Free Lance: A Fifty Year Retrospective

by Arnold Roth, Lucy Shelton Caswell (Editor)

All cartoonists are geniuses, wrote John Updike, "but Arnold Roth especially so. He's an American original; irreverent, tireless, manicky, and secretly efficient... his work jumps with joy." You won't find better proof of this argument than this book, a generous, career-spanning collection of Roth's best cartoons and painted illustrations, originally created to serve as a catalog for a long-overdue gallery exhibition of this master cartoonist's work. From his early cartoons through his eye-popping and imaginative color illustrations for such magazines as Playboy, Esquire, TV Guide and Sports Illustrated, this book will delight any fan of superior cartooning.

Genres: Comics, Cartoon, Humor, Biography

120 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2001

Reviews

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you know Arnold Roth? You may recognize his artistry without attaching his name to it. Roth is an American but one of the few non-Brits invited into the Punch inner circle. Those on the left side “of the pond” are sure to have seen his work in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Esquire and even Sports Illustrated. He was a big part of The National Lampoon's early issues.

I don’t know if cartoonist does him justice. He has illustrated many books including the cover art for John Updike’s Bech at Bay.

This book may be the best way to get to know his work, his gaiety and abandon. He has no “super-ego” in control of his pens. His website has plenty of examples to boost your interest.

https://www.arnoldroth.com/gallery

PS: He is still alive and getting ever closer to 100.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I doubt you will be able to find so much happiness so cheaply or compressed in such a small package.