Bruno Elettori

Enid used many illustrators in her books. Discuss them here.
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17573
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Bruno Elettori

Post by pete9012S »

Obviously,he's no Betty Maxey,but I have been rather impressed with Bruno Elittori's cover work for The Find Outers from around 1983.

He's just out of my era - I'm a reader of the 1960's & 1970's editions,plus a collector of the originals.
I still rather like his artwork.

I don't know if he illustrated anything else for Enid Blyton or anything about his other work.
Here's his Find Outer covers for your perusal.

ImageImageImage

ImageImageImage

ImageImageImage

ImageImageImage

ImageImage

Rather irritatingly,the one missing cover is the one I would probably most like to see - Tally Ho Cottage.
I've had a jolly good look over the world wide web, but still cant manage to pin it down anywhere...
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
User avatar
Eddie Muir
Posts: 14566
Joined: 13 Oct 2007, 22:28
Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers and Dog
Favourite character: Fatty
Location: Brighton

Re: Bruno Elettori

Post by Eddie Muir »

Thanks for posting these covers, which I quite like, Pete. :D
'Go down to the side-shows by the river this afternoon. I'll meet you somewhere in disguise. Bet you won't know me!' wrote Fatty.

Society Member
User avatar
sixret
Posts: 4130
Joined: 16 Aug 2006, 14:25
Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers,Mr.Twiddle,Barney R
Favourite character: Mr.Twiddle,Fatty,Saucepan,Snubby

Re: Bruno Elettori

Post by sixret »

I also like the covers. :D
I stand with justice and the truth. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea.

Learn the history. Do research.

The hypocrisy, double standard, prejudice and bigotry own by some people is so obvious.Shame on them!
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26772
Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

Re: Bruno Elettori

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Quite appealing covers. The only Bruno Elettori edition I've come across personally (my daughter picked it up in a charity shop when she was little) is The Mystery of the Spiteful Letters.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


Society Member
User avatar
Daisy
Posts: 16632
Joined: 28 Oct 2006, 22:49
Favourite book/series: Find-Outers, Adventure series.
Location: Stoke-On-Trent, England

Re: Bruno Elettori

Post by Daisy »

Yes, those covers are really quite nice - children looking like children is always a bonus!
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.

Society Member
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17573
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: Bruno Elettori

Post by pete9012S »

Yes,many thanks to Tony for making all these covers by so many different illustrators available to us.

The Cave is a most marvelous resource for research and just sheer enjoyment of all the varieties and editions the books we love have been presented in.

Image
2003 Egmont, not illustrated, cover by Jason Ford
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
User avatar
John Pickup
Posts: 4876
Joined: 30 Oct 2013, 21:29
Favourite book/series: Barney mysteries
Favourite character: Snubby
Location: Notts

Re: Bruno Elettori

Post by John Pickup »

I like the Bruno Elettori covers very much and you're quite right, Pete, he's no Betty Maxey. He's miles better.
Society Member
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19275
Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
Favourite character: Lotta
Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire

Re: Bruno Elettori

Post by Courtenay »

They are really good, Pete, although in some cases the perspective or some of the details are a little surprising — I was wondering what on earth the bizarre machine was in the foreground of this one until I realised it was a bike in close-up! :lol:

Image

Or in this one — it probably just comes from the image being a bit small — I was thinking for a second that Mr Goon had caught a whale... :shock:

Image

But apart from those very minor oddities, they're colourful and enticing and fun-looking, I agree. I especially like the cat's "leave me alone" facial expression in this one! :wink:

Image
Society Member

It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: Bruno Elettori

Post by Rob Houghton »

pete9012S wrote:Yes,many thanks to Tony for making all these covers by so many different illustrators available to us.



Image
2003 Egmont, not illustrated, cover by Jason Ford
It might come as a surprise to some people, who know how I feel about modern covers - but things are never black and white when it comes to personal taste - and I have always loved these bright, vibrant and quirky covers. They are the best Enid Blyton cover designs from the last 15 years, in my opinion. 8) They also manage to conjure up a flavour of the 1950's and 60's in a strange way.
Last edited by Rob Houghton on 09 Oct 2017, 23:01, edited 1 time in total.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



Society Member
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17573
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: Bruno Elettori

Post by pete9012S »

We all have our quirks and little foibles Rob.
Some are even blind to the maestro at work that was Betty Maxey,but live and let live and each to his own! :wink:
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19275
Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
Favourite character: Lotta
Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire

Re: Bruno Elettori

Post by Courtenay »

Does your wife ever get worried as you murmur Betty's name in your sleep, Pete?? :shock: :P :wink:
Society Member

It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: Bruno Elettori

Post by Rob Houghton »

Have to admit, I'm not really a fan of Bruno Elettori. I can remember that it was in the 1980's that I began to go off the more modern EB covers, as I saw them at the time. I was too used to the brilliant Mary Gernat covers, Betty Maxey covers, Derek Lucas covers etc.

I also disagree that the Elettori covers are better than Maxey's covers. Maxey's covers and colour-work are much more atmospheric and exciting, in my opinion.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



Society Member
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26772
Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

Re: Bruno Elettori

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Although I find Bruno Elettori's Find-Outers covers reasonably appealing - if a little quirky - I agree that Betty Maxey's Famous Five covers are much more attractive, Rob. Maxey's colours, blending and arrangements conjure up just the right atmosphere and the characters look very real.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


Society Member
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17573
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: Bruno Elettori

Post by pete9012S »

I think Betty Maxey's externals are superb - for me equally as good as Eileen Soper's externals.

It's hard to put into words now all these years later,but the sheer excitement and anticipation of receiving a new Famous Five book, pristine,the smell of new paper and exciting illustrations was a wonderful,joyous experience.

Some covers still resonate strongly even after all these years and just looking at them brings back all those familiar feelings...

Image ImageImage

I have chosen just three examples which I never tire of.

For those who received an Eileen Soper dust-jacketed Famous Five a little earlier in the twentieth century the feelings of anticipation and excitement would no doubt be exactly the same.
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
User avatar
Eddie Muir
Posts: 14566
Joined: 13 Oct 2007, 22:28
Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers and Dog
Favourite character: Fatty
Location: Brighton

Re: Bruno Elettori

Post by Eddie Muir »

Being an old wrinkly, I certainly felt the same anticipation and excitement about receiving a new Eileen Soper dust-jacketed Famous Five book, Pete. I felt exactly the same about receiving a new Methuen Find-Outers hardback. :D
'Go down to the side-shows by the river this afternoon. I'll meet you somewhere in disguise. Bet you won't know me!' wrote Fatty.

Society Member
Post Reply