The World of Jak Smyrl

"Reflected in a lifetime of cartooning, Jak Smyrl was a kind and gentle soul who championed the downtrodden and gave voice to the hapless dogs, birds, and myriad critters populating his creations. Perhaps the legend found in his iconic maps best explains our reaction to his comic genius: 'One inch equals one smile.'"—Robert Ariail, award-winning editorial cartoonist

"A rich and colorful portrait of the world of Jak Smyrl, beloved artist/cartoonist for the State and the Columbia Record. The Inabinets take us on an engrossing ride through Smyrl's Camden childhood during the Depression, his war years in the Pacific, and his life as a cultural cartoonist afterwards. A vivid tapestry of remembrance of South Carolina during the twentieth century."—Tony Scully, mayor, Camden, South Carolina (2012–2016)

"The World of Jak Smyrl is a well-researched book about a remarkable man Even readers who are unfamiliar with Smyrl and his vast body of work will appreciate the authors' efforts at creating a "time capsule" that captures small-town life in the rural south, harrowing wartime experiences, and a distinguished career that will be appreciated well into the future."—Southeastern Librarian