Synopsis
Richly detailed, luminous paintings by a renowned Russian artist highlight an adaptation of the best-known story from Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, Gulliver's remarkable encounter with the tiny inhabitants of Lilliput.
Reviews
Grade 3-4-Swift's satire has elements that have always appealed to children-high adventure, detailed fantasy, and scatological humor. The challenge in adapting an edition is to somehow keep the author's cynical, political voice and not reduce the story to a series of merry sea adventures. The best of the 17 versions now in print, James Riordan's Gulliver's Travels (Oxford University Pr., 1992) does exactly that. In contrast, Beneduce's book, however lushly illustrated, retains too little of the original to offer readers an adequate introduction. She omits Gulliver's shame at his body excretions, which Riordan includes; more importantly, she omits plot details that are basic to explaining the story's events. For example, readers are told that Lilliput is about to be invaded by Blefescu, but they are not told why. The serious dispute of the big and little enders is not mentioned. Beneduce has made an attempt to maintain the book's original tone, but has edited out its heart. In contrast to the spare text, Spirin's illustrations are a beautiful celebration of Lilliput. His fantastic paintings seem drawn from 17th century court life-the clothing, buildings, and ships have a dreamlike quality as well as a sense of historic accuracy. But the illustrations are not enough to salvage a text that is a bare-bones travelogue, not an early introduction to a rich novel.
Kathleen Whalin, Belfast Public Library, ME
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Swift's classic novel provides excellent fodder for this intelligent picture book, rendered as Gulliver's account of his time in Lilliput. Without sacrificing Swift's leonine wit, Beneduce minimizes the political themes, presenting the work as a satisfyingly fanciful adventure story. Spirin's lustrous, painterly art has a wonderful air of antiquity, a slight formality which gives the travelogue a feeling of authenticity. With his extraordinary attention to detail, each spread yields a wealth of interesting minutiae. Beautifully designed pages underline a nautical theme, as the text is placed on halyards while knots and anchors decorate borders. Warm sepia tones are often highlighted with unexpected bright spots--emerald greens and rich reds--analogous to the sparks of humor injected into the scientifically precise text. A well-realized production, this book is sophisticated, accessible and fun. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
A tastefully abridged version of Gulliver's first adventure. Despite severe shortening and some rephrasing, Beneduce preserves continuity as well as the flavor of Swift's narrative, and even a soup‡on of its satire--``...members of the government are chosen not for their character or intelligence, but for their skill at rope-dancing.'' Spirin's elaborate borders and paintings have an appropriately antique look, combining the dress and artistic conventions of several historical periods with darkened colors and a yellowish cast suggesting the patina of old varnish. A richly comic teaser for Riordan's earthier adaptation (Gulliver's Travels, 1992) or even the timeless original. (Picture book. 9-12) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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