Graphic Novel Review: Thomas Piketty’s Capital & Ideology: a graphic novel adaptation

reviewed by Liz Brown, Outreach & Instruction Librarian, Kraemer Family Library, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

Claire Alet and Benjamin Adam. Thomas Piketty’s Capital & Ideology: a graphic novel adaptation. New York City: Abrams Comic Arts, 2024. https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/capital-ideology-a-graphic-novel-adaptation_9781419777059/

Thomas Piketty is a French economist whose works, such as Capital in the 21^st Century and A Brief History of Equality, focus on wealth and inequality. Capital and Ideology is a comics adaptation of his work originally published in 2019. It examines over two centuries of capitalist influences in Europe, from 1789 to 2016, using one fictional French family as a case study for how wealth is distributed and privatized over time, and under the influence of political movements, social reform, and personal wealth management choices. The family depicted begins as members of the French nobility whose business expands into the slave trade, colonizing efforts in India, and industrialization, which carries them through both World Wars. This narrative approach juxtaposes the economic theories being discussed with the actual choices people make when managing their capital. The creators take an expansive, nonlinear approach when constructing the narrative in order to compare the choices the family makes with those of their peers and the effects of those choices on the others around them, especially those of the lower classes. The culmination of this lesson is to see how the privileges wealth affords have been passed down to contemporary generations and impact laws and economic policies that are in place today.

This graphic novel is a great example of how comics can bring increased legibility and accessibility to complex prose works, using visual modes of information. It makes use of numerous types infographics including maps, data visualization, timelines, and more. There is strategic use of color- using limited palettes to color code chapters of the book, which groups specific decades and economic concepts. The artists also reproduce relevant historical artefacts such as campaign buttons, historical documents, and antique currencies. The resulting comic is densely packed with information, which can feel overwhelming at times to more casual readers. Similarly, the focus on French economics means that the subject matter has a fairly narrow focus, although there are definite correlations to the way other Western countries have developed. The final chapter contains six proposals of different ways capitalist economies could develop. It takes into account the way society has changed in light of the COVID pandemic and changes in the makeup of the European Union, drawing on interviews and media the original author, Piketty, has done since the original text was published. However, the proposals are directed towards the uppermost echelons of power, covering large-scale policy decisions which makes the solutions feel alienating and out of reach of those of us on the ground. Ultimately, this comic is best directed at those interested in studying wealth at a scholarly level, best suited to libraries and courses in business and political science. It could make good background reading for future politicians who will be steeped in decision making power.