A ruler who became an immortal poet. A poet who rose to rule a nation.

This nonfiction graphic novel epic traces the parallel lives of two Chinese leaders-Southern Tang emperor Li Yu and Chairman Mao Zedong-and explores how poetry can shape the fate of nations.

How did one man's devotion to verse hasten the fall of a dynasty? How did another's poetry help propel him to power? And what do their stories, separated by a thousand years yet profoundly intertwined, reveal about the relationship between art and authority in a civilization as vast, complex, and enduring as China?

Through the intimate lens of poetry, Ink & Blood bridges centuries of Chinese history, illuminating the human cost of leadership and the lasting influence of art on politics. In the process, it provides readers with a greater understanding of one of the world's most influential countries and, most importantly, the generations of people who have called it home.