"But Soft: We Are Observed" By Hilaire Belloc, Drawings By G. K. Chesterton (published by Penguin Books Limited, 1939 - originally published in 1928) - Part 2

When I picked up this book about two months ago I was intrigued by these unusual drawings - quite minimalist, bold but delicate and funny at the same time. And then I saw the name of the artist, G. K. Chesterton, and thought it can't be him because he is a writer! Well, it turns out that G. K. Chesterton (born in London 1874-1936) wasn't only the famous writer but also a poet, philosopher, journalist, art and literary critic and many other things beside! I knew him from what is probably him best known work, the novel "The Man Who Was Thursday"(published in 1908). His pictures for this book were not a coincidence and he was a very close friend with Hilaire Belloc (1870-1953). A very good introduction to the man and his work here: http://www.chesterton.org/who-is-this-guy/

"But Soft: We Are Observed" By Hilaire Belloc, Drawings By G. K. Chesterton (published by Penguin Books Limited, 1939 - originally published in 1928)

"The Nonsense Verse Of Edward Lear" Illustrated By John Vernon Lord (published by Mandarin Paperbacks 1992, first published in Great Britain by Jonathan Cape Ltd in 1984) Part 3

The incredibly complex and intriguing work of John Vernon Lord (b.1939). This book has hundreds of illustrations for Edward Lear's limericks and each one is a marvel to look at. The detailed observations of costumes, animals, plants, insects and buildings, the compositions and the surprising humour are a huge inspiration. A must-have for illustration enthusiasts. The artist himself has been publishing quite a few from this book on his own amazing blog (together with loads of other pictures from his long career in publishing): http://johnvernonlord.blogspot.co.uk/

Here is also an extended article on his life and work, published in Sussex Living Magazine on his 75th birthday in 2014: http://sussexliving.com/december-feature-john-vernon-lord-life-illustration/#

"The Nonsense Verse Of Edward Lear" Illustrated By John Vernon Lord (published by Mandarin Paperbacks 1992, first published in Great Britain by Jonathan Cape Ltd in 1984) Part 2

                               
             http://johnvernonlord.blogspot.co.uk/

"The Nonsense Verse Of Edward Lear" Illustrated By John Vernon Lord (published by Mandarin Paperbacks 1992, first published in Great Britain by Jonathan Cape Ltd in 1984) Part 1

http://johnvernonlord.blogspot.co.uk/

"The Throwback" By Tom Sharpe, Cover Illustration By Paul Sample (published by Arrow Books in 2002, first published by Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd in 1978)

Another fantastic cover by Paul Sample. http://www.paulsample-ogri.co.uk/Paul%20Sample.html

Here is also the Guardian obituary on the great comic novelist Tom Sharpe (1928 - 2013): https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/jun/06/tom-sharpe-dies

"Porterhouse Blue" By Tom Sharpe, Cover Illustration By Paul Sample (published by Arrow Books in 2002, first published in 1974 by Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd)

 I bought the whole box set of these books - eight in all - some twelve years ago specially for Paul Sample's stunning illustrations. I've actually read most of them and they are incredibly funny - Sharpe is a master at creating these stuck-up characters, oblivious to how they are affecting people around them which leads to tragic situations - always hilarious though! "Porterhouse Blue" was adapted for a TV series for Channel 4, starring David Jason and "Wilt" for a 1990 film with Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith. "Blott On The Landscape" was also made into a mini TV series in 1985, starring David Suchet.