Thomas Nast by David Shirley (1998, Reinforced Hardcover)

This book is a nice overview of the life of one of America's most important artists. Certainly the imagery created by Thomas Nast has endured long after his name ceased to be a household word. I enjoyed Shirley's ability to capture the spirit of the man in crisp and efficient language that could easily be read by a variety of age groups. Shirley steers neatly around the nativist beliefs that permeated 19th century journalism; particularly those reflected in Nast's cartoons of Catholic immigrants and the Church in general. Such sentiments are important information but not necessary for a work of this scope. The publication might have been more amply illustrated and a deeper bibliography including major drawings, published cartoons, and works in collections would have have been appreciated. Overall the book serves its audience well and will be a nice resource for anyone interested in knowing the roots of the American political symbols of donkey and elephant.