United States, 1937. In the middle of the Great Depression, 22-year-old photographer John Clark is brought in by the Farm Security Administration to document the calamitous conditions of the Dust Bowl in the central and southern states, in order to bring the farmers’ plight to the public eye.
When he starts working through his shooting script, however, he finds his subjects to be unreceptive. What good are a couple of photos against relentless and deadly dust storms? The more he shoots, the more John discovers the awful extent of their struggles, coming to question his own role and responsibilities in this tragedy sweeping through the centre of the country.
A moving and unforgettable tale, inspired by real-life stories of courage and perseverance against all odds.
Bestseller in France: 50,000 copies sold
Eisner Award Nominee – Best Digital Comic
Shortlisted by Forbes in The Best Graphic Novels of 2022
Winner of Best Of Show Award MoCCA Comic Arts Festival NYC
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Aimée de Jongh
Aimée de Jongh is an award-winning animator, comics artist and illustrator from the Netherlands. She published her first comic aged 17, before going on to study animation. She has since created work for children's books, TV shows, music videos and art installations, alongside numerous comic book series. Her animated film Aurora was screened widely in the Netherlands, and Janus, a video installation she created with the L.A.-based artist Miljohn Ruperto, was exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art. The Return of the Honey Buzzard, her first graphic novel, won the Prix Saint-Michel, and her 2021 graphic novel Days of Sand was a two-time Eisner-nominee.
Reviews
"An international hit garnering many honours and accolades, Days of Sand is staggering beautiful, distressingly unforgettable and never more timely."
— Comics Review
"In a bittersweet way, through drawings with a welcome realism, the album offers an interesting reflection on the role of photography and, more broadly, on being a witness to dramatic events."
— Le Monde
"A historical introduction, interwoven with the touching story of profound characters, enhanced by the subtle and realistic line of the artist who, in addition, immerses the reader in what humanity’s worth."
— Le Figaro
“The stand out new book at MoCCA was the stunning Days of Sand by Aimée de Jongh. This one will pile up awards.”
— Derf Backderf
"It’s rare for me to find the story and images equally powerful in a graphic novel, but that’s definitely the case here."
— Bookish Beck
"Days of Sand is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel about a devastating time from US history."
— No Flying No Tights