Product Description

The third volume in Canongate's acclaimed series arrives with a specially commissioned introduction from "The Simpsons'" Matt Groening. This beautiful new edition takes us into the mid-1950s as Linus learns to talk, Snoopy begins to explore his eccentricities, Lucy's unrequited crush on Schroeder takes final shape, and Charlie Brown becomes ...well, even more Charlie Brown-ish.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24980 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-16
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Review
'As powerful a comic art-piece as anything out today...will delight Peanuts aficionados.' - Observer '...these timely re-issues illustrate not only the skill and subtle brilliance of his work but also the origins of the form beyond simple merriment.' - The List 'Beautifully designed ... One of the high-water marks of post-war popular culture.' - Daily Telegraph 'Canongate has had the brilliant wheeze of reprinting Charles Schultz's strip cartoon from the beginning in hardback volumes...' -Herald 'The Complete Peanuts is beautifully bound, a comprehensive resource and, with an index and introduction, a useful contextualisation of a modern legend.' - The Skinny '...in these first volumes (1950-54), we can already see what will appeal to 21st century readers.' - Sunday Times

About the Author
Charles M. Schulz was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1922 and grew up in Saint Paul. He gained a reputation worldwide as a cartoonist for his work on Peanuts. He died in 2000.

Customer Reviews

The third dose of complete Peanuts...
This is the third book in an amazing series that will eventually publish every single Peanuts strip, and it is basically more of what appeared in the second book. The strip at that time was mainly about a group of children going through life. In a way, it was always like that, but somehow the early years are much more down to earth.

There is, however, one big breakthrough in this volume: Snoopy begins to use his imagination. But don't expect battles with the Red Baron, or Joe someone! At this stage he was only imitating animals. But it was still a start that produces many laughs along the way.

As for the rest of the group: It was mainly Charlie Brown Shroader, Lucy, Linus, 'Pig Pen', Violet, and Patty - the first one - being children. Shermy is in it too, but he was being used much less already. And the ephemeral Charlotte Bruan, introduced at the end of 1954, gets a few more strips in January 1955. Linus, on the other hand, gets a big character development. He leaves his baby status early in 1955 and is allowed to show a certain superiority over the others. He does, however, already rely on the security blanket,(which Lucy's attitude towards slowly changes throughout the volume,) and he has trouble understanding Halloween. His "Just wait till next year!" line works for me not because it is funny then, but because we know what he will be doing in future Halloweens!

As I said before, this book is nothing exceptional. And pernaps my mark of 4 out of 5 is a little biased. It is all good, but I know that future volumes will be better! And nothing major really happens here apart from some character development, and it is the later strips that I have come to love.

If you want to get the complete collection, (which I certainly hope you do,) then this book is a must-buy. If, however, you do not have any of the other books in the series, then you may want to buy them first.

Peanuts Review
As I young teenager growing up in 1960's Dublin,Ireland I was shown a few Peanuts cartoon strips and I was hooked for life! I used to buy the little paperback editions and read them in one go! So innocent yet so true to life. I used to have snoopy tee shirts, posters etc.,- I even had a snoopy transfer on the back of by car! I haven't read all the series yet but looking forward to it!

Wonderful book, wonderful series!
This is a wonderful and beautifully presented series. I highly recommend it. Although some of Peanuts comedy has dated, the vast majority is still as sweet and charming as ever. If you love Calvin and Hobbes, this where it all began. A joyous collection.