Review of "Ding’s Half Century," by J. N. Darling

 Review of

Ding’s Half Century, by J. N. Darling

Five out of five stars

Great social and political commentary

 The best political cartoonists can wield great power in propping up and taking down mighty people. In a single drawing with only a few words of commentary, they can expose malfeasance, make sharp social and political satire and move the masses. They can elicit feelings from anger to relief to laughter.

 J. N. Darling, who signed his work as “Ding,” was one of the best over the fifty years his daily cartoons were published in Iowa papers and also syndicated around the United States. This book is an edited collection of some of his best cartoons and the subject matter covers everything from the current international political scene to politics in the United States to basic farm prices. Darling was also an ardent conservationist, he was sometimes called, “the best friend a duck ever had.”

 The cartoons in this collection are but a sampling of his work over fifty years of generally producing a cartoon a day. With the last one being published in 1958, they are of course very dated and require knowledge of the historical context. For example, one needs to be able to recognize people such as Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt. Fortunately, for each cartoon, there is a paragraph of additional explanation under the caption that will resolve the unknown parameters.

 Editorial cartoons serve as brief historical snapshots of major historical figures and the key issues of bygone days. If you are into history, this book will be a joy. It is one book that you can pick up and carry on from any location inside it.

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