Raymond Briggs' now famous bestselling comic cartoon book depicts the effects of a nuclear attack on an elderly couple in his usual humorous yet macabre way.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Browse the best books of summer including blockbusters, beach reads, and editors' picks in our Summer Reading Store. |
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Raymond Briggs is one of the foremost creators of illustrated books for adults and children, including the unforgettable The Snowman and Father Christmas. THE BASICS THE BOOKSRaymond Briggs' parents have proved an important source of inspiration to the author/artist. His father was a milkman; his mother a former lady's maid. Raymond's unique characterisation of Father Christmas is based on his father - "Father Christmas and the milkman both have wretched jobs: working in the cold, wet and dark." His parents also influenced the character of Jim and Hilda, the victims of nuclear fall-out, in When The Wind Blows. Raymond left school aged 15 to study painting at Wimbledon School of Art. After completing a typography course at the Central School of Art, and two years of National Service, Raymond went on to the Slade School to study painting. His first work was in advertising, but before long he was winning acclaim as a children's book illustrator as well as teaching illustration at Brighton College of Art. Raymond was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1966 for his fourth picture book, The Mother Goose Treasury, and again in 1973 for Father Christmas. Published in 1978, The Snowman is perhaps Raymond's best-loved creation. He says that the book was partly inspired by its predecessor, Fungus The Bogeyman - "For two years I worked on Fungus, buried amongst muck, slime and words, so... I wanted to do something which was clean, pleasant, fresh and wordless and quick."Born: Wimbledon Park, January 18th 1934*Jobs: Artist, WriterLives: SussexFirst Book for Children: The Strange House, 1961*Raymond shares his birthday with A A Milne and Arthur Ransome
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 43 people found the following review helpful
By T. Hewson
Format:Paperback
This review is for ISBN 057311496X which I bought thinking that it was the illustrated version. This book is a play adapted from the original, although you would have no way of knowing from the online description. There are many different editions of this wonderful book so be careful that you order the right one.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Jan Strnad
Format:Paperback
When the Wind Blows is a classic of modern literature. It's one of the all-time best books I've ever read and it's tragic that it's been allowed to fall out of print. Get a used copy. Track it down. Look for it misfiled in the children's section...it's an illustrated book but it definitely isn't kiddie fare. When the Wind Blows is wonderful, just wonderful.
13 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
this is a well disguised scary story - it starts out all nice and gentle, and the BAM before you realize your reading about nuclear fall out. it's very very scary, and depressing.
Timely to say the least ...
we are being told to protect our homes with Plastic drop cloths and duct tape... they were told to use wooden doors... read it and start thinking.
all that being said
it's beautifully illustrated - and well worth tracking down a copy.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Edgy, Sad Piece of Apocalyptic Fiction in a Graphic Novel
Reason for Reading: I was posting a review on another site when this book was recommended for me. I'd never heard of it before but since I love apocalyptic books and Brigg's... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Nicola Manning
5.0 out of 5 stars
When the Wind Blows:my amazon experience
I have ordered a few things through Amazon and this particular item is SO SPECIAL to me I got three, the book,the vhs,&the dvd. Read more
Published 21 months ago by sissy5000
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic
I first came across this book in 1994 when I was in Uni, when I discovered it in a friend's house. After I read it, I was so struck by the story that I knew I needed to get my own... Read more
Published on August 8, 2010 by Anis
3.0 out of 5 stars
Old But Not Outdated
I was so impressed with Raymond Briggs' Ethel & Ernest from last month that I decided to read his other graphic novel When the Wind Blows which is also in the 500 Essential Graphic... Read more
Published on May 20, 2010 by D. Sorel
4.0 out of 5 stars
Graphic SF Reader
The cold war sucked, you then got this. Thanks for nothing all those electing senile bad actors to be in charge of scary nuclear arsenals. Read more
Published on September 3, 2007 by Blue Tyson
2.0 out of 5 stars
When the Wind Blows
A fantastic book so real.....however the copy I received wasn't in very good condition - the spin was all broken so I was a bit disappointed in this.... Read more
Published on January 11, 2007 by Tanya L. Trass
4.0 out of 5 stars
Please buy this book!
Raymond Briggs here presents us with a disarmingly gentle, warm, humorous graphic novel, about a regular blue collar couple trying to understand, and to prepare for, the ultimate... Read more
Published on March 11, 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
We never learn do we?
As we see our government moving inexorably towards war, and we are told to seal ourselves in with duct tape, the timeless message of these two sad, simple souls who trusted their... Read more
Published on February 25, 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
The ever-timely Raymond Briggs...
With the US calling for "code orange" alert & suggesting duct tape & plastic for our windows to protect us from the unseen terrors of nuclear or biological... Read more
Published on February 12, 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why is this book out of print?
At a time when we all need to know more, and to know it not just through our intellect but through our emotional and personal dimensions as well, how can it be that this book is... Read more
Published on May 22, 2002 by Fiona
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
