Lizzy Stewart's Genre-Defying Illustrated Novel 'The Wreck' Explores Messy Love and Communal Living

Lizzy Stewart's second illustrated novel, The Wreck, published by Jonathan Cape on 9 April, blends comic panels, prose, and full-page paintings to tell a messy love story. The narrative follows friends Francesca and Charlie, who reunite by moving in together with their husbands, exploring themes of female relationships, class, and art. Stewart, a millennial illustrator based in the UK's most expensive city, drew inspiration from artists Eric Ravilious and Edward Bawden's communal living arrangements. The book's format uses watercolour and coloured pencil paintings for emotional intervals, while ink drawings depict action, aiming to offer readers a rich, treat-like experience. Editing proved complex due to the interplay between text and images, requiring collaboration with her publisher and a shift to printed notes for clarity. Stewart's previous works include Alison, There's a Tiger in the Garden, and The Way to Treasure Island, with Jez Burrows designing the cover for The Wreck.