Product Description

Osbert Lancaster was one of the most famous artistic personalities of his generation. National fame sprang from his invention of the pocket cartoon, which first appeared in 1939 in Beaverbrook's Daily Express. Over the next forty years, he created a cast of characters, headed by the straight talking Countess, Maudie Littlehampton, which, every day, kept the nation chuckling. Osbert's witty depictions of architectural styles, such as Stockbrokers' Tudor and Curzon Street Baroque brought him to prominence in the 1930s. After the war, he became one of the leading theatre and opera designers. He was also a brilliant illustrator working with friends and contemporaries such as Anthony Powell, John Piper and Nancy Mitford. This beautifully illustrated book covers the full range of his work and will be a revelation to those discovering his art and humour for the first time. Publication will coincide with a centenary exhibition, curated by James Knox, at the Wallace Collection in London.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #93995 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Review
A splendid homage to cartoonist and illustrator Osbert Lancaster. (Publishing News )

A beautifully presented book…Knox accompanies a bounty of illustration with a text that complements, providing real insight into Lancaster, his inspirations, friends and contemporaries. (Publishing News )

About the Author
Sir Osbert Lancaster produced several books on architecture, and from 1939 onwards he produced cartoons for the Daily Express, using his character Maudie Littlehampton to satirise upper-class preoccupations. He died in 1986.

James Knox wrote the acclaimed biography of cult 1930s travel writer, Robert Byron, published by John Murray in 2003, which was hailed by Patrick Leigh Fermor as "surpassing all expectations." Byron was a contemporary and friend of Lancaster's and their social worlds overlapped. Knox has also written extensively about art and architecture for Country Life, The Spectator and The Daily Telegraph. He has broadcast on Byron for the BBC and spoken at literary festivals. Knox is also a publisher with an MBA. He ran The Spectator in the 1980s and is currently Managing Director of The Art Newspaper, the "bible of the art world". In 2007, Knox was also highly instrumental in saving for the nation, Dumfries House, an Adam masterpiece filled with Chippendale furniture.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Book
Wonderful cartoons and good background descriptions. As entertaining and topical as when they were first drawn. Colour plates and black and white illustrations as well as family photographs. If you had a chance to see the exhibition this book is a bonus but if you missed the exhibition then this book gives you access to all the wonderful art work and humour of Osbert Lancaster.

Sheer delight
We have purchased three copies of this book,one to keep,one for an artistic and architectural part of our family and one for our best ever near neighbours. In addition strong recommendations have been made to many friends. The charm and delight of the most splendid Osbert's sketches, cartoons and life are treasures to be safely guarded and returned to often. Do buy and enjoy this genius of a book and be like us in giving a most delightful and thoroughly appreciated present.