Bookmarks: This is M. Sasek

This is M. Sasek book with a pile of the author's This is... book titles | H is for Home

The last book review we wrote was for an illustrated children’s book; this one’s not a children’s book, per se, but about a children’s author – our all time favourite – Miroslav Sasek. We were really anticipating this review copy’s arrival – we couldn’t wait to delve into more depth about the man whose books we avidly collect.

Portrait of Miroslav Sasek | H is for Home

It was originally published in the Czech language in 2014. This imprint – This is M. Sasek – has been published in 2018 by Universe Publishing, a division of Rizzoli International Publications, Inc.

This is M. Sasek title page | H is for Home

There’s a foreword by Martin Salisbury, an illustrator, author and Professor of Illustration at Cambridge School of Art. The rest of the text is written by Salisbury; Olga Černá, author and librarian and Pavel Ryska, artist, performer and historian of animation.

This is M. Sasek foreword | H is for Home

Sasek family history | H is for Home

We’re given a short account of the Sasek family and the artist’s childhood before embarking on his professional & personal history. The reader gains extraordinary insight through the inclusion of snippets from actual transcripts.

Sasek's work history | H is for Home

Sasek's work chronology | H is for Home

Letters from young fans obviously meant a great deal to Sasek. He kept many of them in his possession for the rest of his life and they form part of the rich family archive and artist’s estate which have been incorporated throughout this book.

Young fan letter to Sasek | H is for Home

Letters to Sasek | H is for Home

Many previously unseen sketches, letters, postcards, photographs and press cuttings have been reproduced within the pages giving us insight into the man as well as the artist.

Miroslav Sasek interview | H is for Home

We’re highlighting, below, his books in the chronological order in which he wrote and published them. Benjamin and the Thousand Sea Creatures of Captain Barnabas was the first, published in the Czech language in 1947.

Sasek's "Benjamin and the Thousand Sea Creatures of Captain Barnabas" | H is for Home

"This is Paris" by Sasek | H is for Home

"This is London" by Sasek | H is for Home

London Underground illustration from "This is London" by Sasek | H is for Home

"This is Rome" by Sasek | H is for Home

Barista illustration from "This is Rome" by Sasek | H is for Home

Sasek has been quoted as saying in an interview:

I originally wanted to do a series of three books – Paris, Rome, and London. I never thought it would go on and on.

However, the series did indeed go on, eventually totalling eighteen books! In addition, there’s a more recently published compilation edition entitled This is the World.

"This is New York" by Sasek | H is for Home

Unused drawing for "This is New York" by Sasek | H is for Home

"This is Munich" by Sasek | H is for Home

Illustrations from "This is San Francisco" and "This is Israel" by Sasek | H is for Home

"This is Cape Canaveral" by Sasek | H is for Home

Illustration of the Control Center from "This is Cape Canaveral" by Sasek | H is for Home

"This is Hong Kong" by Sasek | H is for Home

Crowd scene illustration from "This is Hong Kong" by Sasek | H is for Home

Money changer kiosk illustration from "This is Hong Kong" by Sasek | H is for Home

Sailors and local girls illustration from "This is Hong Kong" by Sasek | H is for Home

Hill houses illustration from "This is Hong Kong" by Sasek | H is for Home

"This is Australia" by Sasek | H is for Home

"This is Australia" by Sasek | H is for Home

Illustrations of hobbies and activities from "This is Australia" by Sasek | H is for Home

"Mike and the Modelmakers" by Sasek | H is for Home
As well as writing and illustrating books, Sasek was an extremely accomplished fine art painter.

"Little Boy with a Hoop" painting by Sasek | H is for Home "Lady with a Bull Dog" painting by Sasek | H is for Home

"Sewing Repair" painting by Sasek | H is for Home
His style – and in some cases, even subject matter – are very reminiscent of one of our other favourite artists, Bernard Buffet. Compare, for example, their depictions of the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris; Sasek’s below and Buffet’s here.

"Church in Bruges" painting by Sasek | H is for Home "Paris" painting by Sasek | H is for Home

This book is a must for any Sasek fan, aficionado or collector.

**Many thanks to Rizzoli International for the review copy**

I is for… Ireland

'I is for... Ireland' blog post banner

detail of vintage book cover, 'This is Ireland' by Miroslav Sasek | H is for Home

detail of vintage book cover, 'This is Ireland' by Miroslav Sasek | H is for Home

It’s been a while since we’ve done one of our alphabet blog posts – but the arrival of this book fitted in nicely with where we left off… so, I is for Ireland.

page from vintage book, 'This is Ireland' by Miroslav Sasek featuring Irish green double-decker buses | H is for Home

The book is from the This is… series by Miroslav Sasek.

page from vintage book, "This is Ireland" by Miroslav Sasek featuring Irish pub interior

We’ve mentioned him quite a few times in blogs but, any excuse!!

page from vintage book, "This is Ireland" by Miroslav Sasek featuring rolling green fields and sheep

We absolutely adore his stuff!

page from vintage book, "This is Ireland" by Miroslav Sasek featuring shop frontage of Patrick O'Brien general store

This is Ireland, published in 1964, is no exception. He captured the quiet countryside and the hustle & bustle of town life with equal charm – the scenery, buildings, characters – day to day life.

page from vintage book, "This is Ireland" by Miroslav Sasek featuring the busy main thoroughfare, O'Donnell Street

It’s been added to our ever growing pile of Sasek books – a pile that shows no sign of abating. Each new book is greeted with the same excited anticipation.

collection of vintage books by Miroslav Sasek | H is for Home

There were two more arrivals this week – This is Israel and This is New York.

pair of vintage books, "This is Isreal" and "This is New York" by Miroslav Sasek | H is for Home

They’re both very welcome additions to our collection…

page from vintage book, "This is New York" by Miroslav Sasek featuring skyscrapers and pink stretch Cadillac | H is for Home

New York in particular lends itself to his stylised characters and distortions of scale – just wonderful! Page after page of classic illustrations. The accompanying words are very sweet too.

page from vintage book, "This is New York" by Miroslav Sasek featuring an all American diner | H is for Home

We’ll post more illustrations from this particular book – they deserve a post of their own!