BOOKS

The Prince Valiant Page
Flesk Publications; $29.95
The famed illustrator Hal Foster and his disciple, Gary Gianni, both studied at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, so this glimpse into the creative process behind Foster’s newspaper adventure strip, Prince Valiant, is a story of homegrown talent. Technical tips from Gianni make this a must-read for fans of the art form.

Who Owns Antiquity?
Princeton University Press; $24.95
The Art Institute’s president, James Cuno, argues against national repossession of artifacts in this academic tome, which broaches issues of looting, rightful ownership, politics, and the law. The book benefits from Cuno’s own experiences as director of the Harvard University Art Museums, where peers criticized him for buying and exhibiting Roman bronzes and Greek vase fragments of questionable provenance.

Everyday People
EM Press
Chicago hip-hop poet Kevin Coval writes verse for, and about, the Everyman. Studs Terkel calls him “a new, glowing voice in the world of literature”—but his talents may best be experienced live. See him August 2nd at Victory Gardens.

Abbeville
Unbridled Books; $24.95
Jack Fuller—former president of the Tribune Publishing Company and a critically acclaimed author—weaves rich fiction with his own family history in this story of financial struggle and self-discovery. The lessons the main character, George Bailey, learns in his grandfather’s central Illinois farm town feel all too relevant in light of today’s receding economy.

Photograph: Black Box Studios, Inc.