mammybearsbooks Blog Fairies-Cicely_Mary_Barker 20200331

Mammy Bears Books 31 March · More on Fairies...I know, but they are so wonderful and it will be the last so I must mention the venerated "Fairy" illustrator and poet Cicely Mary Barker. (1895-1973). Her work depicting flowers as fairies are, to me, although not an original idea, is the most delightful. Fairies became a popular theme in art and literature in the early 20th century following the release of "Peter Pan' by J M Barrie along with "The Coming of the Fairies" by Arthur Conan Doyle, and the fairy-themed work of our beloved Ida Rentoul Outhwaite whose postcards on the subject were very popular. Talking of which in 1918, Barker produced a postcard series depicting elves and fairies. And previously to this, in 1911 the publishers Raphael Tuck and Sons, purchased four of her drawings...for 'half a sovereign'... and published them as postcards. Her Flower Fairies Collection of small books depicting the flowers of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter; along with Trees, in the Garden and the Flower Fairy Alphabet still delight both adults and children today. If you love Fairies, Cicely Mary Barker is a name to add to your collection