Joan G Robinson

[Susie]

When I was younger I had a book called "Mary Mary," by Joan G Robinson. It was so humorous, I loved the illustrations too. As of now I only have one half of it. It was falling to pieces when I got it. I have looked on Amazon but I am not keen on paying £11.

Have you read any books by this author?

[Kate Mary]

I haven't read any of the "Mary, Mary" books, but I love the Teddy Robinson stories by the same author, they are very funny, it is such a pity that Joan G Robinson's books are mostly out of print, they are heaps better than most children's titles that are published today. In another thread, Anita mentioned another of her books "When Marnie was there", another one I haven't read, also o/p, and second-hand copies start at £27 on Amazon! Perhaps Jane Nissan will get round to reprinting Joan's titles.

Kate

[Anita Bensoussane]

When Marnie Was There is an enchanting story, haunting yet heartwarming. It's about a lonely, imaginative girl and appears to be aimed mainly at girls aged around 10 - 13 (though many adults would enjoy it too.) I've still got my copy from childhood - I didn't realise that second-hand copies were now so expensive.

I haven't read Teddy Robinson or Mary Mary, I'm afraid.

Anita

[Susie]

Here is one paragraph from half of my book, which I'm sure you will enjoy.

One day Mary - Mary started coming down stairs backwards pulling a box of bricks behind her.
Miriam, Martyn, Mervyn, and Meg were all standing together in the hall, and when they heard Mary - Mary coming bumpety bump down the stairs backwards, they all started shouting at once.
"Don't go down the stairs backwards Mary - Mary you'll fall down." She did fall with all all the bricks falling after her.
"There!" Said Miriam "We said you'd fall."
"There!" Said Martyn "We knew you would."
"There!" said Mervyn "Just as we said"
"There!" said Meg "What did we tell you."
"You told me to fall down and I think it was very silly of you."
(I'm skipping a bit of it, too much to type.)
The loud thump, brings her mother rushing out to see if she is all right.
"Mary Mary are you all right."
"My bricks fell down and I'm nursing them better."

In my book it says she illistrated too, they are such sweet drawings
I'm glad that others remember this author.

[Anita Bensoussane]

Thanks for sharing that with us, Susie. I didn't realise that Joan G. Robinson illustrated some of her own work. My Lion paperback of When Marnie Was There (sixth impression, 1979) has black line drawings by Peggy Fortnum - they're kind of wispy and suit the story well.

Anita

[Susie]

I wonder what the G stand for?
In my half copy Mary Mary has wispy hair, it suits her though.