A Comic History of the United States

"A Comic History of the United States" by Livingston Hopkins is a humorous historical account written in the late 19th century. This work explores the early history of America, employing satire and illustrations to present significant events and figures in an entertaining light, beginning with Christopher Columbus's discovery. Through a comic lens, Hopkins aims to make the complexities of American history more accessible and engaging to readers. The opening of the narrative introduces Columbus on the evening of his historic discovery, framing his quest for a new world with a comedic twist. Hopkins informs readers of Columbus's youthful aspirations and family dynamics, contrasting the serious nature of exploration and discovery with playful satire. The author highlights Columbus's unorthodox methods and the absurdity of his challenges, setting a tone that blends historical facts with irreverent humor, while also preparing the groundwork for subsequent chapters that will continue this blend through various episodes of American history. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Livingston Yourtee ('Hop') Hopkins was a prolific cartoonist and caricaturist with successive careers in both the United States and Australia. Born in the American mid-west state of Ohio, Hopkins worked as a freelance cartoonist and illustrator in New York from 1870 to 1882, during a period of expansion of illustrated newspapers and magazines in America. His work was published in a wide variety of periodicals and specialty publications. Hopkins' A Comic History of United States, which he wrote and illustrated, was published in 1876. By the early 1880s he had established a reputation as a talented cartoonist and illustrator.