A Life With Alexandra David-Néel

Based on Marie-Madeleine Peyronnet’s account 10 Years With Alexandra David-Néel, this work, written and illustrated by Frédéric Campoy and Mathieu Blanchot, is far more than an illustrated version of her book: it is ten years of collaboration and relationship between Alexandra and Marie-Madeleine that come to life before our eyes. The authors perfectly convey the characters and humor through exciting dialogues and vibrant graphics.

A Life With Alexandra David-Néel, Book I: In other times Ganga, the daughter of the King of Snows, known for her independent and capricious nature, lived in the celestial regions. This divine river had its source in Vishnu’s big toe and from there flowed forth to water the different Paradises, bestowing on them richness and fertility. To reconcile heaven and earth and inundate with light the most sombre recesses of our earth, cleanse our wounded humanity in the soothing and regenerating waters of redemption, is perhaps one of the oldest dreams of humanity…

A Life With Alexandra David-Néel, Book II: Orientalist, opera singer, journalist, writer, explorer, Buddhist… Alexandra David-Néel has lived a thousand lives! Now, on the threshold of her existence, the woman who was the first Westerner to enter Lhasa still has many secrets to unveil… As she enters a long and serene agony, watched over by Marie-Madeleine, her employee and confidant, the great adventurer looks back one last time on her long and incredible existence: from her tumultuous youth to the fantastic and perilous journey to Lhassa, the Forbidden City, through her meeting with the man of her life, Alexandra David-Néel crosses the century with unfailing energy. A true hymn to adventure and non-conformism…