Alay-Oop

Originally serialized in the 1930s, Alay-Oop is a wordless novel in woodcuts by William Gropper, republished in 2019 by The New York Review of Books. This single-volume work follows a circus performer’s life through stark, expressionistic images, showcasing Gropper’s mastery of visual storytelling. A landmark of the graphic novel medium, it captures the grit and grace of Depression-era America with a timeless, cinematic power.