Dan Beard's Illustrations in CONNECTICUT YANKEE [ Edited ]

[ConnieAnnKirk]

Our B&N Classics edition of CONNECTICUT YANKEE contains almost all of the original 221 illustrations by Dan Beard that appeared in the original publication in 1889. Twain chose Beard himself as the illustrator and gave him full reign over interpreting the text in his drawings. "Tell Beard to obey his own inspirations...I want his genius to be wholly unfettered" (xxxv). When he saw them, Twain wrote to the artist, "To my mind the illustrations are better than the book--which is a good deal for me to say, I reckon" (xxxvi).

How do you think Beard's illustrations add to, contrast with, or comment on, Twain's text? Do you have a favorite? A least favorite?

~ConnieK

Message Edited by ConnieK on 11-17-2007 12:04 PM

[Laurel]

I'm just beginning to look at Beard's illustrations. Here are MT's favorites:

http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/yankee/beard3.html

And here is a very helpful page:

http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/yankee/cyillhp.html

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ConnieK wrote:
Our B&N Classics edition of CONNECTICUT YANKEE contains almost all of the original 221 illustrations by Dan Beard that appeared in the original publication in 1889. Twain chose Beard himself as the illustrator and gave him full reign over interpreting the text in his drawings. "Tell Beard to obey his own inspirations...I want his genius to be wholly unfettered" (xxxv). When he saw them, Twain wrote to the artist, "To my mind the illustrations are better than the book--which is a good deal for me to say, I reckon" (xxxvi).

How do you think Beard's illustrations add to, contrast with, or comment on, Twain's text? Do you have a favorite? A least favorite?

~ConnieK

Message Edited by ConnieK on 11-17-2007 12:04 PM

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[KristyR]

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Laurel wrote:
I'm just beginning to look at Beard's illustrations. Here are MT's favorites:

http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/yankee/beard3.html

And here is a very helpful page:

http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/yankee/cyillhp.html

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Thanks for those links Laurel, the second one was just what I was looking for! I wanted to know more about the real people that Beard caricatured in his illustrations. Also, the information about illustrations that weren't exactly about Twain's words, but possibly Beard's own thematic contributions, was interesting. It made me feel a little better after I read about that because I could not figure out what some of the pictures were referring to and it was irritating me! I thought, if I couldn't even figure out the pictures, I must not be understanding the book at all!!

[KristyR]

The pictures remind me of a children's look and find book. I find myself staring at them and finding something different each time - letters, shadows, animals, people, ink blot tests (Merlin's shadow p. 35!), etc. My favorite so far is on p.132, "They thought I was one of those Fire Belching Dragons".

[ConnieAnnKirk]

Thanks for the links, Laurel! They'll be very helpful to those who are reading editions other than the B&N Classics one.

~ConnieK

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Laurel wrote:
I'm just beginning to look at Beard's illustrations. Here are MT's favorites:

http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/yankee/beard3.html

And here is a very helpful page:

http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/yankee/cyillhp.html

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