June 18, 2007
Great Adventures!
I'm currently listening to Jules Verne's "A Journey to the Center of the Earth", which is exciting, but not as good as "Around the World in 80 Days" which truly stands the test of time. Visually inspired by some of the descriptions within this adventure, I googled the title to see what images other illustrators have been inspired to render throughout the years. I have not finished listening, so it is disturbing that most illustrations depict the sea-monster battle that the travelers witness while crossing a great underground sea. I'm disturbed because I assume that we will not be experiencing anything more visually interesting, since like movie previews, book publishers usually take the most iconic, exciting images to illustrate the cover. While searching though I found a collection of old book covers from the golden age of illustration. What a find! Many of the covers are so oddly rendered and are very much products of the time they were created.
Here are a few of my favorites, accompanied by by commentary:
I'm curious as to what is happening in this illustration:
Is a boy, a savage, dressed in seagull skins stealing a seal pup with glee? What terrible plan does this little savage have for said pup?
It seems here that a giant bowman, presumably one "Robin Hood", is drinking from a wine flask while staggering drunkenly across a miniature battlefield.
Here we have Abraham Lincoln starring with Heath Ledger in a steamy retelling of the pre-presidential salad days on the plains of Illinois.
Mr. Holmes kindly reminds you to please not write your name on his book, especially in your own blood, else you may be torn asunder by a salivating hound.
I think I have to continue with this project soon, it's good fun. In the meantime, here is the url for this fine collection of illustrated classics:
http://www.classicscentral.com/14-26.htm
Enjoy! Please send me some of your favorites.
Oh and one more:
"Me Frankenstein, me hate trees and me hate pants! Aaaarrrrrgh"
Okay, I know he does have pants on but at first it looks like he doesn't.