A fascinating investigative work that is both personal and historical. A graphic novel about the Holocaust and the development of international law. Over 7,000 copies have been sold in France to date. Rights for World English and Spanish language versions are in negotiation.

The city of Lemberg (now Lviv in Ukraine) has been the home of several important turning points in twentieth century history. It was from there that, in 1942, the Nazis announced the "Final Solution". It was also where two Jewish lawyers introduced the terms "genocide" and "crimes against humanity", which were key elements in the Nuremberg trials. 

Lemberg is also where world history and that of Philippe Sands' family came together, as it’s where his grandfather spent his childhood before leaving to escape the Holocaust. The graphic novel, co-written by Sands, is an adaptation of his multi-award-winning book Retour à Lemberg (Albin Michel, 2017) which tells the story of this renowned Franco-British lawyer.

This realistic style, beautiful black and white, 304 page work, embarks on a fascinating investigation into his family history as well as into the creation of the framework of conventions of international law. 

"I discovered, by accident, that the two subjects I have been studying for many years, the notions of crimes against humanity and genocide, were invented by two lawyers who, like my grandfather, studied in Lviv: Hersch Lauterpacht and Raphael Lemkin. I wanted to find out more about them and their lives. I started with my grandfather and I looked for the house in Lviv that he left from in 1914, and that is when the coincidences began. It was as though a door had suddenly opened in front of me, and I went through," Sands explained in an interview on the radio station France Culture. 

"The graphic novel adaptation project was an ambitious challenge, and the result is, I dare say, far better than the original work! Through excellent writing and exceptional sequential art, the creators have succeeded in synthesizing the colossal volume of Philippe Sands’ research: they clearly outline the mechanisms that led to crimes such as those we experienced in Europe during the Second World War," explains Laurence Leclercq, Director of Rights and Licensing at Delcourt. 

With the outbreak of the war in Ukraine the subject is of contemporary relevance. This graphic novel has sold more than 7,000 copies in France to date and will soon be translated into English and Spanish.

Katja Petrovic 
September 2024