Overview

Thomas Nast (1840-1902), the founding father of American political cartooning, is perhaps best known for his cartoons portraying political parties as the Democratic donkey and the Republican elephant. Nast's legacy also includes a trove of other political cartoons, his successful attack on the machine politics of Tammany Hall in 1871, and his wildly popular illustrations of Santa Claus for Harper's Weekly magazine. Throughout his career, his drawings provided a pointed critique that forced readers to confront the contradictions around them. In this thoroughgoing and lively biography, Fiona Deans Halloran focuses not just on Nast's political cartoons for Harper's but also on his place within the complexities of Gilded Age politics and highlights the many contradictions in his own life: he was an immigrant who attacked immigrant communities, a supporter of civil rights who portrayed black men as foolish children in need of guidance, and an enemy of corruption and hypocrisy who idolized Ulysses S. Grant. He was a man with powerful friends, including Mark Twain, and powerful enemies, including William M. """"Boss"""" Tweed. Halloran interprets Nast's work, explores his motivations and ideals, and illuminates Nast's lasting legacy on American political culture.

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9781469642352

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Reviews

"Extremely effective in illuminating Nast as an artist and an individual. . . . Will inform as well as amuse"""". - Galveston Daily News """"One of the great pleasures of Halloran's biography is watching Nast go from being a mere artist to a political-cartooning superstar"""". - Bookforum """"Halloran has produced a biography exploring Nast's drawings in the context of his life as an artist whose drawings had a strong Republican slant. She shows convincingly how Nast expressed his identity both in his sentimental home scenes and his cutting political satires"""". - H-SHGAPE """"This book brings [Thomas Nast] back to his highly deserved place in American cultural history"""". - Journal of American Culture """"Thomas Nast may be known as 'The Father of Modern Political Cartoons,' but history teacher Halloran's thorough biography of the 19th-century journalist is much more than mere caricature. . . . [A] rich portrait of the multifaceted artist, social crusader, political commentator, and devoted father and husband"""". - Publishers Weekly """"[An] intriguing and rich portrait"""". - Journal of American History """"Recommended. With reservations. Graduate students, researchers, professionals"""". - Choice """"[A] bright book"""". - Michael Kammen, Los Angeles Review of Books """"Halloran has contributed to the literature on nineteenth-century social and political observers with an in-depth examination into the life of Nast as an artist and political analyst who created masterpieces of commentary"""". - The Historian """"If you have any interest in Thomas Nast, or in late 19th century American politics or political cartoons, Thomas Nast: The Father of Modern Political Cartoons is definitely an important purchase"""". - Fred Patten """"[A] cogent and highly readable biography"""". - Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly """"The most exhaustive and well-researched look at Nast to date"""". - Salt Lake Tribune """"Halloran's new biography of Nast fills a conspicuous void by supplying an engaging and erudite account of the life and times of the celebrated artist"""". - Register of the Kentucky Historical Society """"This detailed biography will appeal to historians of the Gilded Age and to scholars interested in the development of the political cartoon. . . . The book is beautifully illustrated with Nast's work"""". - Library Journal"

Halloran's new biography of Nast fills a conspicuous void by supplying an engaging and erudite account of the life and times of the celebrated artist. -- Register of the Kentucky Historical Society This book brings [Thomas Nast] back to his highly deserved place in American cultural history. -- Journal of American Culture This detailed biography will appeal to historians of the Gilded Age and to scholars interested in the development of the political cartoon. . . . The book is beautifully illustrated with Nast's work.--Library Journal Halloran's new biography of Nast fills a conspicuous void by supplying an engaging and erudite account of the life and times of the celebrated artist.--Register of the Kentucky Historical Society The most exhaustive and well-researched look at Nast to date.--Salt Lake Tribune [A] cogent and highly readable biography.--Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly If you have any interest in Thomas Nast, or in late 19th century American politics or political cartoons, Thomas Nast: The Father of Modern Political Cartoons is definitely an important purchase.--Fred Patten Halloran has contributed to the literature on nineteenth-century social and political observers with an in-depth examination into the life of Nast as an artist and political analyst who created masterpieces of commentary.-- The Historian [A] bright book.--Michael Kammen, Los Angeles Review of Books Recommended. With reservations. Graduate students, researchers, professionals.--Choice [An] intriguing and rich portrait.--Journal of American History Thomas Nast may be known as 'The Father of Modern Political Cartoons, ' but history teacher Halloran's thorough biography of the 19th-century journalist is much more than mere caricature. . . . [A] rich portrait of the multifaceted artist, social crusader, political commentator, and devoted father and husband.--Publishers Weekly This book brings [Thomas Nast] back to his highly deserved place in American cultural history.--Journal of American Culture Halloran has produced a biography exploring Nast's drawings in the context of his life as an artist whose drawings had a strong Republican slant. She shows convincingly how Nast expressed his identity both in his sentimental home scenes and his cutting political satires.--H-SHGAPE Extremely effective in illuminating Nast as an artist and an individual. . . . Will inform as well as amuse.--Galveston Daily News One of the great pleasures of Halloran's biography is watching Nast go from being a mere artist to a political-cartooning superstar.--Bookforum [A] cogent and highly readable biography.-- Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly [A] bright book.--Michael Kammen, Los Angeles Review of Books [An] intriguing and rich portrait.-- Journal of American History Halloran has produced a biography exploring Nast's drawings in the context of his life as an artist whose drawings had a strong Republican slant. She shows convincingly how Nast expressed his identity both in his sentimental home scenes and his cutting political satires. -- H-SHGAPE Thomas Nast may be known as 'The Father of Modern Political Cartoons, ' but history teacher Halloran's thorough biography of the 19th-century journalist is much more than mere caricature. . . . [A] rich portrait of the multifaceted artist, social crusader, political commentator, and devoted father and husband. -- Publishers Weekly Extremely effective in illuminating Nast as an artist and an individual. . . . Will inform as well as amuse. -- Galveston Daily News Recommended. With reservations. Graduate students, researchers, professionals. -- Choice [An] intriguing and rich portrait. -- Journal of American History [A] cogent and highly readable biography. -- Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly The most exhaustive and well-researched look at Nast to date. -- Salt Lake Tribune If you have any interest in Thomas Nast, or in late 19th century American politics or political cartoons, Thomas Nast: The Father of Modern Political Cartoons is definitely an important purchase. --Fred Patten [A] bright book. --Michael Kammen, Los Angeles Review of Books One of the great pleasures of Halloran's biography is watching Nast go from being a mere artist to a political-cartooning superstar. -- Bookforum This detailed biography will appeal to historians of the Gilded Age and to scholars interested in the development of the political cartoon. . . . The book is beautifully illustrated with Nast's work. -- Library Journal Halloran, in short, sheds light on the influence wielded by the nation's foremost political cartoonist of the era. - Civil War Book Review [A] bright book. -Michael Kammen, Los Angeles Review of Books An excellent, lively, well-researched biography of an important and surprisingly little-discussed figure in American politics and art. It's great fun to read. --Alice Fahs, University of California, Irvine

Extremely effective in illuminating Nast as an artist and an individual. . . . Will inform as well as amuse"""". - Galveston Daily News """"One of the great pleasures of Halloran's biography is watching Nast go from being a mere artist to a political-cartooning superstar"""". - Bookforum """"Halloran has produced a biography exploring Nast's drawings in the context of his life as an artist whose drawings had a strong Republican slant. She shows convincingly how Nast expressed his identity both in his sentimental home scenes and his cutting political satires"""". - H-SHGAPE """"This book brings [Thomas Nast] back to his highly deserved place in American cultural history"""". - Journal of American Culture """"Thomas Nast may be known as 'The Father of Modern Political Cartoons,' but history teacher Halloran's thorough biography of the 19th-century journalist is much more than mere caricature. . . . [A] rich portrait of the multifaceted artist, social crusader, political commentator, and devoted father and husband"""". - Publishers Weekly """"[An] intriguing and rich portrait"""". - Journal of American History """"Recommended. With reservations. Graduate students, researchers, professionals"""". - Choice """"[A] bright book"""". - Michael Kammen, Los Angeles Review of Books """"Halloran has contributed to the literature on nineteenth-century social and political observers with an in-depth examination into the life of Nast as an artist and political analyst who created masterpieces of commentary"""". - The Historian """"If you have any interest in Thomas Nast, or in late 19th century American politics or political cartoons, Thomas Nast: The Father of Modern Political Cartoons is definitely an important purchase"""". - Fred Patten """"[A] cogent and highly readable biography"""". - Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly """"The most exhaustive and well-researched look at Nast to date"""". - Salt Lake Tribune """"Halloran's new biography of Nast fills a conspicuous void by supplying an engaging and erudite account of the life and times of the celebrated artist"""". - Register of the Kentucky Historical Society """"This detailed biography will appeal to historians of the Gilded Age and to scholars interested in the development of the political cartoon. . . . The book is beautifully illustrated with Nast's work"""". - Library Journal

Halloran's new biography of Nast fills a conspicuous void by supplying an engaging and erudite account of the life and times of the celebrated artist. -- Register of the Kentucky Historical Society This book brings [Thomas Nast] back to his highly deserved place in American cultural history. -- Journal of American Culture This detailed biography will appeal to historians of the Gilded Age and to scholars interested in the development of the political cartoon. . . . The book is beautifully illustrated with Nast's work.--Library Journal Halloran's new biography of Nast fills a conspicuous void by supplying an engaging and erudite account of the life and times of the celebrated artist.--Register of the Kentucky Historical Society The most exhaustive and well-researched look at Nast to date.--Salt Lake Tribune [A] cogent and highly readable biography.--Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly If you have any interest in Thomas Nast, or in late 19th century American politics or political cartoons, Thomas Nast: The Father of Modern Political Cartoons is definitely an important purchase.--Fred Patten Halloran has contributed to the literature on nineteenth-century social and political observers with an in-depth examination into the life of Nast as an artist and political analyst who created masterpieces of commentary.-- The Historian [A] bright book.--Michael Kammen, Los Angeles Review of Books Recommended. With reservations. Graduate students, researchers, professionals.--Choice [An] intriguing and rich portrait.--Journal of American History Thomas Nast may be known as 'The Father of Modern Political Cartoons, ' but history teacher Halloran's thorough biography of the 19th-century journalist is much more than mere caricature. . . . [A] rich portrait of the multifaceted artist, social crusader, political commentator, and devoted father and husband.--Publishers Weekly This book brings [Thomas Nast] back to his highly deserved place in American cultural history.--Journal of American Culture Halloran has produced a biography exploring Nast's drawings in the context of his life as an artist whose drawings had a strong Republican slant. She shows convincingly how Nast expressed his identity both in his sentimental home scenes and his cutting political satires.--H-SHGAPE Extremely effective in illuminating Nast as an artist and an individual. . . . Will inform as well as amuse.--Galveston Daily News One of the great pleasures of Halloran's biography is watching Nast go from being a mere artist to a political-cartooning superstar.--Bookforum [A] cogent and highly readable biography.-- Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly [A] bright book.--Michael Kammen, Los Angeles Review of Books [An] intriguing and rich portrait.-- Journal of American History Halloran has produced a biography exploring Nast's drawings in the context of his life as an artist whose drawings had a strong Republican slant. She shows convincingly how Nast expressed his identity both in his sentimental home scenes and his cutting political satires. -- H-SHGAPE Thomas Nast may be known as 'The Father of Modern Political Cartoons, ' but history teacher Halloran's thorough biography of the 19th-century journalist is much more than mere caricature. . . . [A] rich portrait of the multifaceted artist, social crusader, political commentator, and devoted father and husband. -- Publishers Weekly Extremely effective in illuminating Nast as an artist and an individual. . . . Will inform as well as amuse. -- Galveston Daily News Recommended. With reservations. Graduate students, researchers, professionals. -- Choice [An] intriguing and rich portrait. -- Journal of American History [A] cogent and highly readable biography. -- Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly The most exhaustive and well-researched look at Nast to date. -- Salt Lake Tribune If you have any interest in Thomas Nast, or in late 19th century American politics or political cartoons, Thomas Nast: The Father of Modern Political Cartoons is definitely an important purchase. --Fred Patten [A] bright book. --Michael Kammen, Los Angeles Review of Books One of the great pleasures of Halloran's biography is watching Nast go from being a mere artist to a political-cartooning superstar. -- Bookforum This detailed biography will appeal to historians of the Gilded Age and to scholars interested in the development of the political cartoon. . . . The book is beautifully illustrated with Nast's work. -- Library Journal Halloran, in short, sheds light on the influence wielded by the nation's foremost political cartoonist of the era. - Civil War Book Review [A] bright book. -Michael Kammen, Los Angeles Review of Books An excellent, lively, well-researched biography of an important and surprisingly little-discussed figure in American politics and art. It's great fun to read. --Alice Fahs, University of California, Irvine

This detailed biography will appeal to historians of the Gilded Age and to scholars interested in the development of the political cartoon. . . . The book is beautifully illustrated with Nast's work.--Library Journal Halloran's new biography of Nast fills a conspicuous void by supplying an engaging and erudite account of the life and times of the celebrated artist.--Register of the Kentucky Historical Society The most exhaustive and well-researched look at Nast to date.--Salt Lake Tribune [A] cogent and highly readable biography.--Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly If you have any interest in Thomas Nast, or in late 19th century American politics or political cartoons, Thomas Nast: The Father of Modern Political Cartoons is definitely an important purchase.--Fred Patten Halloran has contributed to the literature on nineteenth-century social and political observers with an in-depth examination into the life of Nast as an artist and political analyst who created masterpieces of commentary.-- The Historian [A] bright book.--Michael Kammen, Los Angeles Review of Books Recommended. With reservations. Graduate students, researchers, professionals.--Choice [An] intriguing and rich portrait.--Journal of American History Thomas Nast may be known as 'The Father of Modern Political Cartoons, ' but history teacher Halloran's thorough biography of the 19th-century journalist is much more than mere caricature. . . . [A] rich portrait of the multifaceted artist, social crusader, political commentator, and devoted father and husband.--Publishers Weekly This book brings [Thomas Nast] back to his highly deserved place in American cultural history.--Journal of American Culture Halloran has produced a biography exploring Nast's drawings in the context of his life as an artist whose drawings had a strong Republican slant. She shows convincingly how Nast expressed his identity both in his sentimental home scenes and his cutting political satires.--H-SHGAPE Extremely effective in illuminating Nast as an artist and an individual. . . . Will inform as well as amuse.--Galveston Daily News One of the great pleasures of Halloran's biography is watching Nast go from being a mere artist to a political-cartooning superstar.--Bookforum

Author Information

Fiona Deans Halloran teaches history at Rowland Hall-St. Mark's School in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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