posted on 31 Jan 2016

Paul: the hero of the fire by Edward Ardizzone

Back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Puffin, the children’s arm of the Penguin publishing empire, produced small paperback classic reprints that were cheap ( 3/6p or 17p in new money) but really beautifully produced.

While these card covered reprints are not exactly rare, they are increasingly hard to find in very good condition and they can still be bought for very little – I don’t think the market has really yet caught up with just how hard these are going to be to find in the not too distant future.

Ardizzone’s Paul: the hero of the fire was originally released in 1948 and captures a slice of childhood in the immediate post war period. The story is, by today’s sophisticated standards, an absurd bit of childhood wish fulfilment. Paul’s middle-class parents have fallen on hard times and face having to sell the house. Paul overhears his distressed mother and resolves to do something to help but is unsure what it should be. He finally hits upon the idea of joining the next travelling fair that comes through town – which, armed with his carefully packed suitcase, he does. Paul ingratiates himself with the fairground acts and is eventually taken into their midst but tragedy waits just around the corner. A terrible fire breaks out and Paul, showing maturity beyond his years, saves the lives of both visitors to the fair and some of the circus animals.

He becomes an instant hero and is generously rewarded for his efforts – money which saves his parents from financial ruin and enables them to stay in their house.

Although the story at first view seems pretty crass and simplistic, it is actually quite skilfully done for it’s assumed audience. Children can easily identify with the emotional upset of the family distress and with their own role as a potential hero who saves the day. But the written story is only a part of the success of this tale – the illustrations are an integral part of the experience. Ardizzone brings the fair and it’s denizens to life in a vivid way – the clowns, the strongman, animal keepers and especially the dapper dwarf who befriends Paul.

A really lovely book that we picked up for a measly £2 and which you can also get for well under £10 is good condition.

 

Terry Potter

January 2016