"Willy The Dreamer" By Anthony Browne (Published by Walker Books Ltd, London 1997) Part-3

This is an excerpt from the author's biography in the book: "Anthony Browne (born in 1946) is one of today's most popular and acclaimed children's artists. In March 2000 he received the highest international distinction for a picture book artist, becoming the first British illustrator to win the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration. His many other awards include the Kate Greenaway Medal for Gorilla and Zoo, and the Kurt Maschler Award for Gorilla, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland and Voices In The Park. Willy The Dreamer was short listed for the Kate Greenaway Medal..."  Here's the author's wonderful website full of pictures, list of all his books, biography etc:http://www.anthonybrownebooks.com/about/

Below is the opening page for "Willy The Dreamer" and below that is the last page of the story - I love spotting the differences between the two and admiring the artist's ingenuity, skill and imagination. A great book for adults and kids alike!

"Willy The Dreamer" By Anthony Browne (Published by Walker Books Ltd, London 1997) Part 2

If I had to pick only one of Anthony Browne's brilliant books, this would be the one! It's a majestic journey through Willy's memories, aspirations, past and future using famous paintings (mainly from the surrealist movement) as a backdrop. The one above, for example, has reference from Giorgio De Chirico's work. The one below that from Salvador Dali's ""The Persistence Of Memory"(1931) and the last one from Rene Magritte's "Reproduction Prohibited"(1937). The pictures from my previous post, display Willy's dreams about being a film star, a famous painter or a rock idol (ie Elvis why not?)! The bananas and Willy's characteristic  pair of the red and green socks at present where ever possible!

"Willy The Dreamer" By Anthony Browne (Published by Walker Books Ltd, London 1997) Part 1

"This Old Man" Illustrations By Pam Adams (Published by Child's Play (International) Ltd, England 1974) Part 2

Pam Adams (1919-2010) was a British graphic artist and illustrator who teamed up with Michael Twinn in 1972 and his newly created publishing house, Child's Play ( http://www.childs-play.com/home-page.html ). Their first - and best selling - title was "There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly"(1972). I haven't got that book yet but this title was published soon afterwards and it's still on sale today. I have many fond memories reading it loudly to my children but the tune always brings in mind my favourite TV character Lieutenant Columbo who was frequently humming it! This is a brief biography of the artist from the publisher's website: http://www.childs-play.com/contributor/adams_pam.html

"This Old Man" Illustrations By Pam Adams (Published by Child's Play (International) Ltd, England 1974) Part 1

"Cats And Dolls" By Margriet Heymans (published in Great Britain 1975 by Kestrel Books, Copyright 1975 by Lemniscaat Rotterdam) - Part 2

The strange story of young Nellie who has to tidy up her aunt's cottage before she returns from her holidays! Her aunt's place is infested with cats and live dolls though, and they all mean to keep it as messy as it is. So Nellie has to deal with all their dirty tricks as well as cleaning up. Margriet Heymans's charming pictures are filled with hundreds of rustic objects and patterns that make up the old cottage together with the bizarre looking dolls and cats. The detail in the work is amazing.

"Cats And Dolls" By Margriet Heymans (published in Great Britain 1975 by Kestrel Books, Copyright 1975 by Lemniscaat Rotterdam) - Part 1

The intriguing and magical work of Dutch artist and author Margriet Heyman (born in Den Bosch, Holland in 1932). Here is the only decent biography I could find on her - translated in English: Margriet Heyman

"The Tale Of The Golden Cockerel" By Alexander Pushkin, Illustrations By Ivan Bilibin (first published in English by J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd, London 1976) Part-4

"The Tale Of The Golden Cockerel" By Alexander Pushkin, Illustrations By Ivan Bilibin (first published in English by J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd, London 1976) Part-3

"The Tale Of The Golden Cockerel" By Alexander Pushkin, Illustrations By Ivan Bilibin (first published in English by J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd, London 1976) Part-2

I found this book completely by chance at our local second-hand bookshop. Ivan Bilibin's amazing illustrations stood out a mile next to the other books! I had mentioned the artist on this blog only last month- a strange coincidence - as being one of the main contributors to the October Revolution Journals of 1905. To my shame, I wasn't aware of how important and influential an artist he was, especially for the turn of the 20th century period (along with artists like Walter Crane, William Morris, Edmund Dulac etc).  Here is a biography and in depth commentary on his work: http://textualities.net/jennie-renton/the-art-of-ivan-bilibin  Also here: http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/bilibin.htm

"The Tale Of The Golden Cockerel" By Alexander Pushkin, Illustrations By Ivan Bilibin (first published in English by J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd, London 1976) Part-1

Russian illustrator Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin (St Petersburgh 1876-1942)  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Bilibin

Amateur Wireless & Radiovision No.598 (25 November 1933) - Britain's Leading Radio Weekly For Constructor, Listener And Experimenter (Published by Bernard Jones Publications Ltd, London 1933) Part 2

This publication is exactly 82 years old today! I came across it a couple of years ago and was struck by all the unusual and elegant typefaces advertising obscure radio components - something I know nothing about apart from owning a couple of radios from that era. A real gem for radio enthusiasts and its full of practical information and hints on improving the performance of your wireless sets! 

Amateur Wireless & Radiovision No.598 (25 November 1933) - Britain's Leading Radio Weekly For Constructor, Listener And Experimenter (Published by Bernard Jones Publications Ltd, London 1933)

"BLOOD AND LAUGHTER, Caricatures From The 1905 Revolution" David King & Cathy Porter (Published by Jonathan Cape Ltd, London 1983) - Part 3

These pictures were incredibly outspoken and bold: The one below actually displays the names of  government officials, generals or ministers under each bloody hand-print! The one below that, shows caricatures of the generals having a feast, looking so pleased with themselves after the massacre! The publications were, of course, suppressed by the authorities in the end, but they became a triumph for the freedom of speech and artistic expression. 

Here are a few names of the contributing artists listed in this book: Boris Izraelovich Anisfeld (1879-1973), Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin (1876-1942), Isaac Izrealovich Brodsky (1883-1939), Pyotr Semyonovich Dobrynin (1877-1948), Msitislav Dobuzhinsky (1875-1957), Ivan Mikhailovich Grabovsky (1878-1922), Evgenii Evgenevich Lanser (1875-1946) and others. The book focuses more on the historical events that led to the October Revolution, the politics and the social structure in Russia at that time but offers little information on the creators of the journals. The reproductions of the illustrations are excellent though.

"BLOOD AND LAUGHTER, Caricatures From The 1905 Revolution" David King & Cathy Porter (Published by Jonathan Cape Ltd, London 1983) - Part 2

 These gruesome but extra-ordinary lithographs from a hundred and ten years ago came to my mind when I heard of last week's sickening and pointless killings in Paris. These pictures document a dark chapter of Russian history where upon masses of workers and their families went to the streets of St Petersburg in 1905 to ask for better working conditions and an end to poverty from the mighty Tzar. Instead of a hearing from the authorities, they were faced with a ruthless army which attacked and fired indiscriminately! Thousands were murdered in cold blood and thousands were left wounded in disbelief - Boris Pasternak's book "Dr Zhivago" and David Lean's film with the same name were based on these bloody events, known now as the October Revolution. The journals in which they were published were created by artists and intellectuals furious and frustrated with the establishment in an effort to expose its brutality and injustice. It seems that violence against the innocent and the helpless has plagued humanity for ever...