My newest thing is seeking 1960s and 1970s Puffin books for children and buying them, often for tiny prices. I expect part of this new idea is to do with my advanced age; a splurge of nostalgia for my own distant childhood. Many of these Puffins are classics I have never read before, such as Henry Treece's viking trilogy. When wandering around Wells with Nicci recently I stumbled across four at 50p each, and some strange impulse made me buy them. That was a good move!
One other recent purchase was The Little Grey Men by "BB," the pseudonym of Denys Watkins-Pitchford, illustrator (he illustrated this book under his own name). This classic book of 1942 won an award, and is still considered a classic, which is not bad after three quarters of a century.
The book relates a journey made by the last three gnomes of England (there may be more in Ireland) as they travel up the Folly Brook in search of their missing brother Cloudberry. Sneezewort, Baldmoney and Dodder have been alive since before Julius Caesar stepped on English soil, and spend most of their time searching for food, fishing and making wine, and manufacturing objects from the natural resources available to them. Their journey upstream is both a delight for them and perilous, since their natural enemies, stoats and foxes ("wood dogs"), can be anywhere at hand...
The book is as much about the joy of experiencing nature as any plot. There is plot - a lot goes wrong on this journey - but equally as important are the marvellous descriptions of nature, from the joy of a spring sunrise to the delights of winter icicles. It's a really charming read. There is a certain amount of 1940s attitude to women - hopeless with machines! Just like a woman! - but this can easily be ignored since it is clearly symptomatic of the era.
For any who grew up in the 1960s and 70s this is a wonderful read. It was one of Syd Barrett's favourite books, an extract from which was read at his funeral. Those who have listened to Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (an album title taken from another classic children's book) will recall that on that album is a song about gnomes...
Highly recommended to nostalgia freaks.
One other recent purchase was The Little Grey Men by "BB," the pseudonym of Denys Watkins-Pitchford, illustrator (he illustrated this book under his own name). This classic book of 1942 won an award, and is still considered a classic, which is not bad after three quarters of a century.
The book relates a journey made by the last three gnomes of England (there may be more in Ireland) as they travel up the Folly Brook in search of their missing brother Cloudberry. Sneezewort, Baldmoney and Dodder have been alive since before Julius Caesar stepped on English soil, and spend most of their time searching for food, fishing and making wine, and manufacturing objects from the natural resources available to them. Their journey upstream is both a delight for them and perilous, since their natural enemies, stoats and foxes ("wood dogs"), can be anywhere at hand...
The book is as much about the joy of experiencing nature as any plot. There is plot - a lot goes wrong on this journey - but equally as important are the marvellous descriptions of nature, from the joy of a spring sunrise to the delights of winter icicles. It's a really charming read. There is a certain amount of 1940s attitude to women - hopeless with machines! Just like a woman! - but this can easily be ignored since it is clearly symptomatic of the era.
For any who grew up in the 1960s and 70s this is a wonderful read. It was one of Syd Barrett's favourite books, an extract from which was read at his funeral. Those who have listened to Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (an album title taken from another classic children's book) will recall that on that album is a song about gnomes...
Highly recommended to nostalgia freaks.
