A Bear Called Paddington Double Signed By Michael Bond And By Paddington Bear

Author: Michael Bond
Price: £495
Publisher: Collins, London, UK
Edition: First edition, 16th impression
Publication Date: 1985
Format: Original cloth gilt with dustwrapper
Condition: Near fine in very good plus dustwrapper
Size: 14.2cm x 20.3cm
Pages: 128

Description:

Binding nice and tight. Pages nice and clean. A very near fine, tight, clean copy in very good plus, slightly creased dustwrapper. Signed and inscribed ‘To Scott, Grant & Blaine, With all good wishes, Michael Bond’ along with ‘Padington’ a love heart and a paw print in marker pen to the front free endpaper. The only copy that we have handled double signed in this manner and a near fine copy overall. Very scarce.

The Story:

A Bear Called Paddington is the first book in the iconic Paddington Bear series by Michael Bond, originally published in 1958. This book introduces the world to the beloved bear from Darkest Peru and sets the stage for his heartwarming and humorous adventures in England.

Plot Overview:

The story begins when the Brown family—Mr. and Mrs. Brown, and their two children, Jonathan and Judy—find a small bear sitting alone at Paddington Station in London. The bear has a label around his neck that reads, “Please look after this bear. Thank you.” He explains that he has travelled all the way from Darkest Peru after his Aunt Lucy had to go into a home for retired bears.

Touched by his polite manners and endearing personality, the Browns decide to take him home and name him Paddington, after the station where they found him. The bear quickly becomes a member of their family, settling in at 32 Windsor Gardens.

From the moment Paddington arrives, his curiosity and enthusiasm for life lead to a series of mishaps, often involving sticky situations and misunderstandings. However, his good intentions and politeness always shine through, and he is able to win the hearts of everyone he meets.

Key Stories and Episodes:

The book is divided into several episodic stories, each highlighting a different adventure or misadventure involving Paddington:

1. Paddington Arrives: Paddington’s first meeting with the Browns at Paddington Station. They quickly realise that life with a bear will be far from ordinary.
2. A Visit to the Bathroom: After arriving at the Browns’ home, Paddington tries to take a bath, but things get out of control when he accidentally floods the bathroom, leading to chaos and laughter.
3. Paddington and the Marmalade: Paddington’s love for marmalade is established early in the series. He often keeps marmalade sandwiches under his hat for emergencies, a quirk that becomes one of his defining characteristics.
4. A Shopping Trip: Paddington accompanies Mrs. Brown on a shopping trip, which inevitably turns into a series of humorous misunderstandings.
5. Paddington and the Theatre: In another episode, Paddington visits the theatre with the Browns and inadvertently causes a stir with his fascination for the performance.

Characters:

• Paddington Bear: The star of the story, Paddington is a well-meaning and polite bear, but his innocence and curiosity often lead to unintended chaos. His signature blue duffle coat, red hat, and love of marmalade quickly become iconic.
• Mr. and Mrs. Brown: The kind-hearted couple who take Paddington in and treat him as part of their family.
• Jonathan and Judy Brown: The children of the family, who are excited about having a bear from Darkest Peru as their new companion.
• Mrs. Bird: The Browns’ stern but caring housekeeper, who quickly becomes fond of Paddington despite her initial reservations.
• Mr. Gruber: An antique dealer who befriends Paddington and enjoys sharing tea and stories with him. Mr. Gruber becomes a trusted adviser and mentor to Paddington in later books.

Themes:

• Kindness and Acceptance: The central theme of A Bear Called Paddington is about kindness and looking out for those in need. The Brown family’s decision to take in a bear from a foreign land highlights the importance of generosity and acceptance of others, no matter how different or strange they might seem.
• Curiosity and Innocence: Paddington’s adventures stem from his natural curiosity about the world. Though he often causes accidents, his actions come from a place of innocence and a desire to learn.
• Humour through Misunderstandings: Much of the book’s humour arises from Paddington’s misunderstandings of the human world. His polite demeanour and good intentions contrast with the chaotic results of his actions, creating light-hearted and endearing comedy.

Writing Style:

Michael Bond’s writing in A Bear Called Paddington is straightforward and accessible, filled with gentle humour and warmth. The episodic structure of the book allows young readers to enjoy Paddington’s adventures in manageable, self-contained stories, while older readers can appreciate the wit and charm of the bear’s interactions with the world around him.

Illustrations:

The original illustrations for the book were done by Peggy Fortnum, whose simple and expressive drawings helped bring Paddington to life for generations of readers. Fortnum’s illustrations captured the essence of Paddington’s polite but often befuddled demeanour, complementing Bond’s storytelling perfectly.

Legacy:

A Bear Called Paddington was an instant success upon its release, and Paddington Bear quickly became a beloved figure in children’s literature. The book has been translated into multiple languages and has sold millions of copies worldwide. It was the start of a series that would span over 20 books, introducing Paddington to new generations through books, television adaptations, and feature films.

The character of Paddington, with his charm, politeness, and knack for getting into sticky situations, remains an enduring symbol of kindness, adventure, and the joy of discovering new things.

Michael Bond: A Short Biography

Michael Bond was a British author best known for creating Paddington Bear, one of the most beloved characters in children’s literature. His career as a writer spanned over six decades, during which he wrote numerous Paddington books, as well as other works for children and adults.

Early Life and Career:

• Born: January 13, 1926, in Newbury, Berkshire, England.
• Bond grew up in Reading, Berkshire, where his love for storytelling began. He was an avid reader and had an early fascination with writing, though he initially pursued other careers.
• During World War II, Bond served in the Royal Air Force and later worked as a camera operator for the BBC.

Creation of Paddington Bear:

• The idea for Paddington Bear came to Michael Bond in 1956, when he saw a lonely teddy bear sitting on a shelf in a London shop near Paddington Station. Bond bought the bear as a gift for his wife and was inspired to create a character around it.
• Bond wrote the first book, A Bear Called Paddington, in just ten days. It was published in 1958, introducing the world to the small bear from Darkest Peru who arrives at Paddington Station with a note that reads, “Please look after this bear. Thank you.”
• The Paddington books were an immediate success, with readers falling in love with the bear’s politeness, curiosity, and well-meaning mishaps. Bond’s witty, warm writing style and the gentle humour of Paddington’s adventures made the series timeless.

Paddington Bear’s Impact:

• The Paddington Bear series has been translated into over 40 languages and has sold more than 35 million copies worldwide.
• Bond wrote more than 20 books about Paddington, including sequels such as More About Paddington, Paddington Helps Out, and Paddington at Large.
• Paddington became a British cultural icon, and the stories were adapted into multiple TV series, stage productions, and two highly successful live-action films, Paddington (2014) and Paddington 2 (2017), with Ben Whishaw providing the voice of Paddington.

Other Works:

• While Paddington Bear was his most famous creation, Michael Bond also wrote other children’s books. His series about Olga da Polga, a guinea pig with a lively imagination, was another favourite.
• Bond also wrote for adult audiences, including a series of detective novels featuring Monsieur Pamplemousse, a retired French detective and food critic who solves culinary-related mysteries with his loyal bloodhound, Pommes Frites.

Personal Life:

• Bond lived much of his life in London, close to Paddington Station, which played such a crucial role in inspiring his most famous creation.
• Despite his success as a writer, Bond remained modest and down-to-earth. He often expressed that he wrote Paddington stories because they made him happy, and he was always delighted by the bear’s popularity with readers of all ages.

Awards and Honours:

• In recognition of his contribution to children’s literature, Michael Bond was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1997 and later a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2015.
• Paddington Bear’s influence has extended far beyond literature. In 2000, a statue of Paddington was unveiled at Paddington Station, and the character remains a beloved figure in British culture.

Death and Legacy:

• Michael Bond passed away on June 27, 2017, at the age of 91. His legacy endures through the enduring popularity of Paddington Bear, who continues to delight new generations of readers and viewers.
• Bond’s ability to create a character who embodied kindness, curiosity, and good manners made Paddington a universally beloved figure, one that resonated with readers across cultures and ages.

Bond’s warm, humorous stories have left a lasting impact, and his creation of Paddington Bear has cemented him as one of the great figures in 20th-century children’s literature.

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