The Graphic Novel: Posy Simmonds talks to Dan Franklin

A legendary pioneer of graphic novels discusses the art with Dan Franklin

Posy Simmonds was one of the earliest exponents of the graphic novel, a genre that has become hugely popular in recent years. Her regular strips in the Guardian, Gemma Bovary and Tamara Drewe, were both adapted into feature films. She will be in conversation on the art of the graphic novel with Queens Park resident Dan Franklin, the former publisher of Jonathan Cape.

Posy Simmonds

Posy Simmonds is the author of many books for adults and children, including Gemma Bovery, Lulu and the Flying Babies and Fred, the film of which was nominated for an Oscar. She has won international awards for her work, including the 2009 Grand Prix de la Critique Bande Dessinée for Tamara Drewe. Both Gemma Bovary and Tamara Drewe have been made into successful feature films. Her third graphic novel, Cassandra Darke was published in 2018. She lives in London.

Dan Frankin

Dan Franklin read English and American Literature and History at UEA, graduating in 1970. His publishing career began at Peter Owen Ltd. From there he moved to the Harvill Press, then Collins, then Heinemann, where he was Editorial Director for non-fiction. He then became Publishing Director of Secker & Warburg, where he published Roddy Doyle, Bill Bryson and Louis de Bernieres. In 1993 he was appointed Publishing Director of Jonathan Cape, a position he held until January 2016, when he went part-time as Associate Publisher. At Jonathan Cape he edited authors including Ian McEwan, Julian Barnes, Martin Amis, David Szalay, Howard Jacobson, Roddy Doyle, Helen Macdonald  and Julia Blackburn.

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