Thames & Hudson has announced the upcoming publication of Tove Jansson: The Illustrators by Paul Gravett, due for release in June 2022 in the UK, coinciding with the start of a summer-long exhibition of Jansson’s artworks at the William Morris Gallery in London.
The book will provide fresh insight into and a deep appreciation of the life and art of Tove Jansson (1914-2001), one of the most original, influential, and perennially enjoyed illustrators of the twentieth century. In this volume, Paul Gravett examines Jansson’s highly successful Moomin books, as well as her interpretations of classics such as Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Hunting of the Snark, and J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit.
Born in Helsinki among Finland’s Swedish-speaking minority, Jansson was brought up with a love for making art and stories in a supportive, artistic family. Her first illustrated tales were published when she was fourteen years old and she went on to draw humorous and political cartoons as well as striking front covers for the satirical magazine Garm, in response to events in World War Two.
As she developed from art student to painter and muralist, and from bohemian to lesbian, she also created her Moomin world, which appeared in her first children’s book in 1945 and then in newspaper strips. Beyond this imaginative achievement, Jansson also wrote many novels, documented here along with personal commentaries from her own writings.
A title in The Illustrators series, which celebrates illustration as an art form, Tove Jansson offers a visually rich view into the life and work of this much-loved artist and writer.
Paul Gravett is a writer, critic, curator, publisher and broadcaster who has worked in the comics industry since 1981. He is author of many books, including Graphic Novels: Stories to Change Your Life, Comics Art, Mangasia, and Posy Simmonds in The Illustrators series. He is co-director of Comica, the London International Comics Festival.
Tove Jansson: The Illustrators by Paul Gravett
• Pre-order it here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 112
Artwork: Yes
Size: 7.4 in x 9.75 in
Forthcoming: 30th June 2022 | US 5th July 2022
ISBN-10: 0500094330
ISBN-13: 9780500094334
• The William Morris Gallery is online at www.wmgallery.org.uk
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Art and Illustration, Books, British Comics - Books, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Exhibitions, Other Worlds