“I kept the pen throughout the war. I still have it.” – Nick Cardy

Here is a portion of the book’s description from Titan Books:

“Nick Cardy: The Artist At War presents the entire contents of Cardy’s wartime sketchbook, alongside his own commentary. It’s a chronicle of one man’s journey, but one that speaks for millions.”

The entire synopsis can be found on Titan Books’ website, here.

This is a coffee table book (128pp; 11.9 x 0.6 x 7.9 inches) if I have ever seen one. It is not a, “I am going to sit down and read this cover to cover,” kind of book. It is something that should be left out on a table, perused every-once-in-a-while, and maybe catch a visitor’s eye from time-to-time…

I am no history buff  – I had to get that out of the way – though, I do appreciate and respect the past as one of the best instruments for behavioral learning. This book is absolutely perfect for history buffs. It is also absolutely perfect for folks interested in the human condition. And, war is all about the human condition, a condition that Nick Cardy captured just about every angle of with his pen and sketchbook.

I chose the quote at the beginning of this review because it was one of the most powerful statements that I have ever read. Period. Not being a veteran of any war, I cannot imagine how life is while deployed, let alone during wartime. Second and third-hand stories are fine, but only those who were/are there can truly understand. This book is a collection of first-hand experiences – as the events unfolded – through the eyes of a skilled artist down to the war-torn pages of his daily companion device.

The fact that he provides direct commentary for the sketches is invaluable. It would have been one thing to find his sketchbook in an estate sale years from now and attempt to derive meaning from its pages – it is an entirely different thing, an amazing thing, that we get to re-live the scenes of each page along with him.

This is obviouslynot your standard “graphic novel”. And, while it by definition still is “sequential” art, it is no comic book. I mention this to prepare you – this is not fiction. This is a real account of one man’s journey through a life lived in such a way so we can enjoy the things we have today.

Thank you Nick Cardy for your service, your shared experiences, and of course your world renowned artistic ability.

Not to leave out some of the smaller sections of the book, here is a brief look at the table of contents:

• Introduction – Renee Witterstaetter provides a wonderfully enthusiastic introduction for the book. Her passion for the subject matter and content of the book prepares you for the subsequent pages.
• Nick Cardy Talks About “The Artist At War” – This is a CBR interview between Alex Dueben and Nick Cardy.
• Cardy War Journal – This is the bulk of the book, and is what I was so keen on throughout this review.
• Photo Section: War – The book cuts from Nick’s sketchbook to photos of before and during WWII.
• An American in Paris, Post V-E Day – More photos, art and first-hand accounts of post-war life.

5/5