The Four Seasons of Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem

“Her enduring stories about the mice of Brambly Hedge remain as beautiful today as when she first created them and will continue to be treasured by future generations. Jill was a lovely person with a rare talent to turn her astute observation of the English countryside into an enchanting miniature world,” she said.

“Her exquisite Brambly Hedge stories have enchanted children and many adult admirers across the world for more than 35 years. In 1996, the stories were adapted for television, using the voices of actors including Jim Broadbent and June Whitfield.Īnn-Janine Murtagh at HarperCollins said the publisher’s staff were all deeply saddened at the news of Barklem’s death. Each of the stories was deeply researched, and would take up to two years to finish all of the food that features in the stories, for example, was created by Barklem in her kitchen first, to see that it worked. They were followed by The Secret Staircase, The High Hills, Sea Story and Poppy’s Babies. She went on to publish Spring Story, Summer Story, Autumn Story and Winter Story in 1980. I certainly never imagined that one day I would write my own,” Barklem said. “I did not have a very clear idea of my future but assumed I would earn my living by illustrating other people’s books.

Illustration: Jill Barklemīarklem first conceived the stories in the 1970s, as she commuted from her Epping home into St Martin’s School of Art on the London underground. Explore the natural world with the mice of Brambly Hedge, who made their first appearance in 1980 when the four seasonal stories were published. See all books authored by Jill Barklem, including The Complete Brambly Hedge, and Summer Story, and more on. Hawthorn blossom, as pictured in one of the Brambly Hedge books. Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Brambly Hedge with this exquisite treasury containing all eight of the much-loved, classic picture books.

The Four Seasons of Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem