28 / 196
39
●
W. HEATH ROBINSON.
“A Song of the English.” Design for the decorative boards and spine for the book by
Rudyard Kipling, published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1909.Watercolor, graphite, pen
and ink on board. 292x216 mm; 11
1
/
2
x8
1
/
2
inches. Faint foxing and soil spots.
[1,500/2,500]
“The next important task I undertook, was the illustration of an edition of Rudyard Kipling’s A
Song of the English to be published by Hodder & Stoughton in the year 1908. It became necessary
for me to meet the author and discuss the proposed book with him. For this purpose, I traveled down
to Burwash where he lived at that time.This was an excursion I shall always remember. He met and
entertained me with a quiet affability, which speedily removed the shyness I felt at first in his presence.
Before long I was quite at home with him. His own knowledge of illustration gave him an appreciation
of the artist’s point of view.While making suggestions, he realized that the illustrator must have as
free a hand as possible. His sympathetic understanding of my part in the undertaking made me feel
that I was consulting with a brother artist. I spent a happy and for me a helpful day. It was a great
inspiration for the work I had in hand to be in such close association with the author’s interesting
personality. I am always glad to remember that he was satisfied with my illustrations to his book.”
(W. Heath Robinson, My Line of Life. pages 126-127).