W. Heath Robinson – part 10

William Heath Robinson (1872 – 1944) was an English illustrator and cartoonist, best known for his drawings of complicated machines for achieving simple objectives. “Heath Robinson Contraption” is a phrase that entered the language during WW1 in Britain, and later in the United States.

William wrote and illustrated three highly successful children’s books (The Adventures of Uncle Lubin 1902, Bill the Minder 1912, Peter Quip in Search of a Friend 1933) as well as illustrating numerous others.

In the run up to WW1, Robinson became known for a series of drawings in magazines such as The Sketch and The Tatler, many of which I will be featuring in this comprehensive look at his work.

This is part 10 of a 20 – part series on the works of W. Heath Robinson

1913 Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales (part 1):

Front Cover

Front Cover 

Frontispiece

Title Page

She Understood the Speech of Birds

It Was He Who Pulled Her Down

The Nile Flood Had Returned

There Was a Little Bird That Beat it's Wings

Placed the Golden Circuit About His Neck

Then She Saw The Storks

TOMMELISE 
The Swallow Soared High into the Air

'Thou Poor Little Thing!' Said the Field-Mouse

'This Is Just The Wife For My Son,' Said The Toad

She Stood at the Door and Begged for a Piece of Barley-Corn

Oh. How Terrified Was Poor Tommelise

'Yes! I Will Go With Thee' Said Tommelise, And She Seated Herself On The Bird's Back

That Was The Greatest Of Pleasures

THE SNOW QUEEN 
They Carried The Mirror From Place To Place

He Chuckled With Delight

She Wore a Large Hat, With Most Beautiful Flowers Painted On It

The Swing Moves And The Bubbles Fly Upward With Bright, Ever-Changing Colours

Gerda Knew Every Flower In The Garden

Suddenly a Large Raven Hopped Upon The Snow In Front Of Her

'He Did Not Come To Woo Her,' He Said, 'He Had Only Come To Hear The Wisdom Of The Princess'

Cabinet Councillors Were Walking About Barefooted

And The Nearer They Were To The Door The Prouder They Looked

And Flapped His Black Wings At The Carriage Till It Was Out Of Sight

The Little Robber-Maiden

She Ran On As Fast As She Could

She Entered The Large, Cold, Empty Hall

THE ELFIN MOUNT 
The Elfin King's Housekeeper

The Mer-King Must Be Invited First

Round And Round They Went, Such Whirling and Twirling

They Felt Quite As If They Were At Home

I Will Have Thee Myself To Wife

THE LITTLE MERMAID

She Put The Statue In Her Garden

She Was On The Whole a Sensible Sort of Lady

The Youngest Was The Most Lovely

They Ate From Their Hands

Many an Evening She Rose To The Place

When The Sun Arose She Awoke

With The Rest Of The Children Of Air, Soared High Above The Rosy Cloud

THE STORKS 
Father-Stork

'Stork! Stork! Long Legged Stork!'

And Fetch One For Each Of The Boys

We Will Bring Hm Two Little Ones, a Brother And a Sister

 Note: Hans Andersen's Fairy tales continues in part 11.