As a practitioner of the art of turning the world upside down using verse and illustrations, it would be churlish and infantile of me, especially during his bicentennial year, not to recognize the Debt I owe to Mr. Edward Lear…
The debt I owe him is not a question of influence, I love reading about the exploits of toeless Pobbles and Cross Species Weddings, but if I’d never had read a single word written by Mr Lear I’d still owe him the debt, for the simple reason that no one is as synonymous with Nonsense Literature, Nonsense Verse and Nonsense pictures as Edward Lear.
Theodore Geisel may have examined life through the wrong end on the telescope, but the telescope was set up and polished by Mr Lear and for this, I am forever grateful…
So this year is 200 years since Edward Lear’s birth and numerous events are in the planning.
There are two wonderful sites dedicated to Lear’s work and other nonsense writings and I would suggest all pop along to take a look. To those unfamiliar with Mr Lear’s work, these sites are great places to become acquainted… The Sites are:
http://nonsenselit.wordpress.com/about/
And
http://leardiaries.wordpress.com/
Events planned for the bicentennial are also listed within the first Blog….
And if you’re wondering what the fuss was about, let the following video point you in the direction of some wonderful Nonsense…
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Sherlock Holmes Related Post 3 - How Cumberbatch's Holmes Survived the Fall, The Clue?
According to Steven Moffatt, there is a clue in the final episode of Sherlock that helps solve the, 'How Did Sherlock Survive?' Question...
I believe, after watching it twice, second time whilst rewinding and pausing, that St Paul's Cathedral is the Clue...
The first attempt Jim has of persuading Mr Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes that he should jumpyou can clearly see that the Dome of the Cathedral is directly behind Sherlock... (See below Jim is walking away from him then turns to face Sherlock)
He starts giggling and jumps off the ledge towards Moriarty to inform him that he's not going to jump whilst he can change Moriarty's mind...
After Moriarty shoots himself we see Sherlock step back on a ledge and whilst on the phone to John we clearly the dome of the Cathedral is level with him... (See Below)
This is what I believe...
I believe, after watching it twice, second time whilst rewinding and pausing, that St Paul's Cathedral is the Clue...
The first attempt Jim has of persuading Mr Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes that he should jumpyou can clearly see that the Dome of the Cathedral is directly behind Sherlock... (See below Jim is walking away from him then turns to face Sherlock)
After Moriarty shoots himself we see Sherlock step back on a ledge and whilst on the phone to John we clearly the dome of the Cathedral is level with him... (See Below)
This is what I believe...
Friday, February 17, 2012
Sherlock Holmes Related Post 2 - House of Silk, Irregulars, Sidney Paget, Holmes related Cartoon
In the world of Modern-Day versions of Sherlock Holmes, Anthony Horowitz’s House of Silk has been pushed into the category of old news, thanks to Messrs Cumberbatch and Downey Jnr’s versions of the Worlds Greatest Detective.
So being a finger-on-the-pulse, up-to-date kind of guy, I’ve decided to write about House of Silk…
I have to be honest, before House of Silk I never read any other Book written by Anthony Horowitz, or watched much Midsomer Murders, so I didn’t know if it was a good fit, although my optimism was put in place by an endorsement of the Conan-Doyle estate… So I was relatively confident I’d enjoy it…
And I did… I thought it was well written, engaging, longer than any Conan-Doyle, Holmes Novel but that didn’t seem to matter… I thought it was a very good addition to the canon, and will enjoy a re-read as soon as I feel it needs to be read again…
But, I do have two problems that I would like to mention:
the first concerns the Baker Street Irregulars, the scruffy little urchins that are occasionally called in to help Mr. ‘Olmes, due to their inconspicuousness, underrated intelligence and loyalty… Well I get the impression that Mr. Horowitz isn’t keen on them or their use within the canon…
They are used within the story, but there are consequences because of their use, also Wiggins comes across as quite rude, uncaring and flippant when talking to Holmes. This is something I’d never have deduced from Study in Scarlet, or their other appearances in the original stories. Horowitz seems interested to highlight the dangers that Holmes places these homeless urchins when they help him… Using their appearance as a sort of moral, don’t put them in danger, message… This is a message that may have a place, but not in a Sherlock Holmes Story…
I suppose in a way I’m biased in favour of the irregulars, as my introduction into the worlds of Sherlock Holmes came in the form of the Arthur books written by the hilarious, and sadly missed, Alan Coren and also a Children’s BBC television series entitled the Baker Street Boys, that detailed the life of these lovable scamps as they solved crimes… I can’t find any clips on-line but I did discover that the future Ian Beale was in it…
And the second problem I have, is one I am almost embarrassed to mention… It is not anything within the control of Anthony Horowitz and therefore it is not an improvement that can be made by him… But I still believe the story would be better presented with some Sidney Paget style illustrations… Obviously with Mr. Paget being deceased since 1908, I’m not suggesting we channel his artistic spirit via a medium, but somebody who could produce Paget type illustrations would have been nice to have…
The reason I believe it would be an improvement, I suppose, is because of my role as illustrator and cartoonist to my own literary efforts, I guess I’m just pro-illustration… But also I do really like the illustrations of Mr. Paget, he was after all the man who placed the Deer Stalker hat in our collective connection with Sherlock Holmes, Conan-Doyle never mentioned. Also the first stories I owned of Sherlock Holmes contained no illustrations, future purchases did and I believe the illustrations add something yet remove nothing from the experience…
So all in all, the book is a pleasant and engaging read that will be read again… Congratulations Mr. Horowitz.
P.S. I would like it clearly noted that I would certainly never put myself forward as illustrator… I would not be able to manage the lifelike, intrinsic type work of Sidney Paget, you can view some of his work here, The closest I can come to a Sherlock Holmes Illustration is the terrible pun illustrated below…
So being a finger-on-the-pulse, up-to-date kind of guy, I’ve decided to write about House of Silk…
I have to be honest, before House of Silk I never read any other Book written by Anthony Horowitz, or watched much Midsomer Murders, so I didn’t know if it was a good fit, although my optimism was put in place by an endorsement of the Conan-Doyle estate… So I was relatively confident I’d enjoy it…
And I did… I thought it was well written, engaging, longer than any Conan-Doyle, Holmes Novel but that didn’t seem to matter… I thought it was a very good addition to the canon, and will enjoy a re-read as soon as I feel it needs to be read again…
But, I do have two problems that I would like to mention:
the first concerns the Baker Street Irregulars, the scruffy little urchins that are occasionally called in to help Mr. ‘Olmes, due to their inconspicuousness, underrated intelligence and loyalty… Well I get the impression that Mr. Horowitz isn’t keen on them or their use within the canon…
They are used within the story, but there are consequences because of their use, also Wiggins comes across as quite rude, uncaring and flippant when talking to Holmes. This is something I’d never have deduced from Study in Scarlet, or their other appearances in the original stories. Horowitz seems interested to highlight the dangers that Holmes places these homeless urchins when they help him… Using their appearance as a sort of moral, don’t put them in danger, message… This is a message that may have a place, but not in a Sherlock Holmes Story…
I suppose in a way I’m biased in favour of the irregulars, as my introduction into the worlds of Sherlock Holmes came in the form of the Arthur books written by the hilarious, and sadly missed, Alan Coren and also a Children’s BBC television series entitled the Baker Street Boys, that detailed the life of these lovable scamps as they solved crimes… I can’t find any clips on-line but I did discover that the future Ian Beale was in it…
And the second problem I have, is one I am almost embarrassed to mention… It is not anything within the control of Anthony Horowitz and therefore it is not an improvement that can be made by him… But I still believe the story would be better presented with some Sidney Paget style illustrations… Obviously with Mr. Paget being deceased since 1908, I’m not suggesting we channel his artistic spirit via a medium, but somebody who could produce Paget type illustrations would have been nice to have…
The reason I believe it would be an improvement, I suppose, is because of my role as illustrator and cartoonist to my own literary efforts, I guess I’m just pro-illustration… But also I do really like the illustrations of Mr. Paget, he was after all the man who placed the Deer Stalker hat in our collective connection with Sherlock Holmes, Conan-Doyle never mentioned. Also the first stories I owned of Sherlock Holmes contained no illustrations, future purchases did and I believe the illustrations add something yet remove nothing from the experience…
So all in all, the book is a pleasant and engaging read that will be read again… Congratulations Mr. Horowitz.
P.S. I would like it clearly noted that I would certainly never put myself forward as illustrator… I would not be able to manage the lifelike, intrinsic type work of Sidney Paget, you can view some of his work here, The closest I can come to a Sherlock Holmes Illustration is the terrible pun illustrated below…
Monday, February 13, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Sherlock Holmes related post 1...
My poem that was in Wooster Sauce Summer issue,(See here) was included in the Sherlock Holmes Society Journal, Silver Jubilee Supplement... Of which I am obviously over the moon...
The page is reproduced below...
The page is reproduced below...
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Grateful Dead Covers Project
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Children's Book Festival 2011
Nonsense poetry in libraries, whose crazy idea was that? Add in silly songs, classes of children and audience participation and it sounds like an unworkable idea that is destined to fail and be shunned forever…
Except it does work… for the 7th year in a row, I’m doing just that at the annual celebration of all things literary, The Children’s Book Festival 2011.
This year I visited three separate areas of the country. Two of the areas are well known and have been well visited by me over the years, these areas being Cork City and DunLaoghaire/Rathdown, and then there was the totally new, refreshing and wonderful experience that is Co Westmeath Libraries.
The Libraries visited in order were:
Shankill Library (DLR)
Cabinteely Library (DLR)
Castlepollard Library (Westmeath)
Bishopstown Library (Cork)
Tory Top Library (Cork)
Douglas Library (Cork)
A Wonderful time was had by me and I hope the Children, Teachers and Librarians are able to say the same. My wife was able to attend for the DunLaoghaire Libraries so I was able to obtain visual proof that the event happened, and although we travelled to Cork together, she had her own storytelling to do, so the other libraries only have photos taken by my phone and do not feature anyone within them.
But, again, I had a great time and I am upset that, although there are still events until next week, my CBF is over again for another year…
My Website contains further details if anyone should want to view it, www.paulhtubb.com.
Please see below for photographic evidence…
Thank you.
Me Singing in Shankill Library (Photo by Daria Walsh)
Reading poetry in Cabinteely (Photo by Daria Walsh)
My Lonely Guitar in Castlepollard Library
Display welcoming me to Tory Top Library
Except it does work… for the 7th year in a row, I’m doing just that at the annual celebration of all things literary, The Children’s Book Festival 2011.
This year I visited three separate areas of the country. Two of the areas are well known and have been well visited by me over the years, these areas being Cork City and DunLaoghaire/Rathdown, and then there was the totally new, refreshing and wonderful experience that is Co Westmeath Libraries.
The Libraries visited in order were:
Shankill Library (DLR)
Cabinteely Library (DLR)
Castlepollard Library (Westmeath)
Bishopstown Library (Cork)
Tory Top Library (Cork)
Douglas Library (Cork)
A Wonderful time was had by me and I hope the Children, Teachers and Librarians are able to say the same. My wife was able to attend for the DunLaoghaire Libraries so I was able to obtain visual proof that the event happened, and although we travelled to Cork together, she had her own storytelling to do, so the other libraries only have photos taken by my phone and do not feature anyone within them.
But, again, I had a great time and I am upset that, although there are still events until next week, my CBF is over again for another year…
My Website contains further details if anyone should want to view it, www.paulhtubb.com.
Please see below for photographic evidence…
Thank you.
Me Singing in Shankill Library (Photo by Daria Walsh)
Reading poetry in Cabinteely (Photo by Daria Walsh)
My Lonely Guitar in Castlepollard Library
Display welcoming me to Tory Top Library
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