Monday 22 August 2022

A BRADBURYIAN BIRTHDAY

 

Remembering the 102nd anniversary of the birth of this great conjuror of words and imagery without whom we might never have tasted Dandelion Wine, A Medicine for Melancholy or The Golden Apples of the Sun; might never have been drenched on The Day It Rained Forever; might never have ridden The Toynbee Convector or met The Illustrated Man; might never have witnessed the launching of The Silver Locusts, learned of the dangers of Fahrenheit 451 or been warned that Something Wicked This Way Comes...

 

[Portrait of Ray Bradbury (from the BS&DW collection) by Barnaby Conrad, Jr. (1922 – 2013) was an American artist, author, nightclub proprietor, bullfighter and boxer!]

 

Wednesday 10 August 2022

RAYMOND BRIGGS (1934-2022)

 

I am so saddened to learn of the passing of that brilliant artist responsible for some of the most beloved 'graphic storybooks' of the last 60 years: Raymond Redvers Briggs CBE.

Twice-winner of the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal and numerous other awards and honours for being the modest genius who created Fungus the Bogeyman, Father Christmas (and, "Bloomin' 'eck!", Father Christmas Goes on Holiday), When the Wind Blows, Ethel & Ernest: A True Story, Ug: Boy Genius of the Stone Age and, of course (among many other titles), that glorious enduring, text-less classic, The Snowman.

Oh, what great joy and delight you gave us, Raymond. Thank you!