Customer Reviews

Tres Riches Heures De Mrs Mole

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As a fan of Searle's since the Molesworth days, this little book stands out as a contrast to all of the rest of his work. This was a labor of love, and although clearly Searle, lacks the sly, sardonic nature of the rest of his work. Instead, they brim over with the love of his wife, and the tenderness with which he drew them. The drawings were never meant to be published; they were done to try to bring a little sunshine into her life as she underwent grueling chemotherapy over a long period of time. Given that she recently died, they are all the more touching. I am about as far from a sentimentalist as it gets, but the sweetness of these drawings puts a little sunshine into your soul...

I am not a follower of Ronald Searle's other work. I came across this after it was mentioned in a news article. This little book is a collection of pictures drawn for his wife while she underwent chemotherapy. Each picture shows Mrs. Mole enjoying something good in life, such as a beautiful sunset, the season's first snow fall, engaging in a hobby, planting a garden, hearing a bird sing, taking a hot bath, etc. They can stand as a precious reminder of beauty in the world even in the midst of illness or crisis. I think this little book would be a great gift for someone in need of a little help finding that beauty and joy again.