THE WALRUS SAID . . . . . . . . . being a bookish blog

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

The Biblio File: images of publishers, for bibliophiles

Deux Voiliers Publishing

David Levine on writers: Helen Vendler


David Levine (1926-2009) was one of America’s most prominent illustrators during a career that spanned decades. No less an authority than Jules Feiffer described him as "the greatest caricaturist of the last half of the 20th century,” although Levine continued to work in the early years of this century as well. Levine’s subjects included himself (above) and people from many walks of life. Authors, scribes and scribblers were a big part of the mix, as these caricatures make clear. 

Lit Toons: Cartoons with a bookish bent

First Lines: Da Chen


I am old, decayed, and fermented. I am a dead tree with a rotten cavity within which grows a stem of flower— my last empress.

My Last Empress
Da Chen

"They say it's your birthday" - writers born on May 20

Jon Meacham  (1969)
Ottessa Moshfegh  (1981)
Mary Pope Osborne  (1949)
Sigrid Undset  (1882)