In the early 20th century, women in England were demanding the right to vote—and often faced violent retaliation. Rather than back down, the suffragist group the Women’s Social and Political Union formed an all-women security unit. Activist leader Emmeline Pankhurst asked Edith Garrud, a pioneering instructor of women’s self-defense and a pivotal figure in British women’s suffrage, to train them. These “jujitsuffragettes” fought against abuse and arrest while pursuing long overdue rights, and this graphic retelling of Garrud’s life reveals the resilience and (sometimes physical) resistance of her era’s voting-rights activists.
The Bodyguard Unit: Edith Garrud
Writer Clement Xavier
Artist Lisa Lugrin
Release Date: August 1, 2023
(DATE) On August 1, Graphic Universe™, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group, will publish the fascinating and lively historical graphic novel The Bodyguard Unit: Edith Garrud, Women’s Suffrage, and Jujitsu by writer Clement Xavier and artist Lisa Lugrin, based on the true story of the early 20th century suffragists who decided to fight the patriarchy — literally — with jujitsu.
In the early 20th century, women in England were demanding the right to vote—and often faced violent retaliation. Rather than back down, the suffragist group the Women’s Social and Political Union formed an all-women security unit. Activist leader Emmeline Pankhurst asked Edith Garrud, a pioneering instructor of women’s self-defense and a pivotal figure in British women’s suffrage, to train them. These “jujitsuffragettes” fought against abuse and arrest while pursuing long overdue rights, and this graphic retelling of Garrud’s life reveals the resilience and (sometimes physical) resistance of her era’s voting-rights activists.
“With The Bodyguard Unit, Xavier and Clement have created a comic that is both timeless and timely—a feminist story plucked from history that remains strikingly relevant today; an inspirational tale about the necessity and cost of resistance,” said Sean Tulien, editorial director of Graphic Universe.
The Bodyguard Unit: Edith Garrud, Women’s Suffrage, and Jujitsu will be available in stores on August 1, 2023.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login