The New Yorker Complete Cartoons: An Eight-Decade Portrait of American Life Through Cartoons
Praised by The New York Times critic Janet Maslin as an “indispensable” work, The New Yorker Complete Cartoons is a landmark publication that combines cultural depth with sharp, unmistakable humor. More than a comprehensive cartoon anthology, it offers a compelling study of American social mores, capturing the spirit of American life through incisive observation and boundless laughter. This updated edition includes a newly written introduction by acclaimed The New Yorker writer Adam Gopnik.
Organized chronologically by decade and accompanied by insightful commentary from some of the magazine’s finest writers, the book presents a sweeping overview of cartoons created by hundreds of artists over The New Yorker’s 82-year history. From early masters such as Peter Arno, George Price, and Charles Addams to contemporary voices including Alex Gregory, Matthew Diffee, and Bruce Eric Kaplan, the collection also features defining works by Charles Barsotti, Roz Chast, Jack Ziegler, George Booth, and many others. As editor David Remnick notes in the foreword, these cartoons together form “the longest-running and most influential popular comic genre in American life.”
Each era is introduced with concise thematic overviews that explore how cartoons responded to their times—from the Great Depression and social taboos to technological change and the rise of the Internet—revealing shifting cultural concerns and everyday preoccupations. The book also includes short profiles and curated selections highlighting the evolving styles and distinctive voices of key cartoonists.
The New Yorker Complete Cartoons stands as a singular panoramic portrait of American life. Through the perceptive pens and unique perspectives of generations of cartoonists, it documents more than eighty years of social change, cultural humor, and human insight, making it an essential volume for cartoon enthusiasts, cultural scholars, and collectors of illustrated books alike.