A Brief History of the British Comic Strip 1890–1917

Abstract

This chapter details the development of the British comic during a key period in its evolution, between the last decade of the nineteenth century and the First World War. As well as being the period during which Yeats was active, this was also the era when a new type of publication emerged, targeting a much broader readership than had the earlier humour periodicals, and privileging the comic strip as its primary element (alongside textual content that included literary serials, joke columns, and general interest features). In addition to looking at the social, cultural, and industrial contexts within which Yeats was operating, this chapter also examines the comedic tone, cartooning styles, thematic preoccupations, and structural conventions that typified the British comic strip during these years.