Abridged Classics

“Very funny stuff…There is a lot going on in Atkinson’s deceptively simple cartoons…and the magic is in how he achieves the maximum impact with as little as possible. So, it makes total sense for Atkinson to tackle some of the most celebrated books–with hilarious results.” — Comics GrinderHe compiles super-succinct summaries of literary classics in the light-hearted, humorous style that his blog readers have grown to love. — WordpressJohn Atkinson, is giving all book lovers a chuckle with his condensed literary classic cartoons, which include abbreviations of famous works of literature. — BuzzfeedJohn Atkinson has illustrated and summarized the books you don’t want to read but nevertheless feel you should. — the Paris ReviewTurns out you can summarize Proust’s In Search of Lost Time with two pictures. — LithubThis book will appeal to people that read the New Yorker for the cartoons, or enjoy Tom Gauld’s reading-themed cartoons. — ComicsDC

John Atkinson lives in Ottawa, Canada. He is a voracious reader of cereal boxes, microwave instructions, and subtext. John is plagued by a recurring dream where he misses the Renaissance because of car trouble. He also claims to have coined the phrase, “I had a banana on the train,” which everyone tells him isn’t really an expression. John’s cartoon Wrong Hands has been featured in numerous online and print publications worldwide and can be seen regularly in Time Magazine.