A Darker Vision of the Old Barny
Review of the Kirjastus Krattwerk graphic novel adaptation (2021) of the first half (November 1 to 16) of the original Estonian language hardcover "Rehepapp ehk november" (The Old Barny or November) (2000)

This graphic novel is based on Andrus Kivirähk's novel "Rehepapp". The graphic version of the story is based on the activities and characters of the Estonian cult novel. The forthcoming work is the first part of the complete novel, the activities of which are from November 1st to 16th. The publication has 144 pages and a total of about 600 individual images. The designs of both the worldly and the mythological characters are unique and created for the graphic novel. - translation of the Estonian language synopsis.

See image at https://api.delfi.ee/media-api-image-cropper/v1/72d28460-4c4b-11ec-aedd-21fdbe8b...
A detail of an image from the book showing the Rehepapp walking through the woods on his way to help solve yet another village problem. Image sourced from the book review at Eesti Ekspress

Andrus Kivirähk's Rehepapp ehk November (The Old Barny/The Old Barnkeeper or November) (2000) was a breakthrough hit for the Estonian writer and was the basis for an audiobook edition (a relative rarity for a current day novel in Estonia), a board game, a film adaptation and now for a graphic novel in 2 parts. The original parody novel portrays various supernatural events in a 19th century Estonian village where the village elder, the Rehepapp or Old Barnkeeper of the title, is often called upon to solve the problems of the inhabitants.

It is a topsy-turvy world based on mythology and folk tales where the real-life downtrodden peasants are instead outwitting the local Baltic land baron, the Devil, the Plague and often each other. This is usually with the aid of everyone's own personal treasure-seeking goblin or kratt (in Estonian) which is conjured up out of old rubbish with the aid of a Devil's bargain. The peasants outwit the Devil at the crossroads by signing their souls away using berry juice rather than their own blood (so that the contract is invalid).

Artist Veiko Tammjärv has done a superb job in capturing the often grotesque and sometimes outright terrifying images of the novel and downplaying the comic elements. This first volume, of a planned two-volume set, covers the events from November 1 to 16 in the book. It allows for a nice bookending balance as in Chapter 1 the Rehepapp is called out to solve the mystery of a ignorant farmhand's sickness (which turns out to be because he ate soap stolen from the manor house thinking that it was a sweet smelling treat). In Chapter 16 the Rehepapp faces down the Plague (who shapeshifts into various forms such as a goat, a young woman or a pig) in order to save the entire village from death.

The colour palette of the graphic novel is limited, only black, grey and white with rare splashes of red are used, but this suits the material perfectly. I eagerly await the forthcoming adaptation of the concluding days of November 17 to 30 (hopefully expected to be published in late 2022).

Trivia and Links
A selection of pages from the graphic novel can be seen at the artist Veiko Tammjärv's weblog.

An Estonian language interview and several further pages from the book can be seen at this video and article at the Arts and Culture news webpage of Estonian Public Broadcasting, Tammjärv's basis for his graphic novel is the Kivirähk book and not its film adaptation by Kaspar Viilup, November 15, 2021.

A translation by Eric Dickens (1953-2017) of Chapter 1 from the original novel is available at the Estonian Literary Magazine No. 14 (2002). The full book has not yet been published in English, although several other language translations (eg. French, Polish, Finnish etc.) exist. ( )