By Jill Barklem (Carnival)
ISBN: 978-0-26167-207-9
Britain has always led the world in illustrated children’s books, from Beatrix Potter and Arthur Rackham to Raymond Williams, Roger Hargreaves and Quentin Blake. Carrying on that splendid tradition is Jill Barklem, who began in 1980 to produce stunningly beautiful rural, ecologically sound fantasy fables about a delightfully engaging tribe – or more correctly hamlet – of mice thriving in the resoundingly English thicket of a Bramble Hedge somewhere in this wonderful country of ours.
Beginning with Spring Story, Summer Story, Autumn Story and Winter Story Barklem’s gloriously enviable miniscule community presented a tiny world of huge rustic delights engrossingly reminiscent of the idealised environs of Alfred Bestall’s Rupert stories, with the land beneath the bushes easily the equal of Nutwood: placid, enticing, enchanting and when necessary, just hazardous enough to provide the element of mild danger necessary for all dramas – even small ones.
An instant global hit with children and their book-providers, the meticulous, miraculous artwork and wry, genteel tales spawned a number of sequels and spin-off tomes including a pattern book, (designs for making one’s own mouse household), a poster book, a collection of tunes for the recorder, address books and all the usual merchandise from shampoo to tableware (what I wouldn’t give for a Brambly Hedge Teacup…).
In 1999 County Books collected the fifth and sixth tales – ‘The Secret Staircase’ and ‘The High Hills’ into a large-sized, spectacularly printed compendium which included a stunning introductory section introducing the extended cast, (nearly two dozen distinctive and adorable mice), maps of the area, cutaway paintings and locations of interest all accompanied by Barklem’s beguiling prose.
The nominal stars of the stories are children Primrose Woodmouse and Wilfred Toadflax, and in ‘The Secret Staircase’ they are both eagerly anticipating the big party at Old Oak Palace, the sprawling stately mansion of Primrose’s father, Lord Woodmouse. As the adults pitch in to prepare the great hall for the evening’s festivities the kids go looking for costumes in the immense domicile and discover hidden passages and a wonderful secret ballroom…
This magical Christmas allegory is filled with incredible illustrations, poems and rhymes perfectly capturing the young’s fascination with discovery and exploration.
‘The High Hills’ features Wilfred in a rather thrilling exploit. Chafing in the Weaver’s house as they make blankets, he dreams of being a grand Explorer like the legendary Sir Hogweed Horehound. When his mother collects him Wilfred convinces her to let him accompany Mr. Apple when he delivers the finished blankets to the Voles who live in the distant High Hills.
The same hills first explored by Hogweed Horehound and where the great man discovered gold!
Filling his rucksack with all the paraphernalia listed in the Great Adventurer’s journal Wilfred looks forward to recreating the historic trip, but the lad has no idea that he’s headed for a unique experience all his own…
A complete compilation of the Brambly Hedge stories was released in 1999, but seems to be out of print and astonishingly expensive to acquire these days. Surely it’s time for another edition of such a timelessly beautiful book? These are tales that every child will love and are a great way to get youngsters into reading, comics and the environment. How cool is that?
© 1983, 1986, 1990, 1999 Jill Barklem. All rights reserved