Manderley Press is delighted to announce the publication of The Strange House and Midnight Adventure - two short stories for children by Raymond Briggs, set in and inspired by Wimbledon, South London, where the author grew up. This brand new edition of these forgotten children’s classics is introduced by the acclaimed illustrator and author Chris Riddell - a former student of Briggs.
“These two early stories are now period pieces … what makes [them] remarkable are the illustrations.”
The Sunday Times
“Two rediscovered early works show how the beloved author of The Snowman and Father Christmas perfected his blend of the fantastical and ordinary.”
The Observer
“Raymond Briggs’s forgotten classic is just as charming as The Snowman.”
The Telegraph
“The Strange House is a nostalgic treat … all illustrated in delicate black and white brushstrokes. A forgotten gem.”
The Daily Mail
“The accompanying ink sketches, emotionally expressive even in their simplicity, will draw the attention of Briggs’s aficionados to these forgotten classics.“
The Irish Times
These stories were both written and illustrated by Raymond Briggs, and set in Wimbledon, South London, where he grew up. Briggs, who died in August 2022, was born in 1934, and is perhaps best known for his books Father Christmas and The Snowman (which was adapted into the hugely successful film of the same name).
However, his very first books, in which he wrote and illustrated the content himself, were created in the early 1960s: The Strange House and Midnight Adventure were published in 1961, and are charming, nostalgic and beautifully illustrated children’s books featuring, and inspired by, the landscape of Briggs’ youth.
Wimbledon itself is hardly mentioned, but both stories feature identifiable streets and landmarks throughout. In The Strange House, two young boys trespassing on a golf course discover a hidden brick tunnel leading to a mysterious large house. The golf course still exists and both the tunnel and the house are identifiable as historical features of Wimbledon Park...
The new edition reproduces Brigg’s original illustrations to perfection, and is wonderfully introduced by Chris Riddell, OBE, who was a former student of the author.
Chris is the creator of an extraordinary range of books which have won many awards including the UNESCO Prize, the Greenaway Medal (on three occasions) and the Hay Festival Medal for Illustration. As an author his work includes the highly-acclaimed Ottoline and the award-winning Goth Girl. Chris has also achieved global success through his New York Times best-selling collaboration on The Edge Chronicles with Paul Stewart and through his illustration work with other high-profile figures including Michael Rosen and the musician Phoebe Bridgers.
He is also a renowned political cartoonist whose work appears in the Observer, the Literary Review and the New Statesman. He is a past president of the Schools Library Association, and an ambassador for Booktrust and Amnesty International. He is a passionate advocate for reading for children – as well as drawing for everyone – and was the UK Children’s Laureate 2015–17.
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Each book ordered through the website will be wrapped in tissue paper and tied with a matching silk ribbon, free of charge - and will also include an exclusive bookmark designed to complement the cover design.
Manderley Press is delighted to announce the publication of The Strange House and Midnight Adventure - two short stories for children by Raymond Briggs, set in and inspired by Wimbledon, South London, where the author grew up. This brand new edition of these forgotten children’s classics is introduced by the acclaimed illustrator and author Chris Riddell - a former student of Briggs.
“These two early stories are now period pieces … what makes [them] remarkable are the illustrations.”
The Sunday Times
“Two rediscovered early works show how the beloved author of The Snowman and Father Christmas perfected his blend of the fantastical and ordinary.”
The Observer
“Raymond Briggs’s forgotten classic is just as charming as The Snowman.”
The Telegraph
“The Strange House is a nostalgic treat … all illustrated in delicate black and white brushstrokes. A forgotten gem.”
The Daily Mail
“The accompanying ink sketches, emotionally expressive even in their simplicity, will draw the attention of Briggs’s aficionados to these forgotten classics.“
The Irish Times
These stories were both written and illustrated by Raymond Briggs, and set in Wimbledon, South London, where he grew up. Briggs, who died in August 2022, was born in 1934, and is perhaps best known for his books Father Christmas and The Snowman (which was adapted into the hugely successful film of the same name).
However, his very first books, in which he wrote and illustrated the content himself, were created in the early 1960s: The Strange House and Midnight Adventure were published in 1961, and are charming, nostalgic and beautifully illustrated children’s books featuring, and inspired by, the landscape of Briggs’ youth.
Wimbledon itself is hardly mentioned, but both stories feature identifiable streets and landmarks throughout. In The Strange House, two young boys trespassing on a golf course discover a hidden brick tunnel leading to a mysterious large house. The golf course still exists and both the tunnel and the house are identifiable as historical features of Wimbledon Park...
The new edition reproduces Brigg’s original illustrations to perfection, and is wonderfully introduced by Chris Riddell, OBE, who was a former student of the author.
Chris is the creator of an extraordinary range of books which have won many awards including the UNESCO Prize, the Greenaway Medal (on three occasions) and the Hay Festival Medal for Illustration. As an author his work includes the highly-acclaimed Ottoline and the award-winning Goth Girl. Chris has also achieved global success through his New York Times best-selling collaboration on The Edge Chronicles with Paul Stewart and through his illustration work with other high-profile figures including Michael Rosen and the musician Phoebe Bridgers.
He is also a renowned political cartoonist whose work appears in the Observer, the Literary Review and the New Statesman. He is a past president of the Schools Library Association, and an ambassador for Booktrust and Amnesty International. He is a passionate advocate for reading for children – as well as drawing for everyone – and was the UK Children’s Laureate 2015–17.
*
Each book ordered through the website will be wrapped in tissue paper and tied with a matching silk ribbon, free of charge - and will also include an exclusive bookmark designed to complement the cover design.
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