The books of Raymond Briggs, who died yesterday at the age of 88, have always taken pride of place on the bookshelves of my home. Although most obituaries will probably identify him first and foremost as the author of "The Snowman", my heart was captured by "Fungus the Bogeyman". Thus it was that I dragged my 6-year-old sibling to the Puffin Exhibition, to stand in a queue to say hello to Mr Briggs and get my copy signed.
Somehow, the books that followed really expressed my youthful perspective on the world, particularly during the Cold War when there seemed to be a real prospect of nuclear disaster. "Where the Wind Blows" was utterly depressing and terrifying, but made total sense:
and his drawings for "The Tin-Pot Foreign General and the Old Iron Woman", about the Falklands War, had large and powerful illustrations, including possibly the most pornographic depiction of Margaret Thatcher I've ever seen!
The work of Raymond Briggs has always been part of my life, and I hope always will be. I am grateful for his talent, and sorry for his passing. May he rest in peace.
NB The Times notes that:
"He never had children and showed no sign of even liking them. When he was considered for the role of children's laureate he turned it down and left the job to Quentin Blake. "I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole," he said. "I don't want to go to schools and give talks on children's books. I don't actually know anything much about children. I try to avoid them whenever possible."
Guardian obit.
BBC obit.
The Times obit.
Tributes from the Independent.
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