Synopses & Reviews
Not many of us make it into the dictionary as an adjective. But then again, Rube Goldberg was no ordinary noun. He was a cartoonist, humorist, sculptor, author, engineer, and inventor, and in a 72-year career he wrote and illustrated nearly 50,000 cartoons. Goldberg (1883and#8211;1970) was the most famous cartoonist of his time, best known for his comical inventions, which were syndicated in daily newspapers throughout the world. Author Jennifer George celebrates all aspects of her grandfatherand#8217;s career, from his very first published drawings in his high school newspaper and college yearbook to his iconic inventions, his comic strips and advertising work, and his later sculpture and Pulitzer Prizeand#8211;winning political cartoons. Also included are essays by noted comics historians, rare photographs, letters, memorabilia, and patents, many reproduced here for the first time. Brilliantly designed and packaged to capture the inventiveness of Rube Goldbergand#8217;s work,
The Art of Rube Goldberg is a coffee table book the whole family can enjoy.
From Merriam-Websterand#8217;s Dictionary:
Rube Goldand#183;berg. adjective \rand#252;b-and#712;gand#333;l(d)-and#716;band#601;rg\: accomplishing by complex means
what seemingly could be done simply andlt;a kind of Rube Goldberg contraption . . . with five hundred moving parts and#8212;L. T. Grantandgt;; also: characterized by such complex means. also: Rube Goldand#183;bergand#183;iand#183;an
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and#8220;Goldbergand#8217;s cartoons touch the edge of modern art.and#8221;
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; and#8212;Adam Gopnik, from his introduction
Review
andldquo;There will likely never be another Rube Goldberg. Fortunately, his granddaughterandrsquo;s wonderful book ensures that weandrsquo;ll always remember this one-of-a-kind cartooning legend.andrdquo;
Synopsis
'Harvey Kurtzman discovered Robert Crumb and gave Gloria Steinem her first job in publishing when he hired her as his assistant. Terry Gilliam also started at his side, met an unknown John Cleese in the process, and the genesis of Monty Python was formed. Art Spiegelman has stated on record that he owes his career to him. And he\'s one of
Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner\'s favorite artists.
Harvey Kurtzman had a Midas touch for talent, but was himself an astonishingly talented and influential artist, writer, editor, and satirist. The creator of MAD and Playboy\'s \"Little Annie Fanny\" was called, \"One of the most important figures in postwar America\" by the New York Times. Kurtzman\'s groundbreaking \"realistic\" war comics of the early \'50s and various satirical publications (MAD, Trump, Humbug, and Help!) had an immense impact on popular culture, inspiring a generation of underground cartoonists. Without Kurtzman, it\'s unlikely we\'d have had Airplane, SNL, or National Lampoon.
The Art of Harvey Kurtzman is the first and only authorized celebration of this \"Master of American Comics.\" This definitive book includes hundreds of never-before-seen illustrations, paintings, pencil sketches, newly discovered lost E.C. Comics layouts, color compositions, illustrated correspondence, and vintage photos from the rich Kurtzman archives
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Synopsis
Everyone knows a Feiffer illustration when they see one: His characters leap across the page, each line belying humor and psychological insight. Over Feifferandrsquo;s prolific 70-year career, his nimble and singular imagination has given us new perspectives as well as biting satires on politics, love, marriage, and religionandmdash;alternating with stories imbued with the playful anarchy of a child. Feifferandrsquo;s varied output includes childrenandrsquo;s books (The Phantom Tollbooth and Bark, George), plays (Little Murders), movies (Carnal Knowledge and Popeye), and comic strips (most notably in his Pulitzer Prizeandndash;winning Village Voice comic strip of 42 years). Out of Line: The Art of Jules Feiffer is the long-awaited illustrated retrospective of Fei fferandrsquo;s celebrated career, providing a revealing glimpse into his creative process and his role as Americaandrsquo;s foremost Renaissance man of the arts.and#160;
About the Author
Jennifer George is the granddaughter of Rube Goldberg. She is a writer and a jewelry and clothing designer. For almost twenty years her label was carried at Bergdorf Goodman, Barneyandrsquo;s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, and dozens of other specialty stores across the U.S. She lives in New York City.
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Adam Gopnik,staff writer for the New Yorker, is a three-time National Magazine Award winner and author of many books, including Paris to the Moon and Through the Childrenandrsquo;s Gate.
Andrew Baron of Popyrus Studio, Inc. came to the world of paper engineering following years as a restorer of antique phonographs, clocks, and other mechanical wonders. His books have won international awards, including the Movable Book Societyandrsquo;s Meggendorfer Prize.
Al Jaffee is an awardandndash;winning cartoonist and cultural icon best known for his work in MAD magazine as one of the andldquo;Usual Gang of Idiots.andrdquo; He is the creator, artist, and writer of the MAD Fold-In, Tall Tales, and Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions.
Carl Linich is a scholar, teacher, and performer of traditional Georgian polyphonic singing, and a member of Trio Kavkasia. He is also a visual artist who specializes in original cartoon art.
Peter Maresca is editor and founder of Sunday Press Books, publisher of full-size reproductions of classic comic strips including Little Nemo in Slumberland, Krazy Kat, and others.
Geoff Spear shot all the photography for Batman Collected, Batman Animated, Bat-Manga!, Peanuts: The Art of Charles M. Schulz, and Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross. His award-winning photographs have appeared regularly in Vogue, Entertainment Weekly, GQ, Newsweek, and the New York Times, and on numerous book covers.
Paul Tumey is a writer, designer, and comics historian. His recent work can be found in andldquo;The Masters of Screwball Comicsandrdquo; blog and in Framed!, his monthly column for the Comics Journal.
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Brian Walker has written, edited, and contributed to more than thirty-five books on cartoon art and is the author of the definitive history, The Comics: The Complete Collection.
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