Kubla Khan: A Pop-Up Version of Coleridge's Classic

by Nick Bantock (Illustrator), Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Coleridge's famous poem is accompanied by pop-up illustrations that emphasize its remote and mysterious spirit

Genres: Poetry, Art, Fiction, Literature, Childrens, Classics

Hardcover

First published May 25, 1816

About the author

Nick was schooled in England and has a BA in Fine Art (painting). He has authored 25 books, 11 of which have appeared on the best seller lists, including 3 books on The New York Times top ten at one time. Griffin & Sabine stayed on that list for over two years. His works have been translated into 13 languages and over 5 million have been sold worldwide. Once named by the classic SF magazine Weird Tales as one of the best 85 storytellers of the century. He has written articles and stories for numerous international newspapers and magazines. His Wasnick blogs are much followed on Facebook and Twitter. His paintings, drawings, sculptures, collages and prints have been exhibited in shows in UK, France and North America. In 2010 Nick's major retrospective exhibition opened at the MOA in Denver. His works are in private collections throughout the world. Nick has a lifetime BAFTA (British Oscar) for the CD-ROM game Ceremony of Innocence, created with Peter Gabriel's Real World, featuring Isabella Rossolini and Ben Kingsley. He has two iPad apps, Sage and The Venetian and is working on a third. Three of his books have been optioned for film and his stage play based on the Griffin & Sabine double trilogy premiered in Vancouver in 2006.

Produced artwork for more than 300 book covers (including works by Roth and Updike), illustrated Viking Penguin's new translation of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. He's designed theater posters for the London plays of Tom Stoppard and Alec Guinness.

For 20 years Bantock has spoken and read to audiences throughout North America, Europe and Australia. Given keynote and motivational speeches to corporations and teachers state conferences. He's given dramatic readings on the radio and the stage and has been interviewed (way too many times) for TV, radio and print.

Bantock has worked in a betting shop in the East End of London, trained as a psychotherapist, designed and built a house that combined an Indonesian temple and a Russian orthodox church with an English cricket pavilion and a New Orleans bordello. Between 2007 and 2010 was one of the twelve committee members responsible for selecting Canada's postage stamps.

Among the things Bantock can't do: Can't swim, never ridden a horse, his spelling is dreadful and his singing voice is flat as a pancake.

Source: Nick Bantock - profile

Reviews

[Sharon Barrow Wilfong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply fantastical art in pop-up form illustrating Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem. And unlike the Walrus and the Carpenter, even though this is not really a poem for children, I find that children love this book. Maybe it's my presentation (blush) or maybe the pop-ups really capture their attention.

Anyway, a lovely book.

[Seizure Romero · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Pop-Up Version of Coleridge's Classic"

There are some sentences you are simply surprised to read.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastical interpretation of “Kubla Khan,” one of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s most well-know pieces. I always have mixed feelings when seeing art and poetry together when it isn’t a true collaboration, since poetry demands the reader to create pictures for themselves. However, this is a demanding view of Coleridge’s work and it is an engaging way to discuss what it means. Definitely recommended, though read the poem without Bantock’s provocative art first so you can form your own ideas first.

[Erin Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently I really really don’t like Coleridge. I do love Bantock’s art though, and pop up books are underrated.

[Geo Hendrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I have to read the book! I guess they did a good job in just putting enough in this little book to make you want more. Pop-Up are Excellent.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strange (i.e. very Bantock) pop-ups illustrate Coleridge's dream of a poem. Puzzling my way slowly through the words and pictures as part of a very lazy Sunday!

[Bobby Boelhouwer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Certified banger.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inventive and aesthetic way of making the Coleridge poem more accessible.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mmmmmm. Nick Bantock. I recently decided to re-research Nick Bantock books and see if his missing missing 5-6 books from my collection had finally dropped from being $60-$300 a book. In a windfall, I managed to pick up a handful of them at the end of the summer, this one included.

This, like all 6 books in the Griffin & Sabine Collection, is gorgeous. The poem is well known, so it makes a beautiful foundation for all of his art and the ways he lets you interact with the page, again. I cannot wait to start reading the other books that came along wiht this one.

[Nara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This gets two stars just for existing. The pop-ups are trippy and abstract and even wierder than Bantock's usual stuff, and I don't like them much, but it's a pop-up Coleridge, which is just...priceless.

[Chris Schneider · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is a great idea-- turning classic poetry into an artful pop up book. But... the art just is not strong, and the pop ups are rather gratuitous for the most part. I want this to work. Maybe I will have to spend more time with it.

[Beth Shields-Szostak]

pop-up book based on poem by Coleridge

[Bear · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the pterodactyl!

[Tycelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Nick Bantock's art and his books. This is a pop-up book of Coleridge's poem--magical, mystical images coming at you by Bantock and Coleridge's fantastical poem combine--Love it.