Even though I don't have any modelling updates to report, I thought a post was in order, and fortunately one of my recent birthday presents gives me something to blog about. I actually got two railway related presents, but you'll have to wait a bit for details on the second one. Today I give you a very brief review of Railway Ribaldry by W. Heath Robinson.
This clearly isn't a new book, the author died in 1944, but is a new reprint of a book originally published in 1935 to commemorate the centenary of the Great Western Railway. As you would expect, the book is a series of cartoons or illustrations showing weird and wacky railway inventions. It's not a long book, there are about 100 drawings, but it is certainly amusing and this nice quality reprint (it's not a cheap paperback just put out to make money) does the original justice.
Sounds like that could be a fun read.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is, although not a long read given the only words are the captions. You can get a "Look Inside" on the amazon page to see what it is like.
DeleteMark, it could still be a long read for me. It sounds well worth a look.
DeleteHeath Robinson...one of my great inspirations, I love his work. What many folk don't know is that he was an impressive conventional illustrator and painter whose work stands up against all the famous names of his day. I wish he was a relation! Happy birthday, by the way!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Had an interesting birthday; over 12 hours in the car getting back from Skye due to road closures. Not quite what I'd planned.
DeleteInteresting, I didn't know he worked as a conventional illustrator as well. I always associate him with this kind of work.
How were the midges :-) Hope you still had a good time.
ReplyDeleteHere's a link to my partner's web site which features Heath Robinson http://petrascupboard.weebly.com/w-heath-robinson.html
Amazingly we didn't have too many problems with the midges. I react "really" badly to them (last time we were there I couldn't wear my wedding ring for two days due to the swelling on my hand from a couple of bites). This time I had the odd bite but nothing terrible. We did have excellent weather though, and managed three golden eagles, a pod of dolphins a Michelin starred lunch and some excellent company (we were staying with friends who have a house on the island).
DeleteLooking at the page of Petra's I've just spotted the Water Babies as one of the books he illustrated. I have a copy of that book from when I was a kid and I love the illustrations but had never realised they were by Heath Robinson.