160,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ 

Overnight Shipping! Auckland Store open 7 days, 8:30am-5pm πŸ“š

Irmina

4.16 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 2,195 ratings, 296 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Irmina by Barbara Yelin is a gripping graphic novel that follows the journey of a young, ambitious German woman in the 1930s, who moves to London hoping for independence. Through her personal experiences, the story explores themes of power, complicity, and moral choices during a time of societal change and upheaval. As historical events unfold, Irmina's life takes unexpected turns, reflecting the complex interplay between personal ambition and the broader political landscape.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3999
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this graphic novel if you are intrigued by historical narratives that explore personal and political dilemmas. Its compelling artwork and story delve into the complexities of conscience and complicity during wartime, offering a thought-provoking read for fans of history and character-driven tales.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In the mid-1930s, Irmina, an ambitious young German, moves to London. At a cocktail party, she meets Howard Green, one of the first Black students at Oxford, who, like Irmina, is working towards an independent existence. However, their relationship comes to an abrupt end when Irmina, constrained by the political situation in Hitler's Germany, is forced to return home.

As war approaches and her contact with Howard is broken, it becomes clear to Irmina that prosperity will only be possible through the betrayal of her ideals.

In the award-winning Irmina, Barbara Yelin presents a troubling drama about the tension between integrity and social advancement. Based on a true story, this moving and perceptive graphic novel perfectly conjures the oppressive atmosphere of wartime Germany, reflecting on the complicity that results from the choice, conscious or otherwise, to look away.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Irmina by Barbara Yelin is a poignant graphic novel praised for its compelling narrative and striking illustrations. The story follows a young German woman in the 1930s and 40s, exploring themes of complicity and ambition against the backdrop of a tumultuous historical period. Reviewers have lauded it for its insightful portrayal of complex moral choices and its ability to engage readers with a powerful, visually captivating storytelling experience.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781914224133

Publisher: SelfMadeHero

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 January 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: SelfMadeHero

Illustration: 4-col illustrations throughout

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 170.0mm

Height: 240.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Barbara Yelin was born in 1977 in Munich and studied illustration at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences. She first came to prominence as a graphic artist in France, before gaining recognition in Germany for her book Gift (with a script by Peer Meter), published in 2010. Yelin has worked as a comics artist for newspapers and international anthologies, but her work largely focuses on research-based, historical, and biographical graphic novels, mainly about women. Supported by GoetheInstitute Israel, Yelin commemorated the life of the Israeli actress Channa Maron, published in 2016 under the title Vor allem eins: Dir selbst sei treu (This Above All: To Thine Own Self Be True). In 2017, in collaboration with author Thomas von Steinaecker, she drew The Summer of Her Life, a poetic graphic novel about Gerda, the resident of a retirement home. Her most recent work is a graphic narrative created in dialogue with Holocaust survivor Emmie Arbel. It was published in 2022 in the acclaimed anthology But I Live: Three Stories of Child Survivors of the Holocaust. In 2016, Yelin was declared 'Best German-language Comics Artist' at the International Comic-Salon, Erlangen, and was nominated for an Eisner Award for Irmina in the following year. She lives and works in Munich.

Also by Barbara Yelin

View all
  • Emmie Arbel
    Arrested with her family in her native Holland, deported, held in a series of Nazi concentration camps, and orphanedβ€”all by the age of sevenβ€”Emmie Arbel transformed her childhood survival into a lifelong mission to stand against any such other horrors. With her home now in Israel, to where she and her brother emigrated with their foster-parents in the wake of...
    Hardback
    $4699
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Graphic Novels

View all
  • Signed Copy
    Heartstopper Volume 6
    Read it before you see it: Heartstopper Forever movie coming soon from Netflix Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. The final installment in the bestselling LGBTQ+ graphic novel series about life, love, and everything that happens in between. Everyone in school knows Nick and Charlie. Everyone knows they're going to be togetherforever. But Charlie's busy with...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Sprinkle in Time: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #15)
    In the newest saga, our anti-hero, Grandpa, alters the fabric of time and space. Is his evil the necessary soil for Dog Man and friends to grow and bloom? Can we all step up to be the change? It's the saga of the centuryβ€”Dog Man: A Sprinkle in Time!
    Hardback
    $2199
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    Pre-order
    Out
  • On Sale
    17% off
    One Piece (Omnibus Edition), Vol. 1
    One Piece (Omnibus Edition), Vol. 1 by Eiichiro Oda invites readers on an exhilarating journey across the vast and treacherous oceans. Follow the ambitious young pirate, Monkey D. Luffy, and his eclectic crew as they embark on an epic quest to uncover the legendary treasure known as the One Piece, a prize that will crown its possessor as the King...
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2899
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Warriors Graphic Novel: The Prophecies Begin #1
    An instant New York Times bestseller! With more than 40 million copies sold, Erin Hunter's Warriors series has taken the world by storm and is now available in a full-colour graphic novel adaptation. The first book covers the first two original novels in The Prophecies Begin: Into the Wild and Fire and Ice. A perfect introduction to the world of...
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    21% off
    Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 1
    Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 1 by Gege Akutami introduces readers to the gripping world of jujutsu sorcery and supernatural battles. This first volume sets the stage for an explosive adventure that intertwines the fate of humans and cursed spirits. In a world where cursed spirits, malevolent entities born from human negative emotions, prey on the unsuspecting, fragments of the legendary demon...
    Paperback
    $1500
    Elsewhere:
    $2099
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • People Watching
    Pre-order
    People Watching
    A love letter to New Zealand. Magnificent. Toby has documented something true and tender about who New Zealanders are as a people. Delightful. - Tom Sainsbury For two years, cartoonist Toby Morris struck up conversations with strangers right across Aotearoa. Why? In these polarised times, he wanted to connect with people from all corners of the country, driven by the...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Elsewhere:
    $3299
    Pre-order
    Out 3 Nov 2026
  • Demon Slayer Complete Box Set
    Contains Volumes 1-23. Full colour. Double-sided Poster and Commemorative Mini-Book. Tanjiro embarks on the perilous path of a Demon Slayer, driven by a mission to save his sister and seek justice for his slain family! In the backdrop of Taisho-era Japan, we meet the compassionate Tanjiro Kamado, a boy who makes a humble living by selling charcoal. However, his tranquil...
    Paperback
    $29500
    Elsewhere:
    $41000
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Warriors Graphic Novel: The Prophecies Begin #2
    The second full-colour graphic novel adaptation of the blockbuster Warriors series, which has sold more than 66 million copies, covers the third and fourth novels of The Prophecies Begin (Forest of Secrets and Rising Storm). Allegiances are shifting among the Clans of warrior cats that roam the forest. With tensions so delicately balanced, friends can become enemies overnight, and some...
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Lightfall: A Place Between
    In the fourth installment of the award-winning, critically acclaimed Lightfall series, Bea, Cad, and their friends continue their quest to restore light on their dark world. Perfect for fans of Amulet and Avatar, this next book dives deeper into the magical world of Irpa, where ancient secrets and adventures abound.After surviving a shipwreckΒ on the Fuerre Sea, Cad washes ashore on...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2699
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    16% off
    Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 2
    Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 2 by Gege Akutami continues the gripping saga of Yuji Itadori, a courageous high school student with a heart of gold, who finds himself thrust into a dangerous supernatural world. After swallowing a piece of the formidable demon Ryomen Sukuna to gain the power necessary to save his friends, Yuji is caught in an intense conflict between...
    Paperback
    $1600
    Elsewhere:
    $2099
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Witch Hat Atelier: Grimoire Edition 1
    This deluxe, keepsake-quality hardcover edition includes three volumes of the acclaimed fantasy manga on which the enchanting anime was based. Experience the beautiful tale of a young witch who discovers her creativity and faces down a dangerous and thrilling world with her friends by her side in these extra-large books, printed on premium paper with intricate gold foil covers and...
    Hardback
    $9999
    Elsewhere:
    $10500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Signed Copy
    Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat
    In this hilarious full-colour graphic novel, Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat by Li Chen, readers are introduced to Cat Town's best kitten detective on a new and exciting adventure. When Detective Beans realises his favourite hat has gone missing, he quickly jumps into action to crack the case. Armed with his wit, determination, and a love...
    By Li Chen
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2200
    In Stock
    Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 160,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.