Description
THE SOLDIER'S DEPARTURE
Book Summary
An illustrated picture book that explores the multiple dimensions of desertion, exile, and love in times of war. Through a visual and poetic narrative, Javier de Isusi and Leticia Ruifernández construct a work where the intimate and the historical intertwine, offering the reader a reflection on commitment, the homeland, and humanity in contexts of conflict. A literary and artistic piece that invites a rethinking of the borders between war and affection.
What is it about?
The work travels through the moments before and after a departure: that of a soldier who deserts the horror of war. Through images and words, the decisions that mark a life are explored: the abandonment of the uniform, the weight of memory, the search for a home that is not on maps. The narration unfolds from the elemental—a house, a window, a bird—to the profound, where love and violence coexist in the same retina. The story is not limited to a specific conflict, but speaks of all wars and all ways of leaving, of understanding the homeland as a place one carries within.
Main themes
- Desertion as an act of resistance and affirmation of life.
- Exile and the redefinition of the concept of homeland.
- The traumatic memory of war and its impact on one's perspective.
- Love as a force that transcends violence and separation.
- The relationship between the intimate and the collective in historical contexts.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers interested in the Spanish Civil War and historical memory, as well as those looking for a literary and visual approach to the wounds of conflict. Also for lovers of adult illustrated picture books, visual poetry, and narratives that combine art and social commitment. Especially suitable for those who value works that invite reflection through aesthetic sensitivity and emotional depth.
What this book contributes
- A reading experience that integrates text and illustration to address complex themes with a poetic and direct gaze.
- A reflection on the meaning of desertion and exile, beyond moral judgments.
- An exploration of how love and memory can redefine the concept of home and belonging.
- A work that connects the personal with the historical, showing how major conflicts impact daily lives.
Technical specifications
- Author: DE ISUSI, JAVIER; RUIFERNANDEZ, LETICIA
- Publisher: EDICIONES LA UÑA ROTA
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: MEMOIRS, HISTORY OF SPAIN, SPANISH CIVIL WAR, ILLUSTRATED PICTURE BOOKS
- Collection: LIBROS QUE NI PINTADOS
- Binding: Hardcover
- Edition date: October 2023
- Number of pages: 40
- Weight: 220 g
Editorial review
A work that stands out for its capacity for synthesis and its visual power. The collaboration between Javier de Isusi and Leticia Ruifernández achieves a balance between textual narrative and illustration, offering a reading that is not exhausted by a single look. The book directly engages those who seek to understand the cracks in history from a human and artistic perspective, without renouncing complexity or emotion. Recommended for those who believe that art can be a vehicle for memory and reflection.