When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit.

KERR, Judith.

Published by London: Collins, 1971

About this Item

First edition, first impression, presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "To Betty, but for whom this book would have no illustrations, with love from Judy. 28.10.71". The recipient was Betty Willingale (1927-2021), "one of the pioneers of British television drama" (Guardian). We can trace only one other inscribed copy at auction in almost four decades. This title was reviewed in the Times Literary Supplement on 22 October 1971, strongly suggesting that this copy was inscribed during the month of publication. Willingale joined the BBC as assistant head to the BBC television script unit. She then became script editor for adaptations of classic literature and, later, producer. In 2009 she received a special award from BAFTA in recognition of her contribution to television. The author of The Tiger Who Came to Tea and the Mog series published this semi-autobiographical novel to present a child's perspective of escaping Nazi persecution. It is the first in the "Out of the Hitler Time" trilogy, published between 1971 and 1978. Willingale worked regularly with Judith Kerr and Kerr's husband, Nigel Kneale (1922-2006). The jacket blurb on this copy notes that Kerr "worked as a. scriptwriter for BBC Television". Kneale was a screenwriter for over 50 years and was credited as "having invented popular TV" (Gatiss). Kneale and Judith Kerr met at the BBC and were married in 1954. Betty Willingale was a close friend of both. Mark Gatiss, "The man who saw tomorrow", The Guardian, 2 November 2006; The Guardian, 7 March 2021. Octavo. Original red boards, spine lettered in silver. With dust jacket. With illustrations to text by the author. Head and foot of spine very slightly bumped, free endpapers slightly browned, minor foxing to top edge; extremities of unclipped jacket a little worn, some minor lifting of laminate, some creases, minor loss to rear panel not affecting text or illustration: a near-fine copy in very good jacket.

Seller Inventory # 190554

Bibliographic Details

• Title: When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit.
• Publisher: London: Collins, 1971
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)