Best Beloved Bindings

[Hannah Grippo]

I am a sucker for beautiful bindings of any book I love, though I don't buy them due to expense (sometimes I'm incredibly lucky to pick one up at a library book sale). Maurice Sendak often spoke of how his sister bought him his first book when he was a little child. The binding was so beautiful to him that he cradled it, sniffed it, even gave a little taste. I've never gone that far! Still I do love to hold and look through a romantic edition. Whether it be actually old or even, forgive me, made to look old. When looking for a new Pan book for my students today, I came across this one. Out of my range, but nice to just imagine.

https://www.foliosociety.com/usa/peter-pan-and-wendy.html

The full color illustrations seem a bit too tame for me given Peter would have a cocky lust for battle and vulnerable expression from the nightmares (maybe he does in one not shown). Still, I love the etchings in their gentleness all the same. Actually, I always imagined a gentle expression on Peter when he says "To die would be an awfully big adventure" (and given The Lost Boys, I know I'm not the only one).

Anyway, my question is...does anyone have a favorite edition of Peter and Wendy?

[Brutus]

Totally agree with you, Hannah!

I know the Folio Society edition and, although it is lavish, it just doesn't do it for me as I find the illustrations a little flat and unimaginative. My favourite edition is Gwynedd M. Hudson's edition from the early 1930s. It's not just the full page illustrations, but also the layout of each page, the font used, the hand-lettering, the vignettes dotted about the book. Her interpretation of the story is based on the novel, not the stage production. It also helps that I love Art Deco.

My other favourite is Edmund Blampied's 1939 edition which has some exquisite tipped-in plates (in the British edition, the US used printed illustrations).

I have uploaded the illustrations from both these editions on the database so you can have a look for yourself.

I like Bedford's work of course, but I wish the images were in full colour!

[Hannah Grippo]

Wow, Brutus! Thank you so much for pointing those two editions out. I loved Hudson's picture of Peter blowing out stars. And I especially love the imaginative zig zag of lines in Blampied's. So glad they're on the database.

My first edition of Peter and Wendy (when I was 11 or so) came in the form of Raquel Jaramillo's PHOTO edition. She photographed children who actually matched the age of the characters. The pictures were lovely in their own gentle way (though it didn't capture the wonderful heartlessness of the original). Actually, that photographer went on to write the "Wonder" books under the name of RJ Palacio, which my kids rightly love. She's a talented artist and author. I don't think I know of any other photo edition of the book.

[Brutus]

I like the Raquel Jaramillo edition but I agree with you it doesn't quite capture the spirit of the story. I think you're right: it's probably the only photo edition, unless you count the Peter Pan Keepsake published in 1907 using photos of the original productions with Nina Boucicault, Cecilia Loftus and Pauline Chase (also uploaded on the database).

Another sweet little edition (very much abridged) is the one illustrated by Kathleen Atkins (on the database), perfect for very young children but probably too twee, without any darker connotations.

How about the least favourites? One I really dislike is Paula Rego's 1993 edition. However acclaimed an artist she is, I do find her illustrations quite repellent in a way, which is very likely the effect she wanted. But not for me. https://www.artfund.org/supporting-museums/art-weve-helped-buy/artwork/5282/peter-pan-suite-of-15-etchings

I love Sabuda's work and expected so much of his pop-up but was sadly disappointed. I find it lacked warmth and humour, and his red-headed Peter didn't do anything for me.

[Hannah Grippo]

Yuck. I just checked those two out. I see what you mean.

On a more positive note, I recently revisited Stref and Cramb's graphic novel, which I think it is pretty cool. At first I was a little disappointed, because that was not how I imagined the characters. See, I didn't see the emotion in the dotted eyes, but then I paid more attention to the gestures and that struck excitement and heart into me. I love, love the gems hidden here and there. I also enjoy them sticking true to the spirit/letter of Barrie in detail and feel. Not only that, but my students loved it too (and I trust their judgment on books more than my own). The artists caught something of Peter, and yet made something new too. Great edition!

[Brutus]

Couldn't agree more!