{"product_id":"thomas-nast-the-father-of-modern-political-cartoons","title":"Thomas Nast: The Father of Modern Political Cartoons","description":"\u003cp\u003eThomas Nast (18401902)  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. Nasts 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 Harpers 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 Nasts political cartoons for Harpers 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 Nasts work  explores his motivations and ideals  and illuminates Nasts lasting legacy on American political culture.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44963314106421,"sku":"ByrdShop_0807835870","price":44.02,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780807835876.jpg?v=1770411813","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/thomas-nast-the-father-of-modern-political-cartoons","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}