The Mystery Of The Pantomime Cat Comparison

Enid used many illustrators in her books. Discuss them here.
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17568
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

The Mystery Of The Pantomime Cat Comparison

Post by pete9012S »

Which artist do you favour for this book?
My era is the 1966 Mary Gernat as that is what I was brought up on alongside the slightly earlier pictures by Charles Stewart.
I didn't discover the original illustrations until much later on,and found them much more dated and old fashioned.
Is there a definitive Find Outers Illustrator? Or do they all have individual merits?

See what you think.....

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



7.The Mystery of The Pantomime Cat - Enid Blyton
J. ABBEY 1949 / CHARLES STEWART 1963 / MARY GERNAT 1966 /Rodney Sutton 1991


http://share.pho.to/57GzN" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Last edited by pete9012S on 31 Mar 2014, 10:36, edited 1 time in total.
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26768
Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

Re: The Mystery Of The Pantomime Cat Comparison

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

I'm afraid the link doesn't work for me, Pete, I get the following message:

Sorry, the image or photo set you requested was not found. Possible reasons are:

Image or photo set was deleted by its owner (by an uploader).
Image or photo set was deleted automatically because it has not been viewed for more than 30 days.
You have mistyped the URL or this URL has never been created.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


Society Member
User avatar
Moonraker
Posts: 22387
Joined: 31 Jan 2005, 19:15
Location: Wiltshire, England
Contact:

Re: The Mystery Of The Pantomime Cat Comparison

Post by Moonraker »

Me too. Come on, Pete!

As with all my favourite illustrators, it is the ones who illustrate the original editions that I prefer - even the weird, but wonderful, Joseph Abbey!
Society Member
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17568
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: The Mystery Of The Pantomime Cat Comparison

Post by pete9012S »

I'm ever so sorry!
Try it now chums... :D


7.The Mystery of The Pantomime Cat - Enid Blyton
J. ABBEY 1949 / CHARLES STEWART 1963 / MARY GERNAT 1966 /Rodney Sutton 1991

http://share.pho.to/57GzN" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
User avatar
Daisy
Posts: 16632
Joined: 28 Oct 2006, 22:49
Favourite book/series: Find-Outers, Adventure series.
Location: Stoke-On-Trent, England

Re: The Mystery Of The Pantomime Cat Comparison

Post by Daisy »

I have mixed feelings about these various illustrations - until now, I had only seen the original ones by J.Abbey and I must say when I first read the book a couple of those illustrations of Boysie did make my jump as I turned the page! He really looked quite frightening to me then. Some of the later illustrators do quite a good job, I think, but once your mind is conditioned to how the first pictures that you saw, looked, It's hard to see the same characters looking so different. Somehow, it just isn't them.
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.

Society Member
User avatar
Poppy
Posts: 5725
Joined: 24 Apr 2012, 16:06
Favourite book/series: Famous Five/ Adventure Series/ Malory Towers
Favourite character: George Kirrin, Andy, Jack Trent & Diana.
Location: UK

Re: The Mystery Of The Pantomime Cat Comparison

Post by Poppy »

Some interesting interpretations, there; thanks, Pete. I have the Dragon version of this book, and I think that's the only edition I have on my bookshelves. I often look in the Cave, however when I've read a book and I don't have the first edition just to see the original portrayal of the book. Of course the first edition illustrations refer to the era more accurately than any of the others in this case. Some skilled drawings there - except I don't quite like the spookiness and seemingly wickedness of the cat. I can't see how, with a face like that, it could entertain crowds of young children... Cleverly drawn but not quite refering to the text. The Armada paperback illustrations portray Boysie in the Catskin more like my own imagination. Just innocent, friendly and slightly comical (though we only see the artists interpretation on the front cover). Interesting how similar the illustrations of the drugged figure are in the first edition and this one. The Dragon edition illustrations are remarkably different in my point of view. I like them, however; comical pictures (especially of Fatty - the artist obviously thought his name did describe his figure quite accurately!) Surely this is Fatty at his fattest (of all the portrayals on that page?) And last of all - the other Armada book, which I definitely think look the weakest of all those, there. They just don't stand out at all, for me, as well as being quite modern and boring. All very interesting, anyway - my favourites I think, come in order of their publishing dates, from the first editions to the lastest Armada edition.
"Beware of young men with long hair - that's what dad says, isn't it?"
Pat, Holiday House


Poppy's Best of Books

Society Member
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26768
Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

Re: The Mystery Of The Pantomime Cat Comparison

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Thanks, Pete. The images are coming through loud and clear now!

My 1970s Dragon paperbacks of the Find-Outers series are illustrated by several different artists so I don't associate any particular illustrator with the books. At the risk of sounding hard to please, I have to admit I'm not wowed by any of the Pantomime Cat illustrations shown, though it's interesting to compare them.

Joseph Abbey - Lovely front and back covers in muted shades. They're very evocative of the period and I like the expression on Goon's face! However, many of the people in Abbey's internal drawings look awkward and out of proportion and I agree with Daisy and Poppy that his interpretation of the Pantomime Cat is the stuff of nightmares!

Charles Stewart - The gaudy figures against a grey background (front cover) don't work for me - I find the combination unattractive. I do like the softer-hued sketch of the jetty and boat on the back cover, though. Internally, I'm not fond of all those black lines. The picnic scene is nice, except for the black sky.

Paul Wright cover and Mary Gernat internals - I grew up with this edition and always thought Paul Wright's portrayal of the furry Pantomime Cat on the cover looked babyish. Mary Gernat can be good when she's on top form, but some of her pictures strike me as rather scribbly. The only ones which really appeal in this book are the ones of Fatty and Larry stalking P. C. Pippin (I like the higgledy-piggledy houses) and the picnic scene (pleasant composition).

Photo cover and Rodney Sutton internals - The photo cover is terrible. Why are the children perched on rocks beneath trees, and what are they looking at? Judging from that photo, potential readers would surely be expecting a very different sort of story. Also, the children don't look anything like I imagine the characters to look. Moving on to Rodney Sutton's drawings, I find them alarmingly black and bold although the picnic scene is gentler and more appealing.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


Society Member
User avatar
Julie2owlsdene
Posts: 15244
Joined: 24 Jul 2007, 20:15
Favourite book/series: F.F. and Mystery Series - Five get into Trouble
Favourite character: Dick
Location: Cornwall

Re: The Mystery Of The Pantomime Cat Comparison

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

All my Find-Outers are the original hardbacks, and I must say I'm used to seeing those illustrations. Boysie however in my copy is quite frightening. I like the illustrations in the Armada book and the one after that too. Fatty looks okay in the Amarda first paperback on the list. :)

All in all can't say I dislike them at all. :)

8)
Julian gave an exclamation and nudged George.
"See that? It's the black Bentley again. KMF 102!"

Society Member
User avatar
Kate Mary
Posts: 1916
Joined: 20 Apr 2007, 06:25
Favourite book/series: The Treasure Hunters/ Five Find Outers
Favourite character: Barney
Location: Kent

Re: The Mystery Of The Pantomime Cat Comparison

Post by Kate Mary »

Thank you Pete, it is interesting to compare these editions. The thing that struck me was the blurb on the dust jacket of the original edition. I had no idea that Enid meant to stop at six titles for this series. It is well known that she tried to finish the Famous Five and the Adventure series at six books and the Barney books at four but this is news to me. My childhood copy is the early Armada edition, which I still have but I also now own a Methuen copy without a jacket. I am still learning new things about Enid's books even now.

Kate.
"I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines." Oliver Goldsmith

Society Member
User avatar
Poppy
Posts: 5725
Joined: 24 Apr 2012, 16:06
Favourite book/series: Famous Five/ Adventure Series/ Malory Towers
Favourite character: George Kirrin, Andy, Jack Trent & Diana.
Location: UK

Re: The Mystery Of The Pantomime Cat Comparison

Post by Poppy »

This was new to me, too, Kate. Six seems a recurring number for Enid to want to end her most popular series - as you said this was so in the Famous Five, too. I wonder why? Of course six was popular in the boarding school stories: Malory Towers and St Clares, but I always thought this was because of the form layout in those days? Perhaps this was just an ideal number for her to end a series' on.
"Beware of young men with long hair - that's what dad says, isn't it?"
Pat, Holiday House


Poppy's Best of Books

Society Member
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26768
Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

Re: The Mystery Of The Pantomime Cat Comparison

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Well-spotted, Kate! Thank goodness Enid Blyton didn't stop at six Find-Outers tales - we'd have missed out on some marvellous mysteries!
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


Society Member
User avatar
sixret
Posts: 4130
Joined: 16 Aug 2006, 14:25
Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers,Mr.Twiddle,Barney R
Favourite character: Mr.Twiddle,Fatty,Saucepan,Snubby

Re: The Mystery Of The Pantomime Cat Comparison

Post by sixret »

Six was Enid's favourite number and red was Enid's favourite colour. Six and red are bold elements in a mysterious way. Daniel Tammet, One of the savant who could see numbers in pattern form in his mind has said that 6 was the most difficult number to depict in his mind. He often sees and associates 6 with red in his mind. 6 works in a mysterious way in his mind. They suit Enid's disposition.
I stand with justice and the truth. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea.

Learn the history. Do research.

The hypocrisy, double standard, prejudice and bigotry own by some people is so obvious.Shame on them!
User avatar
Moonraker
Posts: 22387
Joined: 31 Jan 2005, 19:15
Location: Wiltshire, England
Contact:

Re: The Mystery Of The Pantomime Cat Comparison

Post by Moonraker »

Six was a popular dozen We used to call it half-a-dozen. To this day many tv series contain six episodes. God even allegedly made the universe in six days...
Society Member
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17568
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: The Mystery Of The Pantomime Cat Comparison

Post by pete9012S »

As Nigel quite rightly alludes to from the days of yore and dairy, Six is also a congruent number.
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
User avatar
John Pickup
Posts: 4876
Joined: 30 Oct 2013, 21:29
Favourite book/series: Barney mysteries
Favourite character: Snubby
Location: Notts

Re: The Mystery Of The Pantomime Cat Comparison

Post by John Pickup »

My first copy of this book was the early Armada edition and I quite like the cover and the picture on the back. Since then, I've bought the Methuen hardback but I'm not quite sure about Abbey's illustrations, the cat doesn't look right. The illustrations in the later books by Rodney Sutton appeal to me, this is the first time I've seen them.
Society Member
Post Reply