The Duel
Inês Viegas Oliveira
Synopsis
In an old, cold country, two men have been arguing for so long they can’t remember what they’re fighting about. In order to put a stop to their fight, they call a duel. Starting together, back to back, they will have to walk one hundred steps before turning and firing.
The reader follows one of them as the counting of the footsteps takes place. With each step a new sign of life appears in front of the character. Suddenly he feels lost in the world. Will he turn back to fight, or will he forgive and forget?
We visually accompany him in his journey through snowy pages that are gradually filled with trees, flowers, animals, buildings, skyscrapers and many different people. The mono chromatic shapes grow into free and organic brush strokes as the anger gives way to a sense of peace and forgiveness.
This book is for all ages and shows us that the different kinds of beauty in the world can help us turn angry feelings and disagreements into peace, affection and forgiveness.
From the very beginning, I loved the idea behind this book. Physical violence and war are indeed stupid things and the world badly needs us to devote our attention to other matters.
Isabel Minhós Martins, Inês’ mentor
About the author
Inês Viegas Oliveira was born in 1995, in the sunny southern city of Tavira, Portugal. In an old tape
recorded by her father, she incessantly repeats to the camera “and now, what should I do?”. She has
a Bachelor’s in Physics and an interrupted Master’s
in Mathematics. In 2019, she earned a post graduate degree in Illustration. In the following years, Inês was recognised by the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, and has been exhibiting all over the world, from Portugal to Japan.
She still questions everything, but now she occasionally stops to draw, moving between words and images.
Check out the book trailer for Inês' 'The Duel' below:
Other Information
Title: The Duel
Author: Inês Oliveira
Illustrations: Inês Oliveira
Pages: 56 pages
Age: 6+
Publisher: Planeta Tangerina
Translation rights:
Carin Bacho (carin.bacho@kojaagency.com)
Catharina Lantz (catharina.lantz@kojaagency.com)
Find out more about where to apply for translation grants here.