Suzanne: The Jazz Age Goddess of Tennis was originally released in October 2022. Ever since then I have intended to review it once Roland Garros rolls around. Whenever that tournament is in full swing, tennis fans repeatedly hear the name Suzanne Lenglen through the steady stream of matches played on the court named in her honor. My theory is that it might spark interest in one of the most important foundational figures in women’s tennis history. Until this year, whenever the French Open rolled around… I managed to forget that not only this book exists, but also my intent to review it.
This book is somewhat outside my normal genre because graphic novels are not my thing. Even so, it was immediately apparent that this work was created with a tremendous amount of intentionality. Tom Humberstone clearly put considerable thought into the visual details and emotional tone of the story. The Jazz Age aesthetic permeates the book and helps reinforce the idea that Lenglen was never merely a tennis player. She was a cultural figure and symbol of modernity during a transformative period in both sports and society.
That said, readers should not regard this work as a history book, because it is definitively not. Rather, it is a graphic novel loosely based on historical events and personalities. Humberstone takes substantial liberties with timelines, relationships, and imagined conversations in order to construct a more coherent dramatic narrative. Fortunately, the book handles this responsibly. One of the aspects I appreciated most was the inclusion of endnotes documenting many of the liberties that were taken. Since I had previously reviewed The Goddess and the American Girl, I detected many of the deviations while going through it. Others escaped my notice entirely, which made the notes especially useful.
Lenglen’s actual life was fascinating enough without embellishment. She was one of the first true international superstars in women’s sport and helped redefine public perceptions of female athletes during the 1920s. The graphic novel format leans heavily into the mythology surrounding her, emphasizing her spectacle as much as the tennis itself. Whether that approach works for a reader will likely depend on what they are seeking from the experience.
For me, the result was interesting rather than revelatory. I appreciated the artistry and the care that clearly went into constructing the book, even if the format itself does not resonate with me. At times, the dramatization and fictionalization pushed the story farther from history than I personally prefer. At the same time, I can also recognize that the graphic novel format may serve as an accessible entry point for readers who might never otherwise engage with Suzanne Lenglen’s story at all.
Ultimately, I will make a positive but somewhat qualified recommendation. Readers who already enjoy graphic novels will likely find a great deal to appreciate here. It is visually striking, entertaining, and rooted in a genuinely compelling chapter of tennis history, even if it frequently prioritizes storytelling over strict historical precision. For readers who prefer traditional sports biographies or heavily researched tennis history, this may not fully scratch that itch. Still, I am glad I finally remembered to pick it up during Roland Garros, which feels like exactly the right moment to revisit Suzanne Lenglen’s enduring place within the sport.
Suzanne: The Jazz Age Goddess of Tennis (<- Sponsored Link)
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