Ginseng Roots: A Memoir by Craig Thompson Author of Blankets

Acclaimed graphic novelist Craig Thompson makes a triumphant return with his most ambitious and profound work yet: Ginseng Roots: A Memoir. Pushing the boundaries of autobiographical comics, Thompson delivers a breathtaking, multilayered exploration of family, labor, and the complex cultural history of a humble yet mystical root. With the same raw emotional depth that made his 2003 classic Blankets, a genre-defining masterpiece, Thompson elevates his craft to new heights—interweaving his deeply personal experiences with the sweeping global saga of ginseng cultivation.

When Blankets was released, it redefined graphic memoirs—winning two Eisner Awards and three Harvey Awards and securing its place as one of the greatest works of graphic literature. Now, Thompson picks up where that story left off, revisiting his childhood in rural Wisconsin—but this time, the lens widens. Ginseng Roots is not merely a memoir—it is a meditation on the shared human experience, as intimate as it is expansive, exploring the tangled roots of family, heritage, and identity.

In stunning, intricate pen-and-ink illustrations, Thompson transports readers to the endless rows of Wisconsin ginseng farms, where he and his siblings toiled through scorching summers, bent over in the dirt, earning a meager one dollar an hour. But the story doesn’t stop there. With infinite curiosity and spiritual insight, Thompson traces the journey of ginseng itself—from the forests of ancient China, where it was revered for its medicinal and mythical properties, to the industrial farmlands of the American Midwest, where it became a commodity.

Spanning centuries and continents, Ginseng Roots charts the rise of industrial agriculture, the erosion of American labor, and the enduring search for a sense of belonging. Through the lens of one small-town family and their connection to this remarkable root, Thompson offers a poignant reflection on capitalism, exploitation, and the bonds of family.

Rich in historical detail, lyrical prose, and breathtaking visual storytelling, Ginseng Roots is a deeply human, profoundly moving work that cements Craig Thompson’s place as one of the greatest graphic memoirists of our time. It’s a story of roots—both literal and metaphorical—that will linger long after the final page is turned.