Paying for It
By Chester Brown
(Drawn and Quarterly, Hardcover, 9781770460485, 292pp.)
Publication Date: May 10, 2011
Categories: Literary
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A CONTEMPORARY DEFENSE OF THE WORLD’S OLDEST PROFESSION
Chester Brown has never shied away from tackling controversial subjects in his work. In his 1992 book, The Playboy, he explored his personal history with pornography. His bestselling 2003 graphic novel, Louis Riel, was a biographical examination of an extreme political figure. The book won wide acclaim and cemented Brown’s reputation as a true innovator.
Paying for It is a natural progression for Brown as it combines the personal and sexual aspects of his autobiographical work with the polemical drive of Louis Riel. Brown calmly lays out the facts of how he became not only a willing participant in but a vocal proponent of one of the world’s most hot-button topics—prostitution. While this may appear overly sensational and just plain implausible to some, Brown’s story stands for itself. Paying for It offers an entirely contemporary exploration of sex work—from the timid john who rides his bike to his escorts, wonders how to tip so as not to offend, and reads Dan Savage for advice, to the modern-day transactions complete with online reviews, seemingly willing participants, and clean apartments devoid of clichéd street corners, drugs, or pimps.
Complete with a surprise ending, Paying for It provides endless debate and conversation about sex work and will be the most talkedabout graphic novel of 2011.
Chester Brown lives in Toronto, where he ran for Parliament in the general election as a member of the Libertarian Party of Canada.
Praise for Louis Riel:
“It has the thoroughness of a history book yet reads with the personalized vision of a novel.” —Time
“If you love to read a gripping story, if you are awed by the talent of an artist, then look no further:Chester Brown’s Louis Riel is comix history in the making, and with it, history never looked so good.” —The Globe and Mail Book Review
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