In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones

Perfect for any history lovers, this graphic novel deals with the relationship between the USSR and Ukraine, and the Holodomor, a "terror famine" that took place in the 1930s and the subsequent coverup. Andrea Chalupa covers this subject expertly and with sensitivity. I have not seen the movie that she has also written on the same subject but found the storyline easy enough to follow anyways. However, this is a subject I was already familiar with. Potentially more background could have been supplied for readers that don't know anything about the USSR.

I highly recommend this graphic novel. It was an unflinching and heartbreaking portrayal of Gareth Jones' courageous work exposing the truth about Stalin and Ukraine. Even though the content is essentially the same as the movie Mr. Jones, this medium will likely bring it to a larger audience; I could see it being used in schools in a graphic novel unit alongside works like Persepolis. The art style was great, though occasionally I found it difficult to tell what was going on until I took a second or third look; that's probably just because I do not read too many graphic novels. The writing was clear and to-the-point, and the story addresses themes and questions that are just as relevant and urgent today as they were in the 1930s. Anyone seeking to understand the Soviet Union, the origins of the Cold War, or the origins of the situation in Ukraine today should read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free eARC. This review contains my honest opinions. I will post this review on Goodreads and Amazon closer to the book's publication.

4.5 stars

This isn’t the kind of story I tend to pick up very often, but because I enjoy learning about history, and this book covers a time period I’ve hardly read anything about, I was interested in reading it. I was a bit nervous going in, knowing it might not be the nicest story…and I was right; it wasn’t. At the same time, I feel like the people in this story deserve to be remembered for their heroism and the unjust way they were treated. If you enjoy historical graphic novels that pack a punch, and don’t mind more adult themes (the famine—and what it drove people to do—was no joke), I’d recommend you check this book out. It’s not one you’re likely to forget anytime soon.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

In "In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones" Andrea Chalupa has written a gripping and compelling account of the efforts of Welsh journalist, Gareth Jones, to uncover and expose the Soviet government's deliberate role in the Holodomor that killed up to five million Ukrainians in the early thirties. The fact that Jones later paid for his actions with his life is also noted and makes the book resound even more strongly. Although, the book does not shy away from showing the horrors that were perpetrated in Ukraine, its main focus and strongest impact is its focus on how the news of widespread genocide was ignored, misunderstood, denied and, eventually, politicized in the West.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Oni Press, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Told through excellent art work, the true story journalist Gareth Jones comes to life in this graphic novel. The journalist Gareth Jones travels to the Soviet Union in the height of the 1930s Soviet Holodomor Famine and when he returns to the UK, he begins a campaign to reveal the truth about soviet Russia’s mass economic gains and the truth about famine in the Ukraine.

A brilliant true life story about the courage of one man who is determined to tell the truth.