Caricature Books

As a former colleague of Ralph Ivy's (we worked at the same newspaper together, where these drawings first appeared), I have only the greatest admiration for his work. These drawings and characters and stories are made from real heart and soul, and are serious, mystifying, and hilarious, as real life is. These images and the people they portray make for a book like no other. A true treasure, made of platinum and tears.

This is a great book to help you appreciate the little things in life. Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang have knowledge the rest of us seem to forget as we grow older, and grow up. Recommended for anyone needing a little boost!

A lighthearted look at higher education - A must read for anyone who works at a university.

Herblock was America's greatest political cartoonist, and his work was at its pinacle during the Nixon Administration. This book contains hundreds of his funniest, most powerful cartoons alongside a concise narrative that sets them in context.

The narrative is great, but the cartoons are what this volume is all about. Each is truly worth a thousand well-chosen words. They provide a better feel for that absurd and trying time than any narrative could.

Laughed myself unconscious when I first saw this! Herman is endearing because he typically draws people to whom the passage of time has been very unkind - converting humans to warped, bloated, wrinkled mutant caricatures of middle aged US Citizens.

If that weren't funny enough, doing the same to dogs is beyond description!

I am glad someone here finally had a copy to sell - can't believe this went out of print!

For the inspiring cartoonist or just for a good belly laugh this collection of Herman is a must.

My all time favorite Herman toon is on page 95, of this Treasury, it's two crumbled soldiers talking about two French waitresses. Ever time I see it, I laugh to my side aches.

I've viewed several of the treasuries and this one is looking more worn out than any of the others. Great laughs!

This book is very funny. A must have for high school teachers or anyone involved with a high school. It is full of comics similar to The Far Side. We laughed and laughed.

All hail Hirschfeld, and, more importantly, all hail this trio of tomes featuring works by the premier theater and entertainment illustrator of the 20th century. For decades, Big Al's works adorned the cover of Sunday's New York Times Arts and Leisure sections, sketches celebrating plays, musicals, movies and celebrities gracing Gotham that particular week. The bearded, rotund artist (sort of a secular Santa for show-biz folk) was ubiquitous at opening nights in and out of town. And, of course, each week, there were the "Ninas," his daughter's name, hidden, sometimes once, sometimes up to eight times, in each sketch. (The number next to his signature would clue us in on the number of times Nina's name was hidden.) Cross-country phone calls wailing, "Where's the last Nina?" ensued on many a Sunday afternoon.
Nina-searchers can now glut themselves on Hirschfeld's British Aisles, a collection culled from the New York Times; as a special treat, there are welcome commentaries from such big name Brits as Julie Andrews, Dame Edna, Sir Cameron Mackintosh and Lynn Redgrave.
A veddy nice job, but the real treats are Hirschfeld's Harlem and The Speakeasies of 1932. In Harlem, we can see the artist's style develop; before the detailed line drawings we have come to expect came almost impressionistic pencil shadings, at once more personal and mysterious, more abstract, and evocative and startling in their originality. Harlem has, as well as several historical essays, text by a band of authorities, including Bobby Short, Lena Horne, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee and Savion Glover.
The Speakeasies of 1932 is a fascinating look at the dives and divine watering holes of that noble experiment, prohibition. Sketches of bars, bartenders and patrons, along with a written description of the joints, are included. Added to this fizzy mix are drink recipes from each bar; we should, perhaps, avoid the cocktail simply called "Smoke," from an establishment called O'Leary's on the Bowery. The principle ingredient? Two cans of Sterno.
Art should teach us something about the past, about ourselves, about our society. But it should also be fun. Al Hirschfeld accomplished all of this with pencil, pen and ink. If you aren't familiar with his work, meet this terrific triumvirate. And if you are familiar with dear Al (and Nina), then enjoy a reunion with old and treasured friends.

This collection is a HILARIOUS look at aging! I saw this book at a book fair, thumbed through a few pages, and laughed until I cried! I bought several copies and gave them as birthday presents to family and friends. They loved it just as much as I did. If you like The Far Side, you'll LOVE this collection of cartoons.