Quentin Blake: Voyages to the Moon and Back

Small exhibition at the House of Illustration looking at illustrations by Quentin Blake for two editions of the Cyrano de Bergerac book “Voyages to the Moon and the Sun”.

 
This book is seen as the first science fiction classic published in 1657. In it the main character travels to the moon, is imprisoned on earth, escapes to the sun and is put on trial by birds! OK I’m not rushing out to buy a copy but Blake was attracted to the work for the variety of subjects to draw.
 
As there were illustrations from two editions I’d have liked an indication on the pictures of which one they came from a bit more about the text which went with the pictures as I didn’t know the story. Some were easy to work out from the brief synopsis but others were a more obtuse.
 
I liked the fact these were the original drawings and some had notes to the publisher on them such as “Delete this monkey.”

Closes 30 September 2018



 

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