Brooks, Charles

Best of Brooks: 38 Years of Cartoons

Birmingham, AL: Birmingham News, 1986. First Edition. Hardcover. Signed by Charles Brooks. “Often, little things happen in our lives which seem insignificant at the time; but later, these small things can be seen to have completely changed our lives. My life turned at three crossroads: a flip of a coin, tying my shoe, and a letter. I met my wife on the flip of a coin. Tying my shoe probably saved my life in World War II. And a kind letter from Hubert Harper helped me get my start as a cartoonist for The Birmingham News.”--Charles Brooks, Best of Brooks: 38 Years of Cartoons, pg 10. Offered today is the 1986 collection, celebrating the career of Cartoonist, Charles Brooks (1920–2011), Best of Brooks: 38 Years of Cartoons. Brooks was an editorial cartoonist for The Birmingham News in Birmingham, Alabama, where he first came to prominence denouncing/criticizing the Ku Klux Klan which had a number of powerful supporters at the time. Cutting his teeth and making his career in editorial cartoons, Brooks would go on to serve as president of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists in 1969 and edited an annual volume of the Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year since 1972 for Pelican Books. This collection highlights the best, most impactful works that Brooks produced during his time at The Birmingham News. Comprised of essays by Brooks covering pivotal points in his life such as: his service in World War II; The Battle of the Bulge; D-Day; meeting his wife on a coin-flip; when he got the urge to be an artist; and some of his most famous pieces followed by commentary. Also featured are full plates of Brooks’ artworks as they appeared in The Birmingham News. This volume stands as a full accounting of the nearly 40 years of Brooks’ career as a cartoonist from the best to the most controversial works. The definitive, and most authoritative collection of the career of one of the most famous, lauded, and legendary of American cartoonists, Charles Brooks. Signed in thin gold in at first paste-down page by the author an inscription reads: “To Bill Plumb–with best wishes to another fella who is a big fan of editorial cartoons. Charles Brooks (retired) Birmingham News, 1-26-2002” with a small self-portrait cartoon. Hardcover in unclipped dust jacket. First edition though not explicated as such at copyright page, presumed first printing though similarly not explicated thereon. Book is in very fine condition with minor wear to fine edges; dust jacket is in very fine condition with light wear to fine edges and minimal smudging to front and back covers. Very Fine / Very Fine. [Item #7293]

Price: $70.00