A short life of the author
Chester Brown (b. 16 May 1960) was born in Montreal. He grew up in Châteauguay, Quebec, and has lived in Toronto for most of his adult life. He ran for the Canadian Libertarian Party.
Life and Career
Brown’s early work appeared in his self-published comic Yummy Fur (1983–1994), which evolved from surrealist minicomics into the autobiographical narratives that would define his career. The Playboy (1992) — about his adolescent sexual awakening through Playboy magazines — and I Never Liked You (1994) — about his inability to connect emotionally as a teenager — are masterpieces of autobiographical comics.
Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography (2003) — about the Métis leader who led two rebellions against the Canadian government in the nineteenth century — is one of the finest biographical graphic novels ever published.
Paying for It (2011) — a memoir about his decision to become a patron of sex workers, combined with an argument for the decriminalization of prostitution — is his most controversial work.
Major Works and Themes
Brown writes about sexuality, emotional isolation, Canadian history, and political liberty. His drawing style is clean, precise, and deliberately understated — the formal restraint intensifies the emotional content.
Key Works
- I Never Liked You (1994)
- Louis Riel (2003)
Collecting Chester Brown
Yummy Fur individual issues (Vortex Comics) bring $10–$50 depending on issue. Louis Riel first edition (Drawn & Quarterly, 2003) brings $30–$60 signed.