Cullen Murphy's Cartoon County: My Father and His Friends in the Golden Age of Make-Believe

Growing up as the son of a cartoonist is noteworthy enough, but in the case of Vanity Fair editor-at-large Cullen Murphy, that was only part of the story. His father, cartoonist John Cullen Murphy, connected with more than 100 nearby families in Fairfield County, Connecticut, that had patriarchs who were either cartoonists or illustrators. Murphy details this vibrant 1950s haven for artists in Cartoon County, his book on his father’s career as the creator of the iconic Prince Valiant and Big Ben Bolt tales, including never-before-seen photos and drawings and a peek into post-war America’s golden age of comics. Stop in for a toon up at Harvard Book Store on Nov. 28. / Cathryn Haight