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Madman's Drum

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description Madman's Drum Overview

Madman's Drum is a wordless novel by American artist Lynd Ward, published in 1930 and constructed from 118 wood engravings. The sequence follows a slave trader who takes a strange drum after killing its owner and traces the destructive consequences for him and his family, using recurring symbols and visual storytelling to examine violence, exploitation, and moral corruption. The narrative is communicated entirely through images rather than written dialogue.

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What kind of book is Madman's Drum?

Madman's Drum is a wordless novel by American artist Lynd Ward, published in 1930. Its narrative is told through 118 wood engravings rather than written dialogue or conventional prose.

What happens in Madman's Drum?

The story follows a slave trader who kills a drum's owner and takes the strange instrument for himself. The drum's destructive influence then spreads through his life and family, creating a visual tragedy about greed, violence, and inherited harm.

How many images are in Madman's Drum?

The original book contains 118 wood engravings. Ward arranged those black-and-white images in sequence so readers follow the plot through changes in gesture, setting, and recurring symbols.

How does Madman's Drum relate to Lynd Ward's Gods' Man?

Madman's Drum followed Gods' Man, Ward's first wordless novel from 1929. Both books use sequential wood engravings without dialogue, but Madman's Drum centers on a family and the consequences of a stolen object.

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