Nudism Comes to Connecticut

Nudism Comes to Connecticut is a fascinating graphic memoir of optimism, debt, nakedness and real estate scheming in the early 1930s.

Frank Mallett, inspired by cooperative colonies he had visited in Europe, returned home envisioning utopian communities of bohemian emigrés and artistic intellectuals proliferating in sylvan harmony. With the crash of 1929 his already floundering enterprises seemed doomed — until he discovered a growing interest in healthy, wholesome nudism.

Closely based on actual people and events, Nudism Comes to Connecticut exposes the conflict between the ecstasy of the “exquisite naked plunge” and voyeurism, competitiveness, and greed by way of many period writings and letters. Although Frank’s love of nature never falters, he learns that there is more to nudism than meets the eye.

Nudism is veteran children’s book authors Jon Buller and Susan Schade’s first published graphic novel, lovingly rendered in delicate, indeed, enticing, pen lines.

Nudism Comes to Connecticut is part of the Fantagraphics Underground imprint.