The Rime of the Modern Mariner: Book summary and reviews of The Rime of the Modern Mariner by Nick Hayes

The Rime of the Modern Mariner Summary

Is it possible to update a masterpiece? Only, perhaps, with a brand-new masterpiece. Written in 1797, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" was the original eco-fable; drawn in 2010, The Rime of the Modern Mariner is a graphic novel, now set in the cesspool of the North Atlantic Garbage Patch - thus adding a timely and resonant message about the destruction of our seas.

Hayes's visually striking debut is drawn with complex, iconic images reminiscent of old woodcuts. Emerging from every exquisite page are the poem's enduring themes: compassion for nature, a sense of connection among all living things, and rightful outrage at man's thoughtless destruction of the environment. Powerful and evocative, lush and stark, The Rime of the Modern Mariner will appeal to fans of Habibi and Persepolis.

The Rime of the Modern Mariner Reviews

"Starred Review. Hayes is a political cartoonist, and his writing isn't nearly as memorable as his illustrations, which convey the beauty of the world and the pity of its destruction with a gorgeous brand of vehemence." - Publishers Weekly

"More than a classic-comics adaptation, this is an original work of art." - Kirkus Reviews

"Is it possible to update or recast such a masterpiece? Hmm. Until last week I would have said almost certainly not...But then I read Nick Hayes's The Rime of the Modern Mariner and my doubts fell away. This is a beautiful book. The text might not be so rich as the original – Hayes's nylon nets and polythene bags did not work on this reader quite so effectively as Coleridge's "death-fires" and "witch's oils" – but the illustrations more than make up for this." - The Guardian (UK)

The information about The Rime of the Modern Mariner shown above was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's online-magazine that keeps our members abreast of notable and high-profile books publishing in the coming weeks. In most cases, the reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the reviews shown do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, please send us a message with the mainstream media reviews that you would like to see added.

The Rime of the Modern Mariner Reader Reviews

Click here and be the first to review this book!

Nick Hayes is a political cartoonist for The Guardian and was a founding editor of Meat Magazine, which showcased new writing, comics, and illustrations. He has won two Guardian media awards.