Logicomix is a nonfiction graphic novel/biography with many layers. It begins with a drawing of the author speaking directly to the reader about his plan to write a story in graphic form about a philosopher and logician named Bertrand Russell.
The authors and the illustrators of the book meet together to discuss how they want to tell the story, what they should include, and how to explain it. Then the narrative shifts to that of Bertrand Russell’s perspective. He is an old man getting ready to give a lecture, but pacifist protestors stop him on the way in and ask him to join their cause. He invites them in to hear the lecture by way of giving an answer.
His lecture is the eyepiece through which we the readers see the story of his life as he relates it. He begins the story of his life by explaining how he came to love math as a young child, how much the logic of the solutions appealed to him with their stability which was in direct opposition to the chaos of his young life. His questions about math and logic then proved to be a catalyst for his studies and discoveries as he grew older.
On the surface it sounds like it might make for a dry story, but it is actually quite compelling. There is a slightly dark undertone to the story, as Bertrand Russell’s fear of the madness that struck his uncle, follows him throughout his life. This fear is exacerbated by the obsessions and madness that he sees played out in the lives of other prominent logicians with whom he interacts.
Occasionally the story flashes forward to remind us of the older Bertie who is speaking at the lecture, and then exits that layer – reverting back to the graphic novel writers themselves. They never let you forget their presence as storytellers, and they are sure to point out ways that they have streamlined the details of Mr. Russell’s life to make the main story arc more manageable.
If you are worried about understanding some of the math and logic in this graphic novel, you shouldn’t be. Although some of the theory stretched my mind, and a bit of it was over my head, I did enjoy getting to learn some recent history of the foundations of logic in a way that was a bit like reading a murder mystery novel (you know, if the killer were some logical principal that the philosopher was trying to track down Sherlock Holmes style).
I liked that Bertrand Russell’s search for logical principals was told in the framework of the story of his life. There was unexpected drama in his personal relationships, and some humorous scenes between his fellow mathematicians/philosophers who disagreed with each other vehemently.
I recommend Logicomix to anyone who likes thoughtful books and/or nonfiction graphic novels.
Rating: 4.5/5
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