Another example of how TamO'Shanter has been illustrated.

Another example of how TamO'Shanter has been illustrated.

Tam O’Shanter has been the inspiration for many artists. These old prints are the original illustrations to the poem by John Faed


 
John Faed (1820- 1902)
First published in 1892 Title:
Tam O'Shanter and the Witches
Illustration to the poem of Robert Burns

One of Burns' best-loved tales is the story of a farmer from Maidens who, against  his wife's good advice, gets into trouble as a result of his fondness for drink and an eye for the lasses. The poem is a favourite feature of Burns Suppers across the world and many Scottish pubs will give a free dram or two to anyone who can give a good recitation, start to finish, a good recital means in a good rendering of the old dialect.  

The story, which was inspired by the local tales Burns heard as a boy, is set in Ayr and Alloway, and reaches its scary but comic climax at the old Brig O'Doon. Burns based the poems  characters on his own friends and characters he knew from the local taverns. In her memoir of Burns, his wife, Jean Armour, recalls watching him laughing as he walked along the banks of the River Nith, gesturing wildly and composing the poem out loud. 

Perhaps more than any other of his poems, Tam O'Shanter captures the spirit of poetry that was first awakened in the young Robert Burns, sitting around the fire in Burns Cottage and listening to the ghost stories of old Betty Davidson.
 
The late medieval Brig O’Doon was chosen by Burns for the climax of his tale, Tam O’Shanter. It spans the beautiful river Doon, the auld brig (old bridge) gives visitors a chance to walk on the very spot where Tam’s mare, Meg, made her last heroic leap for freedom - leaving her tail still in the clutches of Nan, the “Cutty Sark” witch.

Poetrey abd Art, Robert Louis Stevenson and Myrtle Sheldon

Poetry Wednesday; Nest Eggs, Robert Louis Stevenson

Apr 7, '10 4:23 PM for everyone

    Poetry Wednesday; remaining with the seasonal subject of EGGS

Nest Eggs
By Robert Louis Stevenson
Illustrated by Myrtle Sheldon
From 'A Childs Garden Verse'. 

Birds all the summer day
    Flutter and quarrel
Here in the arbour-like
    Tent of the laurel.
Here in the fork
    The brown nest is seated;
For little blue eggs
    The mother keeps heated.
While we stand watching her
    Staring like gabies,
Safe in each egg are the
    Bird's little babies.
Soon the frail eggs they shall
    Chip, and upspringing
Make all the April woods
    Merry with singing.
Younger than we are,
    O children, and frailer,
Soon in the blue air they'll be,
    Singer and sailor.
We, so much older,
    Taller and stronger,
We shall look down on the
    Birdies no longer.
They shall go flying
    With musical speeches
High overhead in the
    Tops of the beeches.
In spite of our wisdom
    And sensible talking,
We on our feet must go
    Plodding and walking.

delete reply hedgewitch9 wrote on Apr 16, '10 I didn't have this one, I had The Water Babies :) LOVE this, must look out for it!

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Apr 8, '10 thanks every one and yes I love Franks Erin photo too, he and I both have Erin Granddaughters. Seems this book has been pretty popular, it's a book I had as a child too but for some reason I never had a copy of it for my children. maybe I should look for one I'm pretty sure the grandkids would love it.

delete reply mitchylr wrote on Apr 8, '10 Not a poem I'm familiar with, but I really liked it. Had to smile at Frank's photo. Even the dog seems to be enjoying it.

delete reply veryfrank wrote on Apr 7, '10 'A Childs Garden Verse' has been a standard read in our family for years. Erin often reads it to the dog, no joke. Thanks for the post.

delete reply stillwandering wrote on Apr 7, '10 greenwytch said i had that book when i was a girl. ; D me too

delete reply stillwandering wrote on Apr 7, '10 Thank you for posting this, what a lovely interlude!

delete reply nemo4sun wrote on Apr 7, '10 :)

delete reply greenwytch wrote on Apr 7, '10 i had that book when i was a girl. ; D

Poetry and Art, Pooh bear

I am so cold, it shouldn't be this cold, wet or windy in April........................

If I were a bear,
And a big bear too,
I shouldn't much care
If it froze or snew;
I shouldn't much mind
If it snowed or friz--
I'd be all fur-lined
With a coat like his!

For i'd have fur boots and a brown fur wrap,
And brown fur knickers and a big fur cap.
I'd have a fur muffle-ruff to cover my jaws.

And brown fur mittens on my big brown paws.
With a big brown furry-down up to my head,
I'd sleep all the winter in a big fur bed.

delete reply brendainmad wrote on Apr 1, '10 I agree though I know it must be warmer here. Well, some parts are having good weather.

delete reply mitchylr wrote on Mar 31, '10 I guess you can't 'bear' all that snowy weather, huh?

delete reply nemo4sun wrote on Mar 31, '10 thank you thank you very much :)

delete reply lrrpslady wrote on Mar 31, '10 So very cute, thank you Loretta.

delete reply veryfrank wrote on Mar 31, '10 Seems like we just went through that blustery weather. Fortunately we have a break and have some warm and sunny days. No doubt that will be heading across the Atlantic and you should be seeing it soon. The only appropriate Milne quotation that comes to mind to express that is - "On Wednesday, when the sky is blue, and I have nothing else to do, I sometimes wonder if it is true That who is what and what is who." And I often wonder... How are you? 'Pooh' ~ A.A. Milne Wishing you blue skies very soon.

delete reply meerkatz007 wrote on Mar 31, '10 If I were a bear, I'd still be dozing in my cave ... Oh to be a bear :)

delete reply djdx wrote on Mar 31, '10 Beary cold wind blowing here too. :-)

Art, illustrations, Harry Whanslaw

ART, Some Illustrations by;Harry W. Whanslaw

I don't usually show illustrations, especially children's illustrations, but these particular ones I quite like, they are so much a product of their time.
They are drawn by one of the key personalities behind the formation of The Guild (The British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild), Harry W.Whanslaw, usually known as 'Whanny'.
As well as being an inspiration to the puppet world, (which is how he is usually remembered), he was one of the most prolific illustrators of books in the early twentieth century; and these rather nice illustrations come from a little book called THE EVER- EVER LAND, by Richard Wilson, printed in 1932, in London.

One of Whannys  most significant works was the ‘Chatterbox Annual’, also published in 1923.
It contained some of his illustrations under the title ‘The Toy That Never Grows Old’. The popularity of this led to the publication of the book that inspired so many model theatre enthusiasts, ’Everybody’s Theatre’.
This man is a virtual unknown outside of the puppet world, (where he is revered) and that is a bit of a shame. Some of his illustrations are perfect examples of the simple shapes and bold colours typical of the  decorative style of his period.

delete reply luckebabe wrote on May 12, '09 very nice illustrations. thanks for the intro.

delete reply acousticeagle wrote on May 11, '09 Oh yes, I can see why you appreciate them. There's definite Art Deco style in a couple of those illustrations, particularly in the one with the American Indian. Sometimes I collect books purely for the illustrations, whether the cover or for what's inside.

delete reply dianahopeless wrote on May 11, '09 These are really nice. I could see most of them framed on a child's wall too. I think I would even like the American Indian ones on one of my walls.

delete reply brendainmad wrote on May 11, '09 I thought the same as veryfrank. These would be lovely on the walls of a child's room.

delete reply starfishred wrote on May 10, '09 oh this si very lovely loretta thanks

delete reply veryfrank wrote on May 10, '09 Gently and simplistically done, they do chronicle the first half of the 20th century. I can see some similarity to "Winnie the Pooh" and "The Wizard of Oz."

delete reply bennett1 wrote on May 10, '09 When I was young my parents bought me some old (early 50's) books to practice reading. They are beloved and I still have them. These pictures remind me of the pictures in one or two of the books.