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The Little Grey Men: A Story for the Young in Heart
304 pages, Library Binding
Published October 1, 2004
About the author
Denys Watkins-Pitchford
91 books12 followersDenys James Watkins-Pitchford MBE (25 July 1905–8 September 1990) was a British naturalist, children's writer, and illustrator who wrote under the pseudonym "B.B.".
Denys Watkins-Pitchford was born in Lamport, Northamptonshire on the 25th July 1905. He was the second son of the Revd. Walter Watkins-Pitchford and his wife, Edith. His elder brother, Engel, died at the age of thirteen. Denys was himself considered to be delicate as a child, and because of this was educated at home, while his younger twin, Roger, was sent away to school. He spent a great deal of time on his own, wandering through the fields, and developed a love of the outdoors, which was to influence his writing. He had a great love of the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing and drawing, all these things were to influence his writing greatly. At the age of fifteen, he left home and went to study at the Northampton School of Art. He won several prizes while there, but was irked by the dry, academic approach, and longed to be able to draw from life.
While at the Northampton School of Art, Denys won a travelling scholarship to Paris. He was later to say that he could not remember how long he had spent in Paris, but Quinn suggests (p. 50) that it was probably about three months. He worked at a studio in Montparnasse, and attended drawing classes. It is unknown exactly where he studied. In the autumn of 1924, he entered the Royal College of Art in London. In 1930 he became an assistant art master at Rugby School where he remained for seventeen years. While at Rugby School he was to begin contributing regularly to the Shooting Times and start his career as an author and illustrator. He wrote under the nom de plume of '"BB"', a name based on the size of lead shot he used to shoot geese, but he maintained the use of his real name as that of the illustrator in all his books. He later illustrated books by other writers, and sold his own paintings locally.
Denys Watkins-Pitchford was born in Lamport, Northamptonshire on the 25th July 1905. He was the second son of the Revd. Walter Watkins-Pitchford and his wife, Edith. His elder brother, Engel, died at the age of thirteen. Denys was himself considered to be delicate as a child, and because of this was educated at home, while his younger twin, Roger, was sent away to school. He spent a great deal of time on his own, wandering through the fields, and developed a love of the outdoors, which was to influence his writing. He had a great love of the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing and drawing, all these things were to influence his writing greatly. At the age of fifteen, he left home and went to study at the Northampton School of Art. He won several prizes while there, but was irked by the dry, academic approach, and longed to be able to draw from life.
While at the Northampton School of Art, Denys won a travelling scholarship to Paris. He was later to say that he could not remember how long he had spent in Paris, but Quinn suggests (p. 50) that it was probably about three months. He worked at a studio in Montparnasse, and attended drawing classes. It is unknown exactly where he studied. In the autumn of 1924, he entered the Royal College of Art in London. In 1930 he became an assistant art master at Rugby School where he remained for seventeen years. While at Rugby School he was to begin contributing regularly to the Shooting Times and start his career as an author and illustrator. He wrote under the nom de plume of '"BB"', a name based on the size of lead shot he used to shoot geese, but he maintained the use of his real name as that of the illustrator in all his books. He later illustrated books by other writers, and sold his own paintings locally.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 31, 2024
Sometimes it's wondrous to go back and read an old novel for the flavor of language connected to a place, and the knowing of things most people now have forgotten. And by this I don't mean gnomes - which is what the story is about. I loved almost every word of it, though I still don't know why the title is the little GREY men, because they were not described as grey in the book and were always referred to as gnomes - except for some more specific descriptions like one being a "lantern"man.
Well, the thing is the author is also the illustrator of some wonderful woodcuts throughout the book. The cover art here is by Eric Bowman, and the jacket design by Hilary Zaryky. For reasons I don't understand, he chose to use a pseudonym for his writing but not his art.
On the back flap in part - " BB was also the author of many nonfiction titles for adults about the natural world and the illustrator of many beautiful books about England and its wildlife."
This shows thoroughly throughout the amazing tale in so much detailed description of birds, animals - with names I was unfamiliar due to either not being common in America, or usage of the word is uncommon here or today. Or perhaps just my lack of nature knowledge. But it inspired me to research much and learn much, and I can hope there would be children who would also love to do such, wondering what sort of animal is a water-vole or a wood-dog. What kind of boat can be made from a frog skin which the gnomes call a coracle? BB's details are based on real facts, which makes the believing more real if desired.
However, even if you choose to disbelieve, it's a tale that keeps giving richness without ever bogging down in info dumps. All the info is fascinating, and though I'd prefer it if a young boy in the book doesn't go on a fox hunt, it is part of the local history.
This book is actually a classic English novel that Julie Andrews brought back into print in a collection with her name. I hope more people will wander inside its covers. I was on a search for all books about little people when I ran across this in my library search online.
I also hope people will stop making judgements about what types of books our children want to and don't want to read at any age. If a child can read Harry Potter, they should be able to read this. If a parent is patient, they might read aloud to their child or listen to an older one read, or take turns... building the love of where stories can take us. This one is full of nature, of challenges, of imagining, and problem solving.
Well, the thing is the author is also the illustrator of some wonderful woodcuts throughout the book. The cover art here is by Eric Bowman, and the jacket design by Hilary Zaryky. For reasons I don't understand, he chose to use a pseudonym for his writing but not his art.
On the back flap in part - " BB was also the author of many nonfiction titles for adults about the natural world and the illustrator of many beautiful books about England and its wildlife."
This shows thoroughly throughout the amazing tale in so much detailed description of birds, animals - with names I was unfamiliar due to either not being common in America, or usage of the word is uncommon here or today. Or perhaps just my lack of nature knowledge. But it inspired me to research much and learn much, and I can hope there would be children who would also love to do such, wondering what sort of animal is a water-vole or a wood-dog. What kind of boat can be made from a frog skin which the gnomes call a coracle? BB's details are based on real facts, which makes the believing more real if desired.
However, even if you choose to disbelieve, it's a tale that keeps giving richness without ever bogging down in info dumps. All the info is fascinating, and though I'd prefer it if a young boy in the book doesn't go on a fox hunt, it is part of the local history.
This book is actually a classic English novel that Julie Andrews brought back into print in a collection with her name. I hope more people will wander inside its covers. I was on a search for all books about little people when I ran across this in my library search online.
I also hope people will stop making judgements about what types of books our children want to and don't want to read at any age. If a child can read Harry Potter, they should be able to read this. If a parent is patient, they might read aloud to their child or listen to an older one read, or take turns... building the love of where stories can take us. This one is full of nature, of challenges, of imagining, and problem solving.
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