Whether you’ve been shopping for Christmas since the summer and have only those difficult last presents to find, or have just now confronted the time of year and are beginning to panic, let me suggest that the perfect gift for anyone and everyone on your list is a book.
Think about it – a book works straight away (no batteries required), it’s easy to wrap, you don’t need to know what size to get, there is a book to suit everyone, and you’ll probably be able to borrow the book back! And if you think it’s rather old fashioned when there are so many gadgets and gizmos around, take another look at the craftsmanship of the latest titles – each book can showcase the skills of the designer, the illustrator, the typographer, the printer, as well as the author.
A perfect example is the delightful new picture book for adults by award-winning illustrator and author Emma Chichester Clark, called Plumdog. For the past couple of years, in between her commissions for children’s titles such as ‘The Blue Kangaroo’, Emma has been compiling a blog relating the adventures of her dog, called Plum. Drawn in Emma’s distinctive style, the blog has been collated into book form and is something to cherish. It’s beautiful to look at and charming to read and will strike a chord with dog owners, and also, dare I say it, win over cat lovers too – and there are even mentions of Aldeburgh to savour.
The Suffolk coastline and its countryside provide an infinite source of inspiration to artists and writers, we know, and this year the illustrator, watercolourist and stamp designer, David Gentleman has released a book explaining why the county is so special to him. Called In the Country, it has been produced by Saxmundham-based publisher Full Circle Books, and combines a very personal account from the artist about his home, the surrounding fields, the rivers and beaches, all accompanied by his stunning artwork.
There are artists and craftsman among the Cobbolds, but the family name, which is synonymous with Suffolk, is more often associated with the brewery industry and Ipswich Town Football Club. Historian Clive Hodges has worked with the Cobbold Family Archive to highlight the fascinating, wide-ranging achievements of other members of the family in a book called Cobbold and Kin published by local company, Boydell & Brewer. The lives of thirty-two of the family's most interesting and colourful characters are included representing industry and agriculture, the arts, public service, science, sport and military service.
A present day ambassador for our county is the singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. He has played in the most prestigious venues, won all the leading awards, and achieved huge commercial success yet is still in his twenties. Wisely, he felt that he hadn’t enough to say in an autobiography but, to satisfy his legions of fans and to champion the work of his friend, the artist Philip Butah, Ed has collaborated on a book about his life to date. Called A Visual Journey, and published by Cassell, it is a very readable account of his formative years interspersed with photographs, illustrations and portraits.
Encouraging children to have ambition while still very young are some charming picture books written by Andrea Beaty and quirkily illustrated by David Roberts. Rosie Revere Engineer is all about a young girl who secretly likes making things from discarded items. She is visited by an elderly aunt, who used to design aeroplanes, and is encouraged not to hide, but to celebrate her inventions. Iggy Peck Architect is about a boy who likes to make skyscrapers out of anything that’s easily to hand. His teacher frowns on his creations but on a school trip Iggy shows the world his true talent.
Books for children have long been a delight with ingenious lift-the-flaps, pop-ups and cut-outs adding to the colourful illustrations and light-hearted text. Recognising that parents want to be entertained by these books, too, publishers are becoming increasingly more inventive (colouring books for adults, billed as ‘art therapy’ are proving hugely popular) and also playing with the classics and retro look.
My favourites at the moment are the Countablock, from Abrams Appleseed, a small, square board book, providing a cut-out number on one page, and more details of the image on the next spread, all from one to 100. There’s also a lovely board book called The Busy Bookshop which shows customers enjoying the books with rotating pages and revealing images under flaps and along tags.
There are no flaps, cut-outs or lavish illustrations in the books published by Persephone Books. Instead they have dignified, understated, grey covers, but inside there is delightful typeface, quality paper, and glorious endpapers carefully chosen to reflect the era of the book.
Persephone republishes books, mainly novels, which have gone out of print, and brings them to a new audience. ‘The Persephone Diary’ celebrates the range of titles now available by including their opening sentences, and showcasing the 110 endpaper designs - it is the perfect gift for a booklover. Or, if you know a passionate cook, why not give them the Persephone reissue of ‘The Country Life Cookery Book’ which was written by Ambrose Heath in 1937 and illustrated by Eric Ravilious.
The artwork for cookery books over the years is highlighted in a marvellous new collection of postcards from Penguin. The box contains 100 front covers of cookbooks, from the much-loved Elizabeth David to more obscure titles such as ‘The I Hate to Cook Book’!
Your serious cooks, though, might like to try out the spectacular dishes from the Middle East which are currently all the rage with Ottolenghi’s ‘Plenty More’ and Sabrina Ghayour’s award-winning ‘Persiana’. The dishes are colourful, delicious and exotic, and are works of art in their own right.
If you’re still struggling for ideas, can I make one further suggestion – visit one of Suffolk’s wonderful bookshops. Browse the shelves and displays and ask the friendly, informed staff what they might recommend. I guarantee you’ll enjoy the experience.
This article was published in the December issue of 'Suffolk' magazine.