Eileen Soper
- Courtenay
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Re: Eileen Soper
I agree too. I remember earlier this year, having had a lovely walk in a bluebell wood, I was looking for an Enid Blyton short story I read as a child — about a brother and sister who go picking bluebells (and get lost in the wood, but of course there's a happy ending) — and I found that the original version of the same story had this wonderful Eileen Soper illustration on the cover!
Her Famous Five illustrations do vary in quality from really good to quite disappointing, but plenty of her other ones, like this, are superb.
Her Famous Five illustrations do vary in quality from really good to quite disappointing, but plenty of her other ones, like this, are superb.
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Eileen Soper
Yes, those books look beautiful. I also love the Nature Plates (a few of my favourites are below) which were used in classrooms to accompany Enid Blyton's Nature Readers. Absolutely stunning.
"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.
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"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
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- Eddie Muir
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Re: Eileen Soper
Absolutely stunning indeed! I recall visiting an Eileen Soper exhibition in Worthing a few years ago where some of these wonderful illustrations were on display.
'Go down to the side-shows by the river this afternoon. I'll meet you somewhere in disguise. Bet you won't know me!' wrote Fatty.
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- Chrissie777
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Re: Eileen Soper
André bought me a catalogue from an Eileen Soper exhibition which also has a biography of her and her father who was also an illustrator. That was in the summer of 2008, so maybe the exhibition took place before?
Chrissie
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"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
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"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
- Courtenay
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- Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
- Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
- Favourite character: Lotta
- Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire
Re: Eileen Soper
Hmmm, I notice by a couple of those gorgeous Nature Plates' titles and themes — "A Very Queer Home" and "Betty and the Lambs' Tails" — that they cover a couple of topics also explored by Pip the Pixie! (The "cuckoo-spit" home of the frog-hopper grub and the hazel catkins that look like lambs' tails, that is.) What a memorable way for schoolchildren to be taught about nature, with Enid's words and Eileen's pictures.
I notice Enid couldn't help slipping into a bit of fantasy even in school teaching materials — could anyone tell me the story behind that last Nature Plate, the winter one, which is intriguingly titled "The Brownies' Magic"?
I notice Enid couldn't help slipping into a bit of fantasy even in school teaching materials — could anyone tell me the story behind that last Nature Plate, the winter one, which is intriguingly titled "The Brownies' Magic"?
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Eileen Soper
'The Brownie's Magic' is about how much you can discover and work out for yourself if only you use your eyes and your brains. It might even seem like magic to others! I don't want to go into the story in detail but you can tell from the illustration what nature lesson is given! It's an engaging tale involving an encounter between two interesting characters as well as imparting information about nature.
"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.
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"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
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- Courtenay
- Posts: 19310
- Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
- Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
- Favourite character: Lotta
- Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire
Re: Eileen Soper
Hmmm... is it about deciphering, from tracks in the snow, which creatures have been there? That's the most obvious lesson I can think of from the plate.
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Eileen Soper
It is indeed, but that strand is interwoven with a lesson on behaviour/character. The story is at once down-to-earth and fantastical.
"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.
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"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
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- pete9012S
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Re: Eileen Soper
There's also a very nice overview/review of the story in the cave too.
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -
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Re: Eileen Soper
Stunning indeed. The last one you posted, Anita, would make a fabulous Christmas card. Plenty more in The Cave!
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- Rob Houghton
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Re: Eileen Soper
Yes, they show Eileen Soper at her best. Beautiful illustrations. I see them for sale on eBay sometimes but unfortunately never the complete set at a price I would be happy to pay!
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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Re: Eileen Soper
Having grown up (1970's) reading and buying The Famous Five books, for me, Betty Maxey was the first illustrater of the books I came across (for better or worse!) with the odd paperback I came across containing Eileen Soper pictures to my then young eyes looked odd and a bit stiff! I've now realised how (usually and especially when in colour) beautiful and dynamic an artist Eileen was. Betty's illustrations now seem more old fashioned than Eileens's. I still have a fondness for those 70's ones though!
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- pete9012S
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Re: Eileen Soper
There's an extremely vibrant and passionate fanbase for the marvelous Betty Maxey on these forums.
There's also the odd Soper fan that occasionally posts here too for balance - so all sides are catered for.
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -
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- Daisy
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Re: Eileen Soper
Pete - you will have your little joke!
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.
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- Eddie Muir
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Re: Eileen Soper
Exactly what I thought, Daisy.
'Go down to the side-shows by the river this afternoon. I'll meet you somewhere in disguise. Bet you won't know me!' wrote Fatty.
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