Averse to Beasts

by Nick Bantock, Annie Barrows (Editor)

Book by Bantock, Nick

Genres: Poetry, Art, Fiction

64 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1994

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

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started collecting anything by Nick Bantock as his Griffin and Sabine books were a major inspiration during my initial involvement in the mail art movement. More of that at http://www.planetdada.co.uk

[David Wurtsmith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember reading this as a kid. I thought a lot of the poems were funny and very memorable, and I still remember snatches of them to this day. A few went over my head, or mentioned words or ideas I didn't understand at the time. The illustrations were very nice, beautifully painted.

[Amber the Human · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. I wish the library version I got had come with the tape that Bantock read to go along with the book. Oh well. The rhymes are indeed pretty silly. The drawings are lovely, of course. Will keep searching out his work.

[Skochii · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned to play again with Averse to Beasts. Best shadow puppet play I ever produced.

[Jase · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book as do my children. My favourite book of poetry bar none.

[Diane]

Delightfully silly.