Templar Publishing launches classics list with Grahame Baker-Smith
Templar Publishing, an imprint of Bonnier Books UK, will launch a new range of classics this autumn. The collection will launch with The Wind in the Willows illustrated by award-winning artist Grahame Baker-Smith.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame will be a sumptuous hardback edition of the timeless riverside adventure featuring 15 stunning colour plates and spot artwork throughout. With a full unabridged text, the cover will have a cloth finish with gold foil and debossing. The book will retail for £14.99 and publish on October 3rd.
“Grahame Baker-Smith’s interpretation of Kenneth Grahame’s beloved tale is richly detailed and wonderfully atmospheric … Brimming with exquisite artwork, this will be a beautiful, unforgettable new edition of a timeless classic.”
Isobel Boston, editor, Templar Publishing
Isobel Boston, editor at Templar Publishing said: “The adventures of Mole, Ratty, Badger and Mr Toad have captured the imaginations of generations of readers for many years. Grahame Baker-Smith’s interpretation of Kenneth Grahame’s beloved tale is richly detailed and wonderfully atmospheric. Grahame is a master of his craft and it’s been a joy to see the familiar world of the riverbank through his eyes. Brimming with exquisite artwork, this will be a beautiful, unforgettable new edition of a timeless classic.”
“When I read the story again for the first time in nearly two decades, I rediscovered layers of depth that I hadn’t remembered, or my younger self had not perceived. It seemed pertinent now in a way that surprised me. At its heart, it spoke perspicaciously of a deep connection with nature, loyalty and friendship and the sheer adventure of life.”
Grahame Baker-Smith
Grahame Baker-Smith added: “The story of The Wind in the Willows is loved and embedded in the consciousness of this nation. When I read the story again for the first time in nearly two decades, I rediscovered layers of depth that I hadn’t remembered, or my younger self had not perceived. It seemed pertinent now in a way that surprised me. At its heart, it spoke perspicaciously of a deep connection with nature, loyalty and friendship and the sheer adventure of life. This is the first time I have illustrated a character-based book and it was a stroke of sublime luck that I was asked to work on this project. I hope the illustrations will move and entertain the reader, and that Mr Grahame would have approved!”
A self-taught illustrator, Grahame Baker-Smith won the Greenaway Medal for his inspiring tale of fatherhood, FARTHER, in 2011. He has illustrated three other picture books for Templar: the Greenaway shortlisted Leon and the Place Between, The Winter’s Child and the award-winning The Rhythm of the Rain (published in 2018).
