Derek Lucas - Secret Seven illustrations

Enid used many illustrators in her books. Discuss them here.
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17572
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: Derek Lucas - Secret Seven illustrations

Post by pete9012S »

Book eight now added to 1st page of this thread:

08. Three Cheers,Secret Seven - Derek Lucas Knight paperback illustrations 1970:

http://share.pho.to/9tyQc" 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
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: Derek Lucas - Secret Seven illustrations

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Thanks, Pete. I particularly like the pictures for Three Cheers, Secret Seven - some of them capture the mysteriousness and danger so well.
"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
pete9012S
Posts: 17572
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: Derek Lucas - Secret Seven illustrations

Post by pete9012S »

Book number nine now added:
(Is it me,or does this book contain a lot more smaller pics?)

09. Secret Seven Mystery - Derek Lucas Knight paperback illustrations 1971:

http://share.pho.to/9uvgq" 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
pete9012S
Posts: 17572
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: Derek Lucas - Secret Seven illustrations

Post by pete9012S »

Book number ten now added.
It's amazing to see how the shed's exterior,the tree next to it and the fence changes from book to book!

10. Puzzle For The Secret Seven - Derek Lucas Knight paperback illustrations 1971:

http://share.pho.to/9vW8p" 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
Courtenay
Posts: 19274
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: Derek Lucas - Secret Seven illustrations

Post by Courtenay »

pete9012S wrote: It's amazing to see how the shed's exterior,the tree next to it and the fence changes from book to book!
A bit like the way Uncle Quentin changes his appearance several times across the Betty Maxey oeuvre? :mrgreen:
Society Member

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)
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: Derek Lucas - Secret Seven illustrations

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

The Derek Lucas illustrations for Puzzle for the Secret Seven are some of my favourites. Lots of drama and interesting little details. Thanks for putting up the latest pictures, Pete.
"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
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: Derek Lucas - Secret Seven illustrations

Post by Rob Houghton »

I agree - the illustrations in this are brilliant. I love the scarecrow illustration, and also the illustration of the theif running away from the smashed shop window - very dramatic! i can see why I loved these versions growing up, as they appear more adult than the original illustrations, in my opinion, and much more exciting.
'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)



Society Member
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17572
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: Derek Lucas - Secret Seven illustrations

Post by pete9012S »

Book eleven completed.The shed changes from book to book - and the man in the very last illustration reminds me of an aged Scottie from Star Trek!

11. Secret Seven Fireworks - Derek Lucas Knight paperback illustrations 1972:

http://share.pho.to/9vvyp" 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
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: Derek Lucas - Secret Seven illustrations

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Great details and facial expressions. These Derek Lucas illustrations have been part of my life for almost as long as I can remember.
"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
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: Derek Lucas - Secret Seven illustrations

Post by Rob Houghton »

This was always one of my favourite Secret Seven books as a child - Derek Lucas makes it seem better than it actually is, I think! I love the cover, and remember drawing it several times (unfortunately none of these have survived!) and I also love the illustration of Janet bringing the undressed guy into the shed - gives a great impression of how big it was!

The pictures of searching for wood, building a fire, etc, mirrored my own experiences exactly, as we had a strip of land behind our house, between the rear driveway and the canal, where we always had our bonfires. This made the story much more realistic to me at the time. :-)
'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)



Society Member
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19274
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: Derek Lucas - Secret Seven illustrations

Post by Courtenay »

Robert Houghton wrote:... and I also love the illustration of Janet bringing the undressed guy into the shed...
Thank goodness we all know this is about Guy Fawkes Night, or someone might get a rather wrong impression of the book's contents from that line. :wink: :wink: :mrgreen:
Society Member

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)
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: Derek Lucas - Secret Seven illustrations

Post by Rob Houghton »

LOL! I never thought of that! :lol: :lol: Especially the latter half of my sentence, which you fortunately edited out!! :shock: :shock:
'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)



Society Member
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19274
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: Derek Lucas - Secret Seven illustrations

Post by Courtenay »

Robert Houghton wrote:Especially the latter half of my sentence, which you fortunately edited out!! :shock: :shock:
Oh dear — I was writing so late at night that I didn't notice what the rest of that sentence could further imply. :shock: :shock: :shock: Er... moving right along now... :wink:
Society Member

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)
User avatar
Escanor
Posts: 33
Joined: 31 Dec 2013, 19:10
Favourite book/series: Five Get into a Fix / Famous Five
Favourite character: George Kirrin, Colin

Re: Derek Lucas - Secret Seven illustrations

Post by Escanor »

These are all amazing. Thank you for your trouble, Pete!
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17572
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: Derek Lucas - Secret Seven illustrations

Post by pete9012S »

It's a pleasure Escanor.I am forever in your debt for your uploading of the Five Go To Demon's Rocks illustrations by Betty Maxey,which I had almost given up hope of ever seeing!

Here's the next book:

12.Good Old Secret Seven

http://share.pho.to/9wFq2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I noticed a few things in this book: The picture above Peter and Janet's fireplace is shown in a little more detail.It looks like a speed boat or a caped super hero perhaps?

The tree by the shed has moved yet again:this time it's in front of the fence.
Unlike Eileen Soper,Derek Lucas does know the correct end of a telescope from his elbow...

I distinctly remember reading my younger brother Mike's copy of this book and quite enjoying it.
As a Famous Five reader I used to look down a bit on his Secret Seven collection,but I think this book is actually one of my favourites...
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
Post Reply