Review of "The Twentieth Century in Cartoons: A History in Pictures," edited by Tony Husband

 Review of

The Twentieth Century in Cartoons: A History in Pictures, edited by Tony Husband, ISBN 9781784044336

Five out of five stars

Cartoons that reflect and teach history

 There is no more powerful force in social movements and public opinion than properly drawn cartoons. Generally using only a few words as a supplement, the best cartoons can represent, parody and if necessary, ridicule the most powerful and famous people. The cartoons in this collection reflect some of the most significant events of the twentieth century.

 Some of the cartoons are nationalistic in nature, reflecting on the leaders of nations that are considered adversaries. A short caption of explanatory text is included with each cartoon, very helpful to the reader that is unfamiliar with history and the physical appearance of world leaders. These cartoons cover the political and social spectrum, some of the best were drawn by people that were pacifists or politically left.

 My favorite appears on page 55 and shows a hanging Frank Little. He was a prominent official in the Industrial Workers of the World and in July 1917 he traveled to Montana to head a strike by the miners of the Anaconda Copper Company. He was attacked and lynched from a railway trestle. This cartoon was designed to counter an attempt by Anaconda and their allies in the press to suppress the story. It is a reminder of how the bogus claim of foreign infiltration and subversion is often used against people trying to improve the living conditions of the downtrodden.

 This book is a treasure trove of cartoons that can be used to effectively teach the history of the twentieth century.

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