Aha

by Rex Whistler, Laurence Whistler

Innovative drawings challenge both mind and eye in this collection of black-and-white portraits of historical and fictional characters in which each set of features produces two recognizable characters as the book is turned upside down

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Robin Helweg-Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most unusual volumes of poetry, because the poems are far less engaging and memorable than the illustrations for which they were made. The witty and whimsical British artist, Rex Whistler, produced a series of drawings of people which, when turned upside down, show a different but related person; his brother Laurence produced poems to describe the relationships. The front and back covers are identical--except that there is no front and back; the book can be opened and read from either end. There are two poems facing each illustration, the lower one describing the face you see, the upper one appearing upside down... until you turn the book around and find it describes the other face.

The nurse and the patient; the old man and the young one; the panicked householder calling the Fire Department and the fireman delighted to have work; the glum Mayor of Standon Ceremony and the gleeful Madam the Mayor of Stanster Reason...

The illustrations were done in the 1930s; Rex Whistler was killed in the Second World War, and the book with Laurence's poems came out in 1946 as '¡OHO!'. The subsequent edition, 'AHA', was published in 1978 to include seven more of the double portraits, four very engaging, two less so, while one is an unprepossessing Henry VIII with Anne of Cleves; though without verses for any of them. But the poetry is clearly incidental, anyway... Google "Rex Whistler OHO" and revel in the images.

[Miss Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book and illustrations.