A Teaspoonful Of Magic … “The Tyger Voyage” by Richard Adams & Nicola Bayley
Today, owing to circumstances serendipitous, I reacquired a copy of Richard Adams’ The Tyger Voyage, with the wonderful and evocative illustrations by Nicola Bayley.
Here’s what the backcover says:
“A gentleman tyger and his son set sail from Victorian England into the timeless unknown.
Together they roam across the seas, through jungles, past ice-covered mountains and erupting volcanoes and many more unexpected hazards along the way.“
I have always thought The Tyger Voyage a magical picture book for children, not only because of the illustrations, but because of the adventurous story within, told entirely in rhyme:
.
“My father’s got some curious friends —
…
He takes a friendly interest
…..in neighbouring bird and local beast.
The Dubbs live just across the way.
…..(The Dubbs are tygers, I may say.)”
The milieu of the book is Victorian, and Adams has managed to capture that flavour while keeping the story accessible for contemporary readers. In short, The Tyger Voyage really is wonderful storytelling.
And because I love great storytelling in all its forms, as well as the magic of the physical book, I was very sad—oh, quite some years ago now—when my copy was unfortunately destroyed and I was unable to acquire another.
So I was delighted today, to learn—quite unexpectedly—that it had been reprinted. No doubt I should have discovered that fact eventually, anyway—but here’s where the serendipity comes in. I had been to a meeting, then got as far as my car and realised I had left my diary behind. So I went back, but chose—on impulse—to walk another way, and so saw a special display of children’s picture books that I would not otherwise have encountered. And one of them was The Tyger Voyage.
Of course, I bought it straight away, even before I had retrieved my diary. 😉
I am looking forward to sneaking in a peek at its delights, in between discharging copyediting duties for my own book.
If you get the chance, I hope you will take the opportunity to enjoy reading this wonderful story — or better still, make the chance!
Meanwhile, here’s the cover again, this time ’embigenated.