The Life and Works of Alfred Bestall: Illustrator of Rupert Bear

The result of many years' careful and painstaking research, the author has pieced together the life of her godfather Alfred ('Fred') Bestall, who illustrated Rupert Bear in the Daily Express for thirty years (the only day he missed was to make way for Churchill's war speech). The artwork and his diaries were bequeathed by Fred Bestall to the author with the words 'you will probably want to make a bonfire of this' - which would have been a tragedy. Caroline Bott has lovingly collected Bestall's work, ranging from incisive cartoons for Punch to romantic, dreamy watercolours, and of course his Rupert Bear illustrations, with his war-time diaries to paint a remarkable picture of a gentle, very generous man, who was loved by all who met him.

Alfred Bestall was an artist of enormous breadth and talent. As well as his celebrated Rupert Bear stories, his work ranged from cartoons for PUNCH to romantic, dreamy watercolors for THE TATLER. Caroline Bott spent years researching the life of her godfather, drawing on his diaries, sketchbooks, letters, and photos, all of which were bequeathed to her. In recounting his experiences in World War I and his remarkable travels to Egypt and the Middle East, the man who emerges is gentle, generous, and loved by all who met him. Abundantly illustrated with Bestall’s work, this book is an enchanting piece of pure nostalgia and a slice of time gone by.