Customer Reviews

The Adventures of Sweet Gwendoline, 2nd Edition

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If you have the Taschen reprints of the collected Bizarre magazines and are wondering about this book - as I was - don't worry. This book is almost all different material, a good portion of it previously unpublished, and the quality of the edition is high enough to make it a keepsake in anyone's library. John Willie was, without equivocation, the master of genteel fetish art, technically beautiful illustrations of gorgeous women simultaneously in formal attire and bondage. If it sounds quirky, it is, and it is that quirkiness married to Willie's technical prowess and self-restraint which makes this collection as intriguing - and engaging - as it is. There is no sex here, and no full nudity. If you've never seen this work, imagine a Vargas or Elvgren print but with the pretty girl not smiling, but bound somehow or being costumed and you begin to get an idea of what John Willie was doing with his illustrative life.

BUT - just imagining these images does them no justice. Willie never used any 'dirty' words, and his characters are styled after 1930's and '40 serial digest types, even as his work moved into the 1960's. The overall effect is that of a fully conceived world, a complete universe of Willie's - and ours, as the readers - shared neurosis, of our fully realized but morally checked 'fun and nonsense' (Willie's words, not mine).

I am enamoured of this work. It is aesthectically beautiful, it is emotionally engaging, it is affectionate and ironic all at the same time. Where Bizarre magazine left off this volume continues, and where Bizarre is a rememberance this volume is better described as a tribute.

And a more fitting tribute could not be produced. This is an oversized hardcover, cloth bound and with a cloth bookmark - the binding and cover are both very well made, obviously a labor of publishing love. The paper stock is very thick (unlike the Taschen Bizarre collection) and acid-free. The cover of this book is stunning, and even from the spine a beautiful illustration of Gwendoline is visible when the volume is shelved. This is a bibliophile's book, something we see less and less of these days, whose physical presentation was designed to compiliment its content.

Included are also some sketches and unfinished work, and it is always fun to see an artist we admire in their off-the-cuff moments, forming ideas or simply riffing without worrying about an audience. A brief - the best I've read - biography is included, as well as several photographs of the artist himself. There are several full color plates as well, watercolors of Willie taken from private collections.

A beautiful, absolutely beautiful volume. Of the many books I buy and sell and trade, this will stay in my library forever. I can offer no higher recommendation.

This is a beautifully produced book, a new printing with additional information and working drawings never published before. In this is a weird world, where the normal rules do not apply, all the (invariably beautiful) women are both strong and submissive, a weird dichotomy that seems to make sense in John Willie's loopy world.

No situation domestic or public takes place without someone, usually the innocent abroad (Gwendoline), falling into the clutches of the nefarious villian, his mistress and the wicked maid.

There is also mysterious secret agent (U69) who rescues Gwendoline, only to torment the strangely receptive girl.

Do not give this to the innocent or the young, however anyone who can appreciate the charm and strange innocence of his art, and this is art, this is a must have. Mad, bad and wonderful to know.

Mark

I ordered this book as a Christmas gift for my husband. He has yet to see it, of course, but WOW! I love it! To see the many works that were previously unpublished, what can I say. John Willie really had a hand to match where his heart was! It's a great book for any one who loves erotic art or is familiar with the story of Gwen!

As a UK fan of Love Bondage and simular material, I've waited for years to obtain a copy of this book. I can assure all wondering about the purchase that the wait was well worth it. The quality of the illustrations is exelent and there is plenty of bonus material contained within it's bulging covers. Well done the publishers, you made a UK fan very happy this Chrstmas!

If you're a fan of John Willie's work, then this book will not disappoint. His style and subject matter really strike a chord with me visually. Not to mention the care he took drawing those sexy ladies. Essentially a comic book, my only gripe is that there weren't more large fantastic images.

A lot of John Willys sexploitation cartoons are redundant and they are all here so the volume seems a little padded. That said it's a lovely volume. The vintage bondage is very nice there are several really classic plot lines - Ok it's must for vintage bondage fans. If you're looking for hardcore cartoons or bondage you need to look elsewhere. Glad I bought it.

Much vaunted by the modern British Bizarre magazine and worththe outlay. It's a shame it's so hard to get hold of... Very well done etc.