The Magic Hour

by Ian Beck

Inspired by the world-famous John Singer Sargent painting, Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose , this charming book brings the Victorian subjects to life

One long, hot summer, Lily and Rose are playing in the garden of a large country house when they spot a strange light. It must be fairies! Determined to catch them, they sneak out at sunset to find the fairies. However, things aren’t always what they seem.

Will Lily and Rose be disappointed or will they find something that’s magic in its own way? Based on the world-famous John Singer Sargent painting Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose, Ian Beck brings the subjects to life and reveals an inspirational world behind the painting.

Genres: Picture Books, Art

32 pages, Hardcover

Published October 29, 2019

About the author

Ian Archibald Beck (born 1947 in Brighton) is an English children's illustrator and author. In addition to his numerous children's books, he is also most famous for his cover illustration on Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album. He has sold more than a million copies of his books worldwide.

Reviews

[Amanda Lavelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely nostalgic feel to this book. Both I and my children enjoyed it.

[Sula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn in by its cover, clearly inspired by a favourite painting of mine 'Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose' by John Singer Sargent. Of course at the back of the book it is revealed that this painting was indeed the basis of the picture book. I love the idea of bringing paintings to life and giving a story to the people in them.

The illustrations are lovely, and (having not looked at the cover properly) I looked through thinking it looked similar to Ian Beck's style, which of course it turned out to be! For me though I didn't like the style of the people in this as much as some of his other works.

The only downside for me was that the words and the plot didn't feel particularly strong, and felt more an after-thought to bring to the pictures together.

[Nick Swarbrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two children explore the mysterious lights in their garden at night and become the subject of a painting by John Singer Sargent. Maybe the book is constrained by a bit of a worthy project, a sort of “book my godchild ought to like” feel, but actually this doesn’t impact too much, and the story and the illustrations are beautifully put together. Charming, gentle and it must be said the luminous art work is wonderful.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story with a Victorian setting inspired by the John Singer Sargent painting, Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose.