But I love this book.

I visited Toby Mundy, proprietor of Atlantic Books in Bloomsbury the other day and we got on famously. I’m sure there will be plenty of collaborative projects over the next few months.

Toby, being the splendid fellow he is, very kindly loaded me up with books to take away - I love books and love the art of Typography. And I love illustration. It was therefore with great joy that I opened Graham Rawle’s wonderfully illustrated version of this classic story.

I’d never read the book, put off by the film that I really don’t like. Anyway this old-world media production is sumptuous. One of the benefits of digital production is that it allows total freedom of expression, and the treatment given to the typography is wonderous.

Graham Rawle has produced artwork for the illustrations that is indeed Art. A combination of 2D illustration, photomontage and 3D modelling, all brought together with Illustrator, provides the Universe of Oz with that surreal element or quality that it needs.

I am, in fact, reading the story and enjoying it too. I would give the book as a present, I know one or two children of suitable age, but frankly, I ain’t gonna do that.

I’m keeping it for myself.

To admire and be inspired by, from time to time.

I suspect that a surprising number of adults my be buying this book, for themselves, reluctant to hand it over to less than caring, or less appreciative, young hands.

Enjoy.

copyright Neil Fairbrother