"Richly illustrated, edifying and expertly curated...[a] mesmerizing compendium of full-color political caricature." - The Wall Street Journal

"Many of Puck's issues remain bang up to date, if sometimes mutated." - The Daily Beast

"What Fools These Mortals Be!," is a glorious compilation of some of the magazine's best cartoons of a distinctly (wait for it) puckish nature. IDW Publishing, along with Dean Mullaney's Library of American Comics, have produced yet another brilliant volume that deserves to be lovingly displayed on bookshelves and coffee tables." - The Washington Times

A lavish coffee table book devoted to the most important political satire and cartoon magazine in American history. Published from 1877 to 1918, Puck was regularly a major political battleground and is credited with single-handedly thwarting the third-term ambitions of Ulysses Grant in 1880 and electing Grover Cleveland to the presidency in 1884. Puck did it with art - lavish, color, full-page and two-page centerspread cartoons. It was the first American magazine to publish color lithographs on a weekly basis and, for nearly forty years, was a training ground and showcase for some of the country's most talented cartoonists, led by its co-founder, Joseph Keppler.

This retrospective contains nearly 300 full-color plates. Forward by Bill Watterson of Calvin & Hobbes fame!

“One of the outstanding books of the year” -Print Magazine