Graphic Myths and Legends: William Tell: One Against an Empire: a Swiss Legend (Graphic Universe)

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graphic universe tm

minneapolis • new york

william Tell may or may not have been an actual person. Real or not, the story of his brave deeds has become a vital part of Swiss history. To write this exciting graphic novel, author Paul D. Storrie referred to the best-known and most respected sources of the Tell legend—the play Wilhelm Tell (1804) by German writer Friedrich Schiller, and

William Tell Told Again (1904) by the English writer P. G. Wodehouse. Artist Thomas Yeates studied both

story by paul d. storrie pencils and inks by thomas yeates with special thanks to niki coloring by hi-fi design lettering by marshall dillon and terri delgado consultant: theresa krier, ph.d., macalester college

medieval and modern sources to create the authentic dress and setting of the story.

Copyright © 2009 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. Graphic UniverseTM is a trademark of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review. Graphic UniverseTM A division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. 241 First Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55401 U.S.A.

Website: www.lernerbooks.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Storrie, Paul D.  William Tell : one against an empire / story by Paul D. Storrie ; pencils and inks by Thomas Yeates. p. cm. — (Graphic myths and legends) Includes index. ISBN: 978–0–8225–7175–9 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper)  1. Tell, Wilhelm—Comic books, strips, etc. 2. Graphic novels. I. Yeates, Thomas. II. Title. DQ92.S76 2009 949.4’01—dc22 2007038657 Manufactured in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 – DP – 14 13 12 11 10 09

978-0-7613-4650-0

table of contents the cantons and the king . . . 6 tell to the rescue . . . 8 tales of tyranny . . . 12 the secret oath . . . 17 a fateful trip . . . 22 an impossible shot . . . 28 the price of truth . . . 34 the price of treachery . . . 39 epilogue: freedom! . . . 43 glossary and pronunciation guide . . . 46 further reading and websites . . . 47 creating william tell: one against an empire . . . 47 index . . . 48 about the author and the artist . . . 48

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Take the boy over to the lime tree. Tie him to it, and put the apple on his head.

I beg you, my lord, do not make me do this!

Well, well. Now The brave and mighty william tell is begging. How humbling that must be.

But all the begging in the world will not change my mind. Either you take the shot or you both die.

Have you no mercy in your soul? I'm already showing mercy, tell. I could have you both killed without any chance to win your freedom.

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glossary and pronunciation guide alps: a mountain range in Europe

that passes through modern-day Switzerland

archer: a person who uses a bow and arrow or crossbow

canton: a small territorial division of a land or country

chamois: a small, goatlike animal found in mountainous regions of Europe

crossbow: a bow-and-arrow

weapon that is mounted on a wooden stock

original pencil sketch from page 30

holy roman empire: an empire of

loosely joined states that covered much of modern-day Germany, Austria, and Italy. The Holy Roman Empire existed from the 9th or 10th century to 1806.

keep: fortress, castle seneschal: an agent or steward in charge of a lord’s estate

tyranny: oppressive, brutal power

further reading and websites History of Switzerland: The Legend of William Tell http://history-switzerland.geschichte-schweiz.ch/william-tell-switzerland-hero.html This site explores the legend of William Tell, his place in Swiss history, and the many retellings of his story over the centuries. It also includes images of classic works of art that feature William Tell. Music with Ease: William Tell http://www.musicwithease.com/william-tell-synopsis.html The legend of William Tell has been told in books, stories, plays—even an opera. Visit this website to read a summary of the opera William Tell, which was composed by Gioacchino Antonio Rossini and first performed in 1829. Schiller, Friedrich. Wilhelm Tell. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1973. This is an English translation from the German of Friedrich Schiller’s famous 1804 play. Storrie, Paul D. Robin Hood: Outlaw of Sherwood Forest. Minneapolis: Graphic Universe, 2007. The legend of another medieval hero, Robin Hood in England, is brought to life in this graphic novel by author Paul D. Storrie and artist Thomas Yeates. William Tell Overture, Part 2 http://www.archive.org/details/EDIS-SRP-0197-05 The opera William Tell features some very famous music that you may have heard before. Visit this site to listen to a recording of some of the opera.

creating william tell: one against an empire To create this graphic novel adaptation, author Paul D. Storrie relied heavily on classic retellings of the legend, including the play Wilhelm Tell (1804) by the great German writer Friedrich Schiller and British writer P. G. Wodehouse’s William Tell Told Again (1904). To create a realistic setting for this book, artist Thomas Yeates studied photographs of the scenery around Lake Lucerne in Switzerland and referenced both medieval and modern works to ensure the accuracy of the characters’ dress.

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index Albrecht of Austria. See Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Alps, the, 6–7 Austria, 7, 11, 16, 19, 21, 25–26, 41, 44

Rutli Meadow, 17–21

Baumgarten, 8–10, 12–13, 15–17, 21

Tell, Hedwig (William Tell’s wife), 22–24, 43–45 Tell, Walter (William Tell’s son), 22, 24–37, 43, 45 Tell, William: escapes from the Austrians, 39–41; helps Baumgarten, 8–10, 12–16; shoots an apple from his son’s head, 31–34

Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, 6–7, 14, 19–21, 26, 29, 45 Furst, Walter, 17–19, 21, 32–33, 37, 43–45 Gessler, 7, 8, 14–15, 23, 26, 28–42 Landenberg, 7, 18 oath, 21

Schwytz, canton of, 6, 7, 12, 20, 21 Stauffacher, Werner, 12–16

Unterwald, canton of, 6, 7, 12, 18, 21 Uri, canton of, 6, 7, 15, 16, 21 von Melchthal, Arnold, 18–19

about the author and the artist paul d. storrie was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and has returned to

live there again and again after living in other cities and states. He began writing professionally in 1998 and has written comics for Caliber Comics, Moonstone Books, Bluewater Productions, Marvel Comics, and DC Comics. Some of the titles he’s worked on include Batman Beyond, Gotham Girls, Justice League Unlimited and Captain America: Red, White & Blue.  His many Graphic Universe™ titles include Hercules: The Twelve Labors, Amaterasu: Return of the Sun, Yu the Great: Conquering the Flood, Robin Hood: Outlaw of Sherwood, Perseus: The Hunt for Medusa’s Head, and Beowulf: Monster Slayer from the Graphic Myths and Legends series. He also wrote Terror in Ghost Mansion for the Graphic Universe Twisted Journeys™ series.

thomas yeates began his art training in high school and continued at Utah

State University and Sacramento State University. Subsequently, he was a member of the first class at Joe Kubert’s School, a trade program for aspiring comic-book artists in New Jersey. Yeates has worked as an illustrator for DC Comics, Marvel, Dark Horse, and many other companies, drawing Tarzan, Zorro, The Swamp Thing, Time Spirits, Captain America, and Conan. Yeates’s many titles for the Graphic Myths and Legends series include King Arthur: Excalibur Unsheathed, Arthur & Lancelot: The Fight for Camelot, Atalanta: The Race against Destiny, Robin Hood: Outlaw of Sherwood Forest, Odysseus: Escaping Poseidon’s Curse, and Perseus: The Hunt for Medusa’s Head.

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he wanted nothing more than to live in peace . . . . . . until a petty tyrant forced him into a cruel choice . . . Swiss hunter William Tell is famous for his great skill with a crossbow. A mild-mannered husband and father, he just wants a quiet life for his family. Yet his homeland’s brutal foreign rulers are making such an existence impossible. One day, a ruthless official forces Tell into a terrible choice: Shoot an apple off off his son’s head—or be killed along with his son. Will he accept this awful challenge?

graphic myths and legends titles:

ali baba: fooling the forty thieves amaterasu: return of the sun arthur & lancelot: the fight for camelot atalanta: the race against destiny beowulf: monster slayer demeter & persephone: spring held hostage guan yu: blood brothers to the end hercules: the twelve labors the hero twins: against the lords of death isis & osiris: to the ends of the earth jason: quest for the golden fleece king arthur: excalibur unsheathed marwe: into the land of the dead odysseus: escaping poseidon’s curse

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pigling: a cinderella story perseus: the hunt for medusa’s head psyche & eros: the lady and the monster robin hood: outlaw of sherwood forest sinbad: sailing into peril the smoking mountain: the story of popocatepetl & iztaccihuatl sunjata: warrior king of mali theseus: battling the minotaur thor & loki: in the land of giants tristan & isolde: the warrior and the princess the trojan horse: the fall of troy william tell: one against an empire yu the great: conquering the flood