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Arabel and Mortimer #9
Mortimer's Portrait on Glass
64 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1877
About the author
Joan Aiken
335 books607 followersJoan Aiken was a much loved English writer who received the MBE for services to Children's Literature. She was known as a writer of wild fantasy, Gothic novels and short stories.
She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, Conrad Aiken (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry), and her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge. She worked for the United Nations Information Office during the second world war, and then as an editor and freelance on Argosy magazine before she started writing full time, mainly children's books and thrillers. For her books she received the Guardian Award (1969) and the Edgar Allan Poe Award (1972).
Her most popular series, the "Wolves Chronicles" which began with The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, was set in an elaborate alternate period of history in a Britain in which James II was never deposed in the Glorious Revolution,and so supporters of the House of Hanover continually plot to overthrow the Stuart Kings. These books also feature cockney urchin heroine Dido Twite and her adventures and travels all over the world.
Another series of children's books about Arabel and her raven Mortimer are illustrated by Quentin Blake, and have been shown on the BBC as Jackanory and drama series. Others including the much loved Necklace of Raindrops and award winning Kingdom Under the Sea are illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski.
Her many novels for adults include several that continue or complement novels by Jane Austen. These include Mansfield Revisited and Jane Fairfax.
Aiken was a lifelong fan of ghost stories. She set her adult supernatural novel The Haunting of Lamb House at Lamb House in Rye (now a National Trust property). This ghost story recounts in fictional form an alleged haunting experienced by two former residents of the house, Henry James and E. F. Benson, both of whom also wrote ghost stories. Aiken's father, Conrad Aiken, also authored a small number of notable ghost stories.
She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, Conrad Aiken (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry), and her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge. She worked for the United Nations Information Office during the second world war, and then as an editor and freelance on Argosy magazine before she started writing full time, mainly children's books and thrillers. For her books she received the Guardian Award (1969) and the Edgar Allan Poe Award (1972).
Her most popular series, the "Wolves Chronicles" which began with The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, was set in an elaborate alternate period of history in a Britain in which James II was never deposed in the Glorious Revolution,and so supporters of the House of Hanover continually plot to overthrow the Stuart Kings. These books also feature cockney urchin heroine Dido Twite and her adventures and travels all over the world.
Another series of children's books about Arabel and her raven Mortimer are illustrated by Quentin Blake, and have been shown on the BBC as Jackanory and drama series. Others including the much loved Necklace of Raindrops and award winning Kingdom Under the Sea are illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski.
Her many novels for adults include several that continue or complement novels by Jane Austen. These include Mansfield Revisited and Jane Fairfax.
Aiken was a lifelong fan of ghost stories. She set her adult supernatural novel The Haunting of Lamb House at Lamb House in Rye (now a National Trust property). This ghost story recounts in fictional form an alleged haunting experienced by two former residents of the house, Henry James and E. F. Benson, both of whom also wrote ghost stories. Aiken's father, Conrad Aiken, also authored a small number of notable ghost stories.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 23, 2018
This gem of a book, wonderful for those moderately fluent readers, with its short 64 pages, nice, large font and illustrated with some of Blake's finest work (I think Mortimer and he had a special connection because he draws him perfectly), Mortimer's Portrait on Glass tells the story of Arabel's family as they travel, by caravan, to the town of Ballyshoe in the hope of spotting dinosaur prints preserved in the peat.
The Arabel and Mortimer stories were written solely for the BBC as part of the Jackanory programme. Aiken, Blake and Cribbins would work together for a decade bringing their stories to life and I am so glad that I have discovered them. These stories are wise, funny and all bound by the cheeky, charming Mortimer who I have no doubt, children would love. It is also worth noting that Dahl's Matilda, many years later, bears many hallmarks of the old-before-her-time, Arabel who, perhaps, reads Mortimer better than Mortimer knows himself.
The Arabel and Mortimer stories were written solely for the BBC as part of the Jackanory programme. Aiken, Blake and Cribbins would work together for a decade bringing their stories to life and I am so glad that I have discovered them. These stories are wise, funny and all bound by the cheeky, charming Mortimer who I have no doubt, children would love. It is also worth noting that Dahl's Matilda, many years later, bears many hallmarks of the old-before-her-time, Arabel who, perhaps, reads Mortimer better than Mortimer knows himself.
June 24, 2020
A fantastic book to share with children, accompanied with first class illustrations by Quentin Blake.
January 17, 2023
Blimey, didn't expect one of THOSE
November 22, 2015
I needed a quick read to get this year's 52 book challenge back on track and I stumbled upon this on You Tube.
It's my first Joan Aiken book and it's a fun little story for young children. If you have a young child I'd recommend this one. It's got all the ingredients to keep them listening. Great fun, even for us older creatures :)
4/5
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews