To Build a Fire [1902/2007/18] – ★★★
Based on short story To Build a Fire by Jack London, this graphic novel by French artist Christophe Chabouté (Alone, Moby Dick) recounts one day in the life of a man newly arrived to north-western Canada as an ardent prospector in search of gold. The year is 1896, and our man is just one of many finding their feet in the environment of bitter cold (minus fifty), treacherous ice lakes, and few provisions. His dog is his only companion, but, otherwise, he is alone, making his way to his mates’ camp.
This is a survival story that emphasises the importance of fire and of making fire to survive in inhospitable conditions. The man was told many times how dangerous it is to travel alone in such freezing temperatures, but he is sure of himself, or is he? The story is also about the arrogance and presumptuousness of the mankind who think they can outsmart Mother Nature. The man in the story learns his lesson, but at what cost?
The graphic novel renders vividly the key moments in London’s story, especially those that portray the horrific realisations of the prospector. Chabouté’s trademark of using black and white ink also works particularly well here as it conveys the harshness of the environment. The blackness of the forest is contrasted with all the white snow, and when fire (red), the true central character, comes into the picture, the impression becomes even more vivid. However, the decision to go for a second-person narrative (“you”) is odd and makes the reading perplexing (the original story is told through an omniscient third-person narration).
I generally welcome graphic novel adaptations of classic books, for example, see my previously reviewed The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, as visualised by Kristina Gehrmann. But, it seems that not everything works when adapting original works that are already short and to the point as London’s To Build a Fire, and our imagination when reading the story more than compensates for any lack of visuals given the story’s unique setting and its briefness. Chabouté’s work is beautifully-drawn, but also slightly repetitive and not as moving as the original.
