Tell English Publications to Translate "The Rose of Versailles"
- by: Zoe Gr.
- recipient: Vertical Inc.
Riyoko Ikeda's "The Rose of Versailles" is one of the most influential manga of the 20th century. This is the first manga read by people in countries where it has been translated. When I went into a Japanese restaurant, the waitress (who was a Japanese immigrant) looked at the copy I had bought in the original language and said, "Oh! That's the first manga I've ever read!" I once started talking to a Chinese friend of mine and she said exactly the same thing. The manga is historical fiction about France at the time of Marie Antoinette with an added character, "Lady" Oscar. Oscar is a woman who was brought up as a man because of her position in the court of France. Because she was brought up this way, Oscar has problems identifying with her gender. This manga is one of the most influential comics to deal with gay rights. So tell Vertical Inc. publishing company to educate the young manga-readers with intelligent writing; tell America to keep away the sexist, idiotically written, poorly drawn manga of today.
Dear Hiroki Sakai,
We the undersigned have been very impressed with the manga you have chosen to publish. Your selections of Osamu Tezuka and Keiko Takemiya are an excellent beginning to bringing back the better days of manga. This is why we have chosen to write to your publishing company on the following matter: we think that Riyoko Ikeda's The Rose of Versailles should be translated into English, as well. As dedicated readers of manga and literature, we feel that this manga is an extremely important piece because of the issues it deals with and its excellent writing. We would like to change the road that manga is riding down; we would like to bring it back to the days of Tezuka when real issues were discussed and the drawings were easily considered an art from. The new generation no longer appreciates what the great artists of the twentieth century had to offer. Please help change this.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read our letter.
