Majnun and Layla: Songs from Beyond the Grave - Yann Damezin - ★★★

AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR: Yann Damezin

TRANSLATOR: Aqsa Ijaz & Thomas Harrison

GENRE: Graphic Novel, Retelling

RATING: 3 stars.

In a Nutshell: A graphic novel version of the old Arabic legend about the unfulfilled love of Layla and Majnun. Outstanding illustrations. The textual content was a mixed bag for me.

Story Synopsis:

The narrative tells us of an Arabic poet named Qays, and his ladylove Layla. They fall in love while very young. Qays’ love soon turns into an obsession, and he begins composing poems about his intense feelings. His community gives him the name “Majnun”, meaning “The Madman.’ Majnun is unaffected by his new name, as his thoughts are entirely centred on his beautiful Layla. However, Layla’s father hears stories of his craziness, and decides that he cannot spoil his tribe’s name or his daughter’s future by marrying her to Majnun. To avoid the scandal, he forces her to marry another noble. Meanwhile, Majnun, almost entirely mad, goes off to the desert yearning for nothing but Layla. After he hears of her marriage, his thoughts turn even more philosophical but his love doesn’t diminish. What becomes of Layla with her new husband? Will Majnun and Layla be able to meet and fulfil their love?

This graphic novel was originally published in France in 2022 under the title ‘Majnun et Leili, chants d’outre-tombe’. This English translation is due for publication in November 2023. The source for this work is the epic 4600-stanza poem by 12th century Muslim poet Nizami Ganjavi

Western readers might think of Romeo & Juliet when it come to a story about star-crossed lovers. But here in India, we first hear of two other couples: Heer & Ranjha, and Layla & Majnun, though strictly speaking, the latter are of Arabian than Indian origin. When I saw this graphic version retelling this classic Arabic undying-love story, I knew I would give it a go.

One interesting aspect for me was the order of the couple’s names in the title. The original poem is “Layla and Majnun”. In India and the Indian subcontinent as well, we know this story as the tale of Layla and Majnun. (Spelt slightly differently here: Laila and Majnu.) But this graphic adaptation chooses to put Majnun before Layla. Wonder why!

I haven’t read the original but am familiar with it through adaptations. Based on what I know, this novel seems mostly faithful to the foundational work. I am not too sure about its depiction of Layla’s fate as it doesn’t match any version I know. Ganjavi’s poem also didn’t end this way. However, as there are many adaptations of the original legend, this ending might have been taken from a source I am not familiar with.

The text is where I struggled much to connect with this novel. The original is an epic poem, so there is of course a strong element of poetry and philosophy threaded into its motif of eternal love. This translation stays very true to the poetic flavour, and thus, every page feels more like a verse than an ordinary sentence, with the words conjoining to create a symphony of love and loss. All this would have been very good had I comprehended and appreciated poetry. I don’t. (My poetic bone is not even a vestigial organ; it is simply non-existent.) I guess I was hoping that the poem would be adapted to a more prose-dominated version. I do understand why simple prose wouldn’t have worked for the book, but the poetry in this case appears more forced than mellifluous. The overall effect is very artificial.

The themes are consistent with the original, touching upon unrequited love, obsession, society, scandal, and mental degradation. But the most impactful one for me was how the book highlighted Layla’s compulsion to put on a happy face for those around her even when her heart was broken, and still be at the receiving end of jibes. The effect of a patriarchal culture on its women comes out excellently through the text and graphics of those pages.

I am not happy with the translation though. The words chosen are sometimes overly abstruse (concupiscence, logorrhoea, egregore?!?!? 😕) I might have accepted these as a stylistic choice for retaining the sanctity of the classic language. But in that case, how do I explain the presence of a banal expression such as “Let him shut his trap” popping up in the same work? Or of a 7th century Muslim character using a biblical idiom, remarking, ”I am condemned to carry that cross”? Either go classic or go contemporary in the translation – this weird medley doesn’t work!

The graphics elevate this work to a completely new level. Every page is almost hypnotic in its effect, with stunning motifs inspired by the culture. The characters are exaggerated or diminished as per the sentiment of the prose. The depiction of the threads of love between Majnun and his Layla left me speechless. They do seem too exotic at times, but I guess that goes with the classic grand nature of the poem. These illustrations are not sketches for the eyes but for the heart and soul.

Because of the artwork, the textual content is restricted to the white space between the panels. Even spoken dialogues comes only in the white space with no speech bubbles. This works in favour of the graphics, but takes some time getting used to.

Recommended, yes, but with reservations. This graphic version isn’t for all. But if you are either interested in experiencing a classic love story from another culture, or keen to glance at some stellar illustrations, or of philosophical bent of mind that would enjoy the story of a love that is divine in its essence AND have a fondness for poetry, this is for you. Keep the dictionary handy. 😉

My thanks to Humanoids Inc. and Edelweiss+ for the DRC of “Majnun and Layla: Songs from Beyond the Grave”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Fun fact: Eric Clapton was much moved when he read the story of Layla and Majnun in a book gifted to him, as it reminded him of his doomed love for Patty Boyd, then the wife of Clapton’s friend George Harrison. This soulful connect resulted in his song ‘Layla’.