In 1993 I fulfilled a dream: Koshka’s Tales – stories from Russia was published. I’d fallen in love with these stories as a child, and in the fairy tale music of Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, I found a magical realm of enchantment, drawing along to the storytelling in sound. After a thrilling trip to Soviet Russia in the 1980s I was inspired to create a tribute to those composers, writers and artists (Pushkin, Bakst, Goncharova, Chagall, Gogol, Korovin, Golovin etc…) who had so inspired me. I read, I researched, I worked so hard on creating something with integrity. I was thrilled when Kingfisher Books took the book on.
The reviews at the time were very generous…
“Koshka’s Tales is a marvellous book, its language as glossy and gratifying as its artwork. Its tales within a tale, as fatly plaited as any sultana’s hair, weave real Eastern enchantment.” – Geraldine McCaughrean – The Times
“A vibrant and accessible collection… and illustrations that sparkle like a Faberge egg.” – Publisher’s Weekly (US)
“Not only does he write fluently with rhythm, pace and pithy humour – a rare talent for an artist – he paints with intricate line and shadow and garish abandon: golden cupolas and icons, flowing turquoise and russet sarafans, sea-green nymphs, tall dark firs, ruddy snub-nosed peasants and hirsute, hook-nosed haradans… he succeeds in preserving the authentic folklore tradition.” – James Riordan – Times Educational Supplement
“Deserves an honoured place in any collection.” – Ralph Lavender, School Librarian Magazine
Then, Kingfisher Books amalgamated with another publishing house; things changed, and the book fell out of print. I was understandably disappointed, especially as I’d worked so hard on the book, both as writer and illustrator. It was the longest text I had written, and I’d had to illustrate the whole 80 page book in 6 weeks, in order to make the deadline and clinch a US edition. I worked through the night, and lived an breathed Russian folk art, Russian costume, Russian architecture. Stravinsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, on my headphones, kept me going. Was all that going to just be thrown away?
Over the years, of all my long-lost books, it has been Koshka’s Tales that has been most often asked about, most often requested for reprinting. After the success of Mouse and Mole‘s Renaissance, I knew I could trust this very special book to Graffeg. And so… after a twenty year wait… Koshka returns to spin her tales once more.
The book will be published in a sumptuous new hardback edition in October this year. I am absolutely thrilled, and I really hope the next generation will enjoy these extraordinary stories as much as I loved retelling and illustrating them.
Here’s the official press release from Graffeg with all the details!
спаси́бо Graffeg!
Leave a Reply