In this masterfully drawn graphic novel, inspired by the powerful true story of Tiodora da Cunha Dias, Eisner Award-winner D’Salete reconstructs a forgotten part of Brazil’s dark history of slavery and pays tribute to the strength of a woman who single-handedly fought for her rights.
In the mid-19th century, millions of Africans were enslaved and brought to Brazil. Among them was Tiodora, who worked in the home of a priest in São Paulo. She wished to reconstruct the family ties lost during the journey from Africa to Brazil and to achieve emancipation for herself and her family. To buy her freedom, she needed the help of her husband and her son, who were working in the coffee plantations in another area of the city. She asks Claro, another slave, to help her write and send letters.
Inspired by this secret correspondence, Tiodora’s Letters is a rigorously researched historical work, a compelling narrative based on her letters, and masterfully drawn by D’Salete, who graphically recreates her struggle. There are many wordless passages of danger, daring, and world-building, heartbreaking horror, character beats, breathtaking drawings of nature, and much more. In Tiodora’s Letters, D’Salete reconstructs a forgotten part of Brazil's dark history of slavery and pays tribute to the strength of a woman who single-handedly tried to fight for her rights. Includes educational and contextual material.