Open this issue of Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, from July 1920, and you’re basically stealing a seat in a London pub 100 years ago. The conversations feel weirdly modern—gripes about bad drivers, arguing over the cost of eggs, and making fun of politicians who can’t get anything done. It’s easy to read and full of quick laughs, but there’s this quiet sadness hanging just below the jokes.

What’s Inside

This isn’t your typical novel with a hero and villain. It’s a weekly magazine packed with one-panel cartoons and short features. You’ll meet a stuffy colonel complaining about the weather, a “flapper” girl annoyed by her mother’s old hair advice, and annoyed city folks dealing with early car honks. The standout is a tough editorial making fun of pop-up ads for useless products. But the background buzz is the Great War still echoing—sad poems about fallen soldiers, weird ads for mourning clothes, and gentle jokes about women now working jobs men used to have. The ‘plot’ is really how humor helped people cope with change.

Why You Should Read It

Reading this secretly feels like time travel. First, it proves humans haven’t changed: we still laugh at stuffy boss characters and people having bad days. Second, the drawings are gorgeous—each one tells a mini story without any words. I loved how female characters could be smart, tough, and funny. But the saddest part? The jokes about cash shortages and shell-shocked veterans hit hard, knowing history’s future. The fighting ends by showing how laughter can be armor. The themes of change, class, and grief feel real even today.

Final Verdict

If you like history, humor, or old-time cartoons, this is gold. Perfect for fans of The New Yorker, old comic strips, or anyone curious how people coped after a world war. You’ll get a light read that forces you to think. But a warning: this is short, and some jokes are old enough to be dusty. Still, if you want to eavesdrop on a cheerful 1920s crowd trying to ignore the giant emotional space in the room, grab it with a cup of tea.