Barbora
From MA project to published graphic novel
“I finished a graphic novel and found a publisher and was able to deal with so many rejections I can barely believe it.”
Barbora's graphic novel, developed on the Make Happen programme, follows a young Eastern European woman studying art in Brexit-era Britain and is now published by a major Czech publishing house.
Our alumna Barbora Viletová has reached an exciting milestone, with the graphic novel she developed during her time on the Make Happen programme now published by a major Czech publishing house!
The novel follows Věra, a young woman from a small town who moves to the West to study art. What she expects to be a bohemian, creative life quickly unravels. University is not what it promised to be, and the people around her begin to see her differently. Her identity shifts from “ordinary girl” to “just another foreigner,” as she navigates not only the challenges of growing up, but also a political climate shaped by Brexit-era narratives and propaganda.
Blending personal experience with wider social and political themes, the work explores identity, belonging, and the reality of building a life in a new country. It captures the tension between expectation and lived experience, particularly for young people moving across borders in search of opportunity.
The publication marks a significant achievement for Barbora, whose project began as part of her studies and has now found a wider audience. Discussions are currently underway for an English-language UK edition, opening up the possibility for the story to reach readers beyond the Czechia.
This is a powerful example of a student project evolving into a published work with international potential, and we’re excited to see where it goes next!
Keep Up With Barbora!
She’s not stopping there — new ideas are already flowing for a sequel, continuing the work of giving voice to lives too often overlooked.
Buy the book: https://www.labyrintshop.cz/komiks/-ne-zapadam-na-zapad/
Instagram: @vile.bara
