Book Repair

Mending an ancient, copy of a book I grew up with when I first got into David Bowie back in the day. Tape, glue stick, pva and scissor all at hand...

Enid Blyton's The Three Golliwogs

Nestled amongst my bookshelf of treasured childhood Enid Blyton books, sits a controversial early edition of The Three Golliwogs, which was originally published in 1944. My edition is from 1968, and is the last to use the original text.

The Three Golliwogs follows the trio of identical characters, in a series of short stories after they move into a picturesque cottage.

Each tale makes comedy from the other villagers failure to differentiate their new neighbours from one another and the mishaps that result from this inability. 

The controversy surrounding the book centers on the imagery of the Golliwog, which was originally invisaged by Florence Kate Upton in the 19th century as a minstrel-style doll) and the explicit language used in the early text. The most glaring element of the early version is the name of the third golliwog, which used a deeply offensive racial slur. 

By the late 1970s, public libraries and publishers recognised the harm of the dated racial stereotyping in the book. Thereafter,  reprints changed the characters' names from Golly, Wollie and Ni**er to the less offensive Wiggie, Waggie, and Wollie. In 1988, the book's title was changed to the The Three Gollies:

In time, the text was completely overhauled and the book is currently titled The Three Pixies, which finally stripped the story entirely of its racial overtures. The book is now titled after on of its stories:

Numerous artists have illustrated The Three Golliwogs books, and its various reincarnations over the years. My favourites illustrator though, perhaps obviously, are the ones that featured in the books I read as a child, is Rene Choke. I present just a few of them below:

Today, the original editions of The Three Golliwogs are strictly viewed as being  highly problematic and no longer acceptable reading material for children.

David Bowie - The Man who Fell to Earth Books

My favourite novel has to be Walter Tevis' excellent novel, The Man who Fell to Earth. It's about an alien who comes to earth to arrange the shipment of water to his home planet, which is dying due to its lack of 💧.  Unfortunately, the toll of human pleasure, suffering, and the escapism of alcohol, take their toll . The book is beautifully written, and is the only book I have ever read that made me weepy. The film of the book, starring David Bowie is also a fantastic watch and stars the amazing David Bowie. Whilst I went for the cool artwork cover of the book's original printing, it was a no-brainer that I would have to add all the  ultra-cool David Bowie covers editions to my library:

The Man Who Fell to Earth graphic novel is also in my collection:

Blue is the Colour

Stell made the most of the sunshine today, by painting and sorting out my new writing shed / her gardening shed lol:

 

Hillend (Departure Day)

Had to make use of the dining facilities offered at Hillend before we made our separate ways home.

Head back after a hearty cooked breakfast, we stopped off at Fairwood Common, so I could photograph this horse utililising the brick bustop there to cool off.

Annoyed at the absolute cretin who ruined the beautiful artwork, which has decorated this shelter for 5 years, do celebrate their love for eating slaughtered cow bodies. 

Hillend Camping - Day 2

Had a good nights sleep, in which I dreamed I was on a work's team bonding sesh in some half remembered place solving clues and exploring various abandoned side streets and vacated shops looking for more clues to whatever mystery we were supposed to solve. Woke when my better half needed the toilet-just as I was reaching the last few clues, and walked to the campsite toilet block thinking 'well, all that puzzle-solving I'd achieved during my sleep was a waste of time.( laughing emoji). Spent the morning chatting to the usual camping gang, drinking coffee and eating vegan been sonnies.

Hillend Camping

Early start at work today so I could do my 8-hour shift and still leave the office early.

Conor had organised a camping trip for us at Hillend, down on the beautiful Llangennith fringe of the Gower Peninsular. The days are already getting shorter, however  and by the time we had finished some last minute shopping , driven down to the site and set up camp, there was only a brief opportunity to head down to the beach to catch sight of the evening's glorious sunset.