of the title. When the cat suddenly gains the remarkable gift of speech after swallowing the rabbi's parrot, he becomes deceitful and begins to espouse his opinion on just about everything. The rabbi then forbids him from spending time with his daughter Zlabya and begins to educate him in the Torah. As the cat studies the Kabbalah, he begins to crave his own bar mitzvah, and the question of whether a feline can be Jewish is intensely debated by the cat and his master.

"Sfar is easily one of the most exciting cartoonists of his generation," enthuses Peter Birkemoe, owner of The Beguiling. "Both his writing and art have a vibrancy that is rarely seen on either side of the Atlantic, and this new work in particular will be especially interesting to readers of more intellectual fiction. Only 33, Sfar is remarkably prolific, and in his short career has produced more than many authors do in a lifetime."

As part of the evening's presentation, Birkemoe will interview Joann Sfar on stage, in a exploration of his career, artistic, philosophical and political influences that will enlighten longtime admirers and new fans alike. "I've been actively re-reading Sfar's extensive body of work," says Birkemoe, "and so expect a lively discussion on everything from his unique view of Judaism, ancient philosophy and myth to his recurring cast of sympathetic monsters."

Books: Sfar's entire body work in English (and most of the original French editions) are currently in stock at The Beguiling (601 Markham Street, Toronto, and online at www.beguiling.com); copies of all books will be for sale at the event. The event is FREE and open to the public.

About the Author: Joann Sfar was awarded the prestigious Jury Prize at Angoulême for THE RABBI'S CAT (original French edition). He is best known in the United States for his children's books LITTLE VAMPIRE GOES TO SCHOOL (a New York Times bestseller) and LITTLE VAMPIRE DOES KUNG FU (nominated for an Eisner Award). He lives in Paris with his wife, two children, and his cat, the inspiration for the rabbi's cat. More information about Joann Sfar can be found at: www.pastis.org/Joann and pantheonbooks.com.

MEDIA QUERIES: Peter Birkemoe, owner of The Beguiling, 416-533-9168 or via email at: mail@beguiling.com .

This even is made possible with generous support of Random House of Canada, Le Consulat Général de la France à Toronto, and The Beguiling Books and Art Inc

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