Vale. Raymond Briggs
The last page of Raymond Briggs’ life is turned and the story ended. Yesterday he closed his eyes to his last image of this world. I wonder if, as some say happens, he saw his own life pass before his eyes and, if so, was it in a luminously illustrated and boundlessly humourous series of cartooned characterisations, accompanied by, elegantly witty, often satirical and always apposite but accessible prose, compacted with masterly craft into simple speech bubbles?
Raymond Briggs’ contribution to children’s literature has been immense and will, in my view, be long remembered and fondly, by all who have experience it or who have its wonders yet to be discovered.
His work certainly enriched my own life. He showed me that picture-books need not be inconsequential, facile pastiches of lowest common denominator, garish, primary coloured but characterless protagonists engaged in simplistic, unedifying, uninteresting ‘adventures’, devoid of significance, developmental or informative merit or imaginative nourishment.
I grew, of a poor family, in a world devastated, aggrieved and transformed by the largest war in history. I reached majority at the height of the Cold War and experienced active service with the British forces as they withdrew from their last Middle East outpost. Perhaps that had some influence on why, when much later I came across Raymond Briggs whilst studying Children’s Literature, I found such affinity with his work.
When the wind blows introduced me to Briggs’ work. It is a masterful and witty satire that immediately brought to mind the reality of the political reaction at home in England in response to the threat of nuclear war. As a member of the RAF I had guarded the ‘V’ Bombers which constituted the British nuclear deterrent. They were the Victor, Valiant and aesthetically beautiful Vulcan, hence the abbreviated designation. Purportedly, there would be a 4 minute warning of any launch of a nuclear missile from the Soviet Union and as these aircraft were nuclear armed and, being already in the air, could retaliate before Britain was hit. Fortunately, the accuracy of this prediction never had to be tested.
What was very real, however, was the nonsensical information provided to the British public as to how they could and should survive any nuclear attack. That our politicians could seriously suggest the measures they did was as laughable as the subject was serious. Briggs captures it wonderfully and the book is as suitable for young children as it is for teenagers and adults, and is an example of Briggs adeptness at conveying a message on multiple levels to suit a wide range of understanding, reading ability, vocabulary and maturity.
I could probably write reams about each of his books but I’d suggest, instead, that you look them up and read them for yourself. I’d be interested to hear of what you think if his work is new to you or if you are well acquainted with it.
Other favourites of mine are:
The Tin pot foreign general and the old iron woman.
Father Christmas
Fungus the bogeyman
The Snowman
Gentleman Jim
….
Vale Raymond Briggs — and thank you.
