James Sturm's America: God, Gold, and Golems

Focusing on less sensational times in U.S. history (non-war and pre-Depression) James Sturm's America draws a portrait of the people and their dreams that make up this country. Comprised of three chapters — "The Revival," "Hundreds of Feet Below Daylight," and "The Golem's Mighty Swing" — the stories grow as the country grows: from pioneers searching for a place to call home to ghost towns gutted by greed and racism to the distractions and fantasies of popular entertainment.

"These stories will be best appreciated by readers familiar with — or curious about — the American past." School Library Jounral

"Sturm provides excellent facial and physical expressions as well as good architectural and civic detail, making this an easy crossover graphic novel for readers who enjoy American history made into well-told stories." Booklist

"Sturm captures the essence of the country as reflected in the all-American pastime. It doesn't take many words or strokes for Sturm's graphic artistry to leave a lasting impression." Kirkus Reviews

Focusing on less sensational times in U.S. history (non-war and pre-Depression) James Sturm's America draws a portrait of the people and their dreams that make up this country. Comprised of three chapters--The Revival, Hundreds of Feet Below Daylight, and The Golem's Mighty Swing--the stories grow as the country grows: from pioneers searching for a place to call home to ghost towns gutted by greed and racism to the distractions and fantasies of popular entertainment. James Sturm was born in New York City and is the founder and director of the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont. He won an Eisner Award for his graphic novel Unstable Molecules, a superhero story about the Fantastic Four. At a fervid revival meeting, dying boomtown, and packed baseball stadium during less sensational times in U.S. History (non-war and pre-Depression), James Sturm's America brings together a portrait of the anonymous saints, sinners, and scoundrels whose dreams shaped this nation.

Comprised of three chapters--The Revival, Hundreds of Feet Below Daylight, and The Golem's Mighty Swing--the stories grow as the country grows: from pioneers searching for a place to call home to ghost towns gutted by greed and racism to the distractions and fantasies of popular entertainment. Sturm renders the settling of the frontier to create a portrait of America in all its glory. Employing thick lines, minimal detail and simple prose storytelling, Sturm gracefully summons the seedy, often dangerous, baseball world of the 1920s.--The Washington Post

Sturm's prose is as elegantly understated as his line work. And every now and then he throws the heater: 'They've been waiting for their Messiah a thousand years, ' says one opponent. 'So they know how to wait on a curveball.'--Entertainment Weekly

The revival, as Sturm gleaned through careful research, offered an oasis of companionship, entertainment and brief salvation from the land itself. One can see how Americans . . . would have yearned for a message that this dangerous, lonely place was actually part of some divine plan.--The New York Times Book Review

James Sturm's graphic narratives make us re-imagine our shared history. This is historical fiction at its best.--Russell Banks, author of The Sweet Hereafter and Cloudsplitter

Sturm ably captures his characters' emotions and reveals motivation with telling details. These stories will be best appreciated by readers familiar with--or curious about--the American past.--School Library Journal

James Sturm was born in New York City and is the founder and director of the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont. He won an Eisner Award for his graphic novel Unstable Molecules, a superhero story about the Fantastic Four.