Bruno Elettori
- pete9012S
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Bruno Elettori
Obviously,he's no Betty Maxey,but I have been rather impressed with Bruno Elittori's cover work for The Find Outers from around 1983.
He's just out of my era - I'm a reader of the 1960's & 1970's editions,plus a collector of the originals.
I still rather like his artwork.
I don't know if he illustrated anything else for Enid Blyton or anything about his other work.
Here's his Find Outer covers for your perusal.
Rather irritatingly,the one missing cover is the one I would probably most like to see - Tally Ho Cottage.
I've had a jolly good look over the world wide web, but still cant manage to pin it down anywhere...
He's just out of my era - I'm a reader of the 1960's & 1970's editions,plus a collector of the originals.
I still rather like his artwork.
I don't know if he illustrated anything else for Enid Blyton or anything about his other work.
Here's his Find Outer covers for your perusal.
Rather irritatingly,the one missing cover is the one I would probably most like to see - Tally Ho Cottage.
I've had a jolly good look over the world wide web, but still cant manage to pin it down anywhere...
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
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- Eddie Muir
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Re: Bruno Elettori
Thanks for posting these covers, which I quite like, Pete.
'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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Re: Bruno Elettori
I also like the covers.
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Re: Bruno Elettori
Quite appealing covers. The only Bruno Elettori edition I've come across personally (my daughter picked it up in a charity shop when she was little) is The Mystery of the Spiteful Letters.
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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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- Daisy
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Re: Bruno Elettori
Yes, those covers are really quite nice - children looking like children is always a bonus!
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- pete9012S
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Re: Bruno Elettori
Yes,many thanks to Tony for making all these covers by so many different illustrators available to us.
The Cave is a most marvelous resource for research and just sheer enjoyment of all the varieties and editions the books we love have been presented in.
2003 Egmont, not illustrated, cover by Jason Ford
The Cave is a most marvelous resource for research and just sheer enjoyment of all the varieties and editions the books we love have been presented in.
2003 Egmont, not illustrated, cover by Jason Ford
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
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- John Pickup
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Re: Bruno Elettori
I like the Bruno Elettori covers very much and you're quite right, Pete, he's no Betty Maxey. He's miles better.
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- Courtenay
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Re: Bruno Elettori
They are really good, Pete, although in some cases the perspective or some of the details are a little surprising — I was wondering what on earth the bizarre machine was in the foreground of this one until I realised it was a bike in close-up!
Or in this one — it probably just comes from the image being a bit small — I was thinking for a second that Mr Goon had caught a whale...
But apart from those very minor oddities, they're colourful and enticing and fun-looking, I agree. I especially like the cat's "leave me alone" facial expression in this one!
Or in this one — it probably just comes from the image being a bit small — I was thinking for a second that Mr Goon had caught a whale...
But apart from those very minor oddities, they're colourful and enticing and fun-looking, I agree. I especially like the cat's "leave me alone" facial expression in this one!
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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)
- Rob Houghton
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Re: Bruno Elettori
It might come as a surprise to some people, who know how I feel about modern covers - but things are never black and white when it comes to personal taste - and I have always loved these bright, vibrant and quirky covers. They are the best Enid Blyton cover designs from the last 15 years, in my opinion. They also manage to conjure up a flavour of the 1950's and 60's in a strange way.pete9012S wrote:Yes,many thanks to Tony for making all these covers by so many different illustrators available to us.
2003 Egmont, not illustrated, cover by Jason Ford
Last edited by Rob Houghton on 09 Oct 2017, 23:01, edited 1 time in total.
'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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- pete9012S
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Re: Bruno Elettori
We all have our quirks and little foibles Rob.
Some are even blind to the maestro at work that was Betty Maxey,but live and let live and each to his own!
Some are even blind to the maestro at work that was Betty Maxey,but live and let live and each to his own!
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
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- Courtenay
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Re: Bruno Elettori
Does your wife ever get worried as you murmur Betty's name in your sleep, Pete??
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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)
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Re: Bruno Elettori
Have to admit, I'm not really a fan of Bruno Elettori. I can remember that it was in the 1980's that I began to go off the more modern EB covers, as I saw them at the time. I was too used to the brilliant Mary Gernat covers, Betty Maxey covers, Derek Lucas covers etc.
I also disagree that the Elettori covers are better than Maxey's covers. Maxey's covers and colour-work are much more atmospheric and exciting, in my opinion.
I also disagree that the Elettori covers are better than Maxey's covers. Maxey's covers and colour-work are much more atmospheric and exciting, in my opinion.
'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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- Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Bruno Elettori
Although I find Bruno Elettori's Find-Outers covers reasonably appealing - if a little quirky - I agree that Betty Maxey's Famous Five covers are much more attractive, Rob. Maxey's colours, blending and arrangements conjure up just the right atmosphere and the characters look very real.
"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: Bruno Elettori
I think Betty Maxey's externals are superb - for me equally as good as Eileen Soper's externals.
It's hard to put into words now all these years later,but the sheer excitement and anticipation of receiving a new Famous Five book, pristine,the smell of new paper and exciting illustrations was a wonderful,joyous experience.
Some covers still resonate strongly even after all these years and just looking at them brings back all those familiar feelings...
I have chosen just three examples which I never tire of.
For those who received an Eileen Soper dust-jacketed Famous Five a little earlier in the twentieth century the feelings of anticipation and excitement would no doubt be exactly the same.
It's hard to put into words now all these years later,but the sheer excitement and anticipation of receiving a new Famous Five book, pristine,the smell of new paper and exciting illustrations was a wonderful,joyous experience.
Some covers still resonate strongly even after all these years and just looking at them brings back all those familiar feelings...
I have chosen just three examples which I never tire of.
For those who received an Eileen Soper dust-jacketed Famous Five a little earlier in the twentieth century the feelings of anticipation and excitement would no doubt be exactly the same.
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
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- Eddie Muir
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Re: Bruno Elettori
Being an old wrinkly, I certainly felt the same anticipation and excitement about receiving a new Eileen Soper dust-jacketed Famous Five book, Pete. I felt exactly the same about receiving a new Methuen Find-Outers hardback.
'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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