Synopses & Reviews
The critically lauded memoir about being a john, available in paperback for the first time!Paying for It was easily the most talked-about and controversial graphic novel of 2011, a critical success so innovative and complex that it received two rave reviews in The New York Times and sold out of its first print run in just six months. Chester Browns eloquent, spare artwork stands out in this paperback edition.
Paying for It combines the personal and sexual aspects of Browns autobiographical work (I Never Liked You, The Playboy) with the polemical drive of Louis Riel. He calmly lays out the facts of how he became not only a willing participant in but also a vocal proponent of one of the worlds most hot-button topics—prostitution. While this may appear overly sensational and just plain implausible to some, Browns 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 continues to provide endless debate and conversation about sex work.
Review
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 Browns Louis Riel is comix history in the making, and with it, history never looked so good.” —The Globe and Mail Book Review
Review
“[Brown] makes as convincing a case for the decriminalization and destigmatization of prostitution as anyone Ive ever come across in the prostitutes rights movement.” —Annie Sprinkle,
The New York Times “Paying for It [is a] body-and-soul-baring memoir that is sure to stimulate strong reactions.” —Heller McAlpin, NPR
Synopsis
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 cliched 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.
About the Author
Chester Brown lives in Toronto, where he ran for parliament in the general election as a member of the Libertarian Party of Canada. He is the author of I Never Liked You, Louis Riel, and The Playboy.