Extinct Boids

Author: Ralph Steadman

Stock information

General Fields

  • : $65.00 AUD
  • : 9781408178621
  • : Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
  • : A & C Black Publishers Ltd
  • :
  • : 0.454
  • : July 2012
  • : 350mm X 245mm
  • : United Kingdom
  • : 65.0
  • : December 2012
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  • :
  • : books

Special Fields

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  • :
  • : Ralph Steadman
  • :
  • : Hardback
  • : 1
  • :
  • :
  • : 741.56
  • :
  • :
  • : 240
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  • : col. Illustrations
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Barcode 9781408178621
9781408178621

Description

When Ceri Levy asked Ralph Steadman to produce one piece of art representing an extinct bird for a recent exhibition, Ghosts of Gone Birds, Ralph said 'yes'. Then 'yes' again ...and again ...and again. An astonishing 100 paintings later, Extinct Boids was born. Ralph got carried away by the birds, taking Ceri with him ...this book details the discoveries they made on their travels through the savage seas of extinction. After stumbling on the previously hidden Toadstool Island, where the extinct birds of the world live on in secretive harmony, the duo spent nearly a year in close proximity to a host of fantastical avian creatures. Ralph documents them all in this series of remarkable paintings, featuring unique interpretations of well-known birds such as the Great Auk, Passenger Pigeon and Dodo, along with less familiar members of the feathersome firmament - Snail-eating Coua, for example, or the Red-moustached Fruit Dove - and a variety of bizarre beasts including the Gob Swallow, the Long-legged Shortwing and the Needless Smut. All are captured in a riot of expression and colour, with a slice of trademark Steadman humour. Based on emails, diary entries and phone conversations, Ceri's accompanying text provides a running commentary, detailing the unfolding madness behind the creation of each piece in Ralph's extraordinary work. Things got tough as the pair discovered just how many amazing birds have been lost from our world forever. "But," as Ralph said "it did, after all, make a nice change from drawing politicians". Bloomsbury is proud to publish this unique title.

Promotion info

Cartoonist and national treasure Ralph Steadman's unique take on a variety of extinct birds ...

Reviews

Not since Adam named the beasts ... has anyone so enriched the language of ornithology as Mr. Steadman and his co-author, Ceri Levy, in Extinct Boids New York Times

Author description

RALPH STEADMAN was born in 1936. He began his career as a cartoonist, and through the years has diversified into many creative fields. Ralph collaborated with Dr Hunter S. Thompson in the birth of 'gonzo' journalism, with Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas; he has illustrated classics such as Alice in Wonderland, Treasure Island and Animal Farm, and written and illustrated his own books, which include Sigmund Freud, I Leonardo and The Big I Am. Steadman is also a printmaker, and has travelled the world's vineyards, culminating in his books The Grapes of Ralph, Untrodden Grapes and Still Life with Bottle. CERI LEVY is a film-maker, who started out making music videos before moving into the world of documentaries. His works include Bananaz, a film about the inner machinations of the group Gorillaz, and the forthcoming The Bird Effect; he is also co-curator of Ghosts of Gone Birds, and therefore a crucial cog in the boids' creation myth.