Introduction
Rumors make their rounds rapidly in the publishing business. Even before type was set for this book, three European publishers were clamoring for foreign reprint rights to The Kissing Cousins; this because rumors were that Dansk Blue Books undoubtedly had a best seller on its hands with Danish-French writer Per Dionne's new book.
After reading advance copies, most critics are inclined to agree that this graphic novel may be the most daring of the year.
Ostensibly, The Kissing Cousins is a story about the sexual foibles of the very rich and the not so rich who come into contact with them. There is a much deeper level than this, however, for here is a tale of a chrysalis in the form of a naive young housewife who, in transformation, becomes a powerful avenging high priestess of love.
Per Dionne has woven a brilliant word tapestry in which the figures of the three Morgan cousins-one male and two incredibly endowed women-move with all the power and force of their ancestor, pirate Henry Morgan. Not since Dumas' The Three Musketeers have three fictional characters so captured the imagination.
Beginning with corporate intrigue and infidelity in San Francisco, the story shifts to famed Sun Valley. Trapped in a chalet during a violent blizzard, six people meet in an encounter that strips all pretense from their beings and leaves their souls bared and defenseless.
This is the story of strength and weakness. It is not until closer inspection is made that those who appear strongest are actually the weakest.
One critic has pointed out that The Kissing Cousins is, in reality, an allegorical tale. "It may well be," he pointed out, "that the storm raging outside is symbolic of what is happening to America today. It is the storm inside that counts, the hurricane storm as one person fights another for mastery. At the end of the story, the snow is quietly falling outside, promising a new and peaceful landscape. Inside, there has been destruction."
Of all of the unforgettable characters in this novel, perhaps Sue, the chrysalis, stands out most. She is a woman who faces facts, no matter how unpleasant they may be. It is she who, in the beginning, is used by everyone, even including her husband. As the fury of the storm outside the chalet mounts, so does her sense of power. And then, with the winds shrieking in a maniacal fury, there is the showdown with the all-powerful Donna, coming as it does in a scene of almost unbelievably sensual barbarism.
Because the author has not attempted to change the explicit sexual impulses of language of his characters, there may be graphic scenes in this book that may offend the more sensitive readers. People like the Morgans do exist; to deny that is to live a lie! Therefore, Dansk Blue Books is happy to add this important novel to our growing list of books making a social commentary about our times and our society.
-The Publishers