Plath and Hughes for children Kamila Kowerska

To the fans of literature, Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, a marriage of outstanding writers and poets of the twentieth century, do not have to be introduced. But hardly anyone knows them as the authors of children's books. And it’s a pity, because Plath’s The It-Doesn't-Matter Suit and Ted Hughes and Jim Downer’s Timmy the Tug should have been included in the canon of children's literature a long time ago. Both books were published after the death of the authors, and fund accidentally by their inheritors.

For readers of Sylvia Plath, it may be a big surprise that The It-Doesn't-Matter Suit is a book addressed to children and parents. It turns out, however, that also in this genre Plath excels.

Little Max Nix, the main character of the story, lives with his parents and six brothers and sisters in a hidden among the snowy peaks Winkelburg. His biggest dream is to have a suit. Because only he, the youngest man in the family, does not have it. One day the postman brings to the Nixes’ house a package, and the "woolly, hairy, brand new, mustard-yellow" suit. But it was not an ordinary item of clothing…

The book about Max is an absolute must in a home library. This seemingly simple story is described by Plath in a fickle way and with a large dose of humour. But what is important, this is not a pretentious book or written with mannerism, which means that the parents, while reading, will have an opportunity to genuinely smile. The illustrations by Agnieszka Skopińska supplement the story.

Timmy the Tug by Ted Hughes and Jim Downer, although is not yet published in Polish, has a remarkable story of its creation and an interesting storyline, which make it impossible to forget about this book. It was written in the years 1953-1956, first published in 2009 by Thames & Hudson. Timmy the Tug, was created on the initiative of Downer who wanted to impress his fiancée, and while keeping it secret from her, he created illustrations and the rhyme. Then, he asked his friend, Ted Hughes, about his opinion. Ted, with his sincerity and biting tongue known from his poetry, replied that he liked the illustrations, but will write the text himself. So he borrowed the manuscript with the original drawings from Downer and never returned it. Fifty years later, Carol Hughes, Ted's last wife, arranging the archive of her late husband, came across Timmy the Tug and gave the manuscript back to Downer. He noted with surprise that Hughes really wrote his version of the text.

In such a way, a moving and beautifully illustrated rhyme about a little towing ship and his big dreams was created, which, like The It-Doesn't-Matter Suit will awake imagination and provide real entertainment; and those who understand the message hidden in metaphors, will get an amazing boost of self- confidence.

 

Kamila Kowerska

(born in 1987) - a graduate of history, a student of culture management at the Jagiellonian University. Director of MOCAK Bookstore.