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By HARRY ERNE
In the early 1960s HARRY ERNE – the EARL
OF ERNE – wrote a story for his three children and a
friend, the illustrator RAOUL MILLAIS offered to do some drawings
for it.
He did so, but nothing further came of the venture until
a few years ago.
RAOUL MILLAIS died in 1999 aged 98. When his family were clearing
out his house they found literally thousands of drawings and
paintings and among them was a folder containing the original
story and art work for FREDDY LONG EARS.
A mutual friend of HARRY ERNE and Susan Hill suggested that
Long Barn Books might be interested in it. By a piece of serendipity
we were in the process of re-publishing two children`s books
which had also been illustrated by RAOUL MILLAIS and the story
of FREDDY LONG EARS was an obvious next title for our children`s
list.
The book is a classic story for the 5-8 age range but has
also considerable interest for RAOUL MILLAIS admirers and
collectors.
THE EARL OF ERNE of Crom Castle, Newtown Butler, is the LORD
LIEUTENANT OF CO. FERMANAGH.
The launch party for the book was given Christies Fine Art
at their St James`s rooms and over 400 people came to celebrate
publication and buy the book, including the author`s family
and member of the Millais family and many friends, including
HRH the DUKE OF KENT. |
