This coffee table book takes a look back at some of the most interesting and engaging drawings by Harold Maples, the long-time political cartoonist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. A native-born Texan, Maples was a staple in Fort Worth for decades and was as loved by his community as he was by his die-hard fans. Political cartoons are excellent teachers of history, and readers will be amazed at how succinctly Maples boiled down complex ideas into simple and amusing drawings. As much as his skill is evident, however, his humorous, kind-hearted nature shows through every one of his cartoons.

Author Devin McCue divided Maples’s twenty-seven-year-long career into six broad categories that range from local sports to Cold War politics. Each chapter explores not only how Maples depicted an event or an idea but also how his craft and opinions evolved over time. Chapters like
Vietnam
shed light on how public opinion can evolve, showing how it shifted at each stage of the conflict and slowly changed as the war dragged on. Maples covered events that have been lost to the back pages of history books, so each cartoon is accompanied by an explanation that provides historical context as well as artistic analysis.