In September 2012 I wrote and published a blog post about a Czech artist who had made a big impact on me as a child. You can read the post here. Just over ten years later, I received a message from Josef’s great granddaughter, Anežka, inviting me to get in touch if I wanted more information. I did so. We swapped messages, and I learned a little about Josef’s techniques with water, oils and ink. I learned Anežka was a fan of dark fiction, so I offered to send her some of my books. Fortunately, this did not put her off… in return, she told me her grandmother would allow me to have one of the original pieces of art from Treasure Island. It was a gesture of staggering generosity. I pored over the photographs of the pieces, trying to choose. But in the end, I had to go for the cover, with its bewitching greens. I can’t quite believe I now own an original painting from this beloved book. Perhaps more importantly, I can class Anežka and her family as friends of mine.
Published on June 15, 2023 01:11