I am aware, as mentioned in my previous entry on Edward Ardizzone, that C Walter Hodges was not just a children's illustrator but, once again, I first came across his marvelous illustrations in one of my all time favourite children's books, The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge. This was out of print for some time until J K Rowling mentioned in an interview that this had been one of her favourites also and, lo and behold, it was reissued within a month with her endorsement on the front and complete with new cover (not a patch on the old one).
When taking an Open University short course on Shakespeare this year, I came
across an article on C Walter Hodges concerning his love and scholarship of the Bard and, in particular, his interest in the Globe Theatre. I found some wonderful drawings he had done of how the theatre had been in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, meticulously done as are all his illustrations, and full of charm and magic.
I also remember his drawings for The Armourer's House by Rosemary Sutcliff, another one of my cherished children's books which is still on my bookshelves. This story was set in Elizabethan times which seems to be the period in which he was most comfortable.
I am blogging about him for no reason other than I love his work and would like anybody who reads this to love it too.
