First edition of Gnomes by Wil Huygen and Rien Poortvliet. Imaginative, beautifully written and illustrated book of gnome life, biology, and myth.
Written by Wil Huygen. Illustrated by Rien Poortvliet. 1978, first English edition. Copyright Uniebook B.V./Van Holkema & Warendorf. Harry N. Abrams, Inc. Publishers, New York. Peacock Press/Bantam Books - Toronto, New York, London. (First published in the Netherlands in 1976.)
In the 1970s, Wil Huygen (1922 - 2009), a Dutch physician and writer, teamed with Rien Poortvliet (1932 - 1995), a Dutch artist, to present Gnomes with the same scientific detail as Audubon studied and drew birds. The result is a wonderful flight of imagination.
From the jacket:
"Do you know that a Gnome is seven times stronger than a human? Or that his sense of smell is nineteen times more acute? Or that Gnomes rub noses in both greeting and farewell? Or that Gnome couples always have twin children?
These and other fascinating real-life details...illuminate this first documentary portrayal of Gnomes (as distinct from Elves, Goblins, Trolls, Kobolds, Fairies). Poortvliet and his scientist friend Will Huygen have spent over twenty years observing the life and work of the Gnome, and their report at last shatters the age-old myths of song and legend.
Here are important events from Gnome history: the Gnome who knew Rembrandt reveals some fascinating behind-the-scenes gossip; Mozart's Gnome companion (still hale and hearty, being well below the average age of 400 years) describes the great musician at work; Gnome heroes are celebrated. Here too are the secrets of Gnome survival (medicinal herbs that cure evertything from sneezing to sunburn); the Gnome industries; the all-important Gnome cap, its making and signfiicance."
The Charmed Bookshop also has Secrets of the Gnomes.
Discover more of artist Rien Poortvliet's books at Goodreads.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/53530.Rien_Poortvliet
Discover more of author Wil Huygen's books at Goodreads.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/58024.Wil_Huygen
Visit TheCharmedBookshop.com to find more first edition children's books.
Condition*: Fine/Very Good. The dust jacket's laminate sheathe is wrinkled, and the underside of the paper is mildly toned though otherwise undamaged.
*Based on guidelines of the Independent Online Booksellers' Association.
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