Prime Ministers: An Irreverent Political History in Cartoons

UK: Thames & Hudson Ltd, 1995. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. An entertaining and revealing account of all the British Prime ministers from Walpole to Major, through the eyes of a cartoonist. Satirical commentary, first in the form of individual prints, later within news-sheets, newspapers and magazines, has always existed. In the 18th century, images of politicians spitting, defecating, fornicating, or gorging themselves on the fruits of office were the norm. In the Victorian age, personal vindictiveness gave way to a gentler analysis of political questions, while our own century has seen a mixture of approaches. This book provides an analysis of 200 drawings and paintings, and an explanation of the themes and events given. The book discusses what the cartoons mean, which PM first manipulated the media, which PM was assassinated, and who was the only PM to shed tears on taking up and leaving office. Synopsis An entertaining and revealing account of all the British Prime ministers from Walpole to Major, through the eyes of a cartoonist. Satirical commentary, first in the form of individual prints, later within news-sheets, newspapers and magazines, has always existed. In the 18th century, images of politicians spitting, defecating, fornicating, or gorging themselves on the fruits of office were the norm. In the Victorian age, personal vindictiveness gave way to a gentler analysis of political questions, while our own century has seen a mixture of approaches. This book provides an analysis of 200 drawings and paintings, and an explanation of the themes and events given. The book discusses what the cartoons mean, which PM first manipulated the media, which PM was assassinated, and who was the only PM to shed tears on taking up and leaving office.