Ever since i can remember this book has been in my parents house. I remember as a child staring in disbelief the surreal and absurd drawings of cats in boats, ladies in top heavy hats and fish with ridiculous legs! Long before the brilliant Milligan and his own particular brand of nonsense, Lear created a surreal world of nonsense and ridiculousness that was illustrated by beautifully warm drawings and sketches. I especially love the ones with his beloved cat, Foss, who often featured in many of his drawings. I now have the book, and it's one of the small things i treasure and love, which never ceases to make me smile when i open it.
4 comments:
There was an Old Man with a beard,
Who said, 'It is just as I feared!
Two Owls and a Hen,
Four Larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard!'
My favorite... Thank you for reminding me..
My Mum used to tell us these lymerics when we were little, I still have an old book somewhere on the shelves, she used to make up her own sometimes, great memories thank you.
~ Julie
I love the illustrations too..Amazing.
As a child I remember having the Old man with a Beard read to me, and for ages believing that beards were full of nesting things! (And secretly rather wished birds would nest in my hair).
Lucky you to have this book, also love the cover design by Barnett Freedman. Thanks for sharing ;)
Hi Jax, love the cover too. I think there must be many versions of this book, but the bold type face on this one looks good- i think it must have been designed in the late 1940's (?)
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