The Gryphon: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Is Rediscovered [Hardcover]

Nick Bantock (Author)

Book Description

Series: Morning Star trilogy | Publication Date: August 1, 2001

Griffin & Sabine, Sabine's Notebook, and The Golden Mean have sold over 3 million copies worldwide, and spent over 100 weeks on The New York Times best-seller list. At long last, Nick Bantock brings us a new volume in the Griffin and Sabine story. The Gryphon is a tale rich in the artistry, mystery, and surprise that make the original saga so beloved. Although readers will be drawn into the book without ever having read the trilogy, The Gryphon begins to answer the question that fans have been waiting eight years to answer: "What happened to Griffin and Sabine?" As their remarkable fates are gradually revealed, we are introduced to Matthew and Isabella, long-distance lovers who find themselves entwined not only in each other's lives, but also in a perilous and alluring intrigue. The drama literally unfolds from postcard to richly decorated postcard and as provocative letters are pulled from real envelopes. The Gryphon features stunning new imagery, offering glimpses of mythic dreamscapes and surreal creatures as only Nick Bantock could have imagined. For those meeting Griffin and Sabine for the first time, here's an introduction that will have them yearning to explore the earlier volumes. And for those who have already entered the enchanting world of Griffin and Sabine, The Gryphon is a delightful rediscovery of a truly extraordinary correspondence.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

With a fanciful combination of postcards and letters, author Nick Bantock takes you on a romantic and suspenseful tour of an imagined world. The Gryphon is the delightful follow-up to the wildly popular Griffin & Sabine trilogy. This sequel doesn't disappoint; it's as quixotic and cloaked in mystery as the trilogy, replete with similarly captivating foldouts and handwritten letters. Each illustration is intricately drawn with special attention paid to the tiniest details, like the faded postmarks on exotic stamps. Old-fashioned letters create an atmosphere of adventure, surrounding you with colorful images of ancient symbols. The correspondence between the four players flies off to real and mythical lands conjuring up dark forces and love affairs. It is impossible not to want to know what happens next. If you were charmed by Griffin and Sabine, then it's absolutely unthinkable to miss The Gryphon. --J.P. Cohen

From Library Journal

Bantock re-creates the intrigue of "Griffin & Sabine," his hugely popular first trilogy, in the first of his next trilogy, "The Gryphon." Here we are introduced to two new characters, Matthew and Isabelle, whose love and correspondence mirror that of Griffin and Sabine. Through a series of postcards and letters, the four characters communicate across oceans and realms to describe a world of beauty, fantasy, love, and mystery. Bantock's drawings, collages, and paintings are captivating and original, depicting the places and events that the characters write about and re-creating the haunting visions that plague Isabelle. The letters and notes, many of which are removable, will give readers the sense that they are experiencing the story with the characters, although the small and separate pieces could get lost or stolen. Recommended as a gift rather than a circulating item. Rachel Collins, "Library Journal"
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; 1st edition (August 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811831620
• ISBN-13: 978-0811831628
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 8.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #192,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back to Griffen and Sabine, October 2, 2001

By 

"tallgirlinheals" (Burbank, California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gryphon: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Is Rediscovered (Hardcover)

I was first introduced to Nick Bantock's work when I was fifteen. I was given a copy of Griffen and Sabine by a Japanese foriegn exchange teacher. It was brilliant and I read it as soon as I opened it. My sister and I were fans and collected the next two books over the next couple of years. Since then, I have bought a number of copies for friends and was delighted when I learned that Bantock was continuing the story with The Gryphon. The Gryphon picks up exactly where the third book leaves off explaining who the mysterious M is and the connection of Griffen and Sabine to the person in the final post card. Bantock effortlessly slips back into the characters of Griffen and Sabine and introduces us to two new, equally as intriguing, characters. The artwork, as always, is stunning. This book is a treat to read. If you've read the trilogy leading up to this, you must also read The Gryphon. If you haven't you should pick up all four books and devour them slowly!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Swept away by Bantock's "The Gryphon", September 9, 2001

By 

Rae Schwarz "post-modern Renaissance woman" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gryphon: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Is Rediscovered (Hardcover)

Griffin and Sabine fans: set aside an evening and your favorite chair, and get ready for the adventure to continue. From acclaimed artist and storyteller Nick Bantock, comes the fourth installment of his famed series, "In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Is Rediscovered." Matthew Sedon is an archaeologist working in Egypt, writing postcards and letters to his girlfriend in Paris, Isabella de Reims. One day, Matthew receives a letter from Sabine Strohem, soon followed by copies of her entire correspondence with Griffin Moss. Join Isabella and Matthew as they try and unravel the mystery: is this a real conversation between two people, or an elaborate fiction? And why does it all seem to parallel their own relationship? As always, Bantock's artistry is impeccable, and the postcards and pull-out letters are as beautiful and fun as they have been over the entire series of books. The story is so complex and rich it makes sense to those new to the series, and does not disappoint for die-hard fans.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as Good as the First Trilogy, November 5, 2001

By 

Dana (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gryphon: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Is Rediscovered (Hardcover)

Like many, I fell in love with Griffin and Sabine in the first series. The romance of their relationship was unmatched, even before they met. Their letters are amazing and I loved the voyeuristic quality of reading their letters and postcards.

However, in the Gryphon, I felt cheated somehow, as though Bantock were simply trying to find a way to capitolize on the success of the first series by continuing the story. As for the link between the two, I found it to be less than beleivable. While I enjoyed the intense passion between Isabella and Matthew, I never felt the link between them and Griffin and Sabine. I thought it lacked any feeling of the bond that was conveyed betweem Griffin and Sabine in the first series.

Again, the letters, postcards and artwork are beautiful and I loved the format of the story, however, I had some issues with the content.