“Dear Historian”: a charming graphic novel about an unlikely friendship between two generations

With “Dear Historian,” Joff Winterhart delivers a sensitive and delicate graphic novel centered on the unexpected encounter between two women who are complete opposites. Published on March 20, 2026, by Ça et Là, the book tells the story of how a seventy-year-old historian, passionate about the 17th century, crosses paths with a young television producer searching for meaning. Blending understated humor and genuine emotion, this work explores the connections that forge despite differences in age and lifestyle.

A meeting between two worlds that are completely separate.

Margaret, an academic specializing in 17th-century funeral rites, leads a quiet life, punctuated by her research and solitary habits. She is particularly interested in an obscure figure, JW Preece, a physician and embalmer to whom she has dedicated a large part of her career. Not particularly drawn to modernity, she readily admits to being overwhelmed by new technologies, to the point of not knowing what YouTube is.

Conversely, Lucy moves in the dynamic world of television. A young producer, she meets Margaret at a conference and is immediately captivated by her way of telling history. Convinced of her potential, she offers her a spot on a show. This encounter marks the beginning of an unexpected relationship, built on mutual curiosity and a certain disconnect, but also on profound sincerity.

An intimate story blending humor and emotion

As the pages unfold, Joff Winterhart portrays a friendship that slowly develops, nurtured by each woman's vulnerabilities. Lucy, grappling with personal doubts, finds inspiration in Margaret's passion and rigor. For her part, the historian gradually opens herself to a world she had previously rejected, without ever denying who she is.

With expressive lines and subtle storytelling, the British author—already acclaimed for *The Summer of the Bagnolds*—delivers a tale that is both poetic and profoundly human. Interweaving reflections on grief, the passage of time, and generational divides, *Dear Historian* celebrates above all the richness of unexpected encounters and the capacity of individuals to transform themselves through contact with others.