Maureen Bradley

[Nick]

I've recently started to reread the Secret Seven continuation books and they are illustrated by Maureen Bradley who, I notice has illustrated other EB books. I'm quite taken with the illustrations in all honesty and whilst I find they conflict with how I envisage familiar locations like the shed and Janet and Peters house I find them atmospheric and exciting and they add a great deal to the stories.

Does anyone know if she illustrated the original French versions of the continuation books or if she only illustrated the UK versions?

[Wolfgang]

The French versions were originally illustrated by Robert Pressy and Denise Chabot. Like the French Famous Five continuation stories by Claude Voilier they feature one page of text and one page of comic strip.

[pete9012S]

I would love to see some examples of her artwork - even I can't seem to find any!!

[Nick]

How do I upload images Pete? I've just reread the Seven meet Father Christmas - a great read with better illustrations!

[Moonraker]

The Cave lists books she has illustrated. Sadly, there are no internal illustrations.

[Anita Bensoussane]

How do I upload images Pete? I've just reread the Seven meet Father Christmas - a great read with better illustrations!

You need to upload them to a picture-hosting site, Nick, and then paste the relevant link or tags into your post on the forums.

[Nick]

Many thanks Anita.

Pete has been an absolute star and offered to upload a few, so I’ve emailed a few over and look forward to seeing how others feel about them

[pete9012S]

Here are Nick's pics - I must say they are rather good -
I had never seen Maureen Bradley's work before.

[Boodi 2]

Thanks Pete and Nick! I had never heard of Maureen Bradley before but I am impressed and fully agree that her illustrations are very good indeed.

[Moonraker]

Certainly superior to anything Maxey has attempted!

[pete9012S]

I'm aghast. Words have failed me.
So, I have replied to your vicious, intolerant attack over on the joke thread!

[Lucky Star]

I like those a lot. Real pictures which look like the time frame of the books.

[Jomo]

Certainly superior to anything Maxey has attempted!

I inadvertently bought a 1969 Brockhampton Press edition of Five Have a Wonderful Time with Betty Maxey illustrations.
Though I’m offended by the notion of altering the text and commissioning new illustrations to conform to the changes, I must admit that the commercial art style of the 60’s has an expressive quality, and these illustrations are rather good.

[pete9012S]

I inadvertently bought a 1969 Brockhampton Press edition of Five Have a Wonderful Time with Betty Maxey illustrations.

You lucky thing Jomo!
After Tony kindly posted the info below a few years ago I managed to track down and buy the only two red boarded Brockhampton's with Maxey internals - happy days!

Re: Five On A Hike Together:

What will interest Pete in this (if he reads this post!) is that although it still has exactly the same dustwrapper and red boards as the first edition (apart from the list of titles on the back flap), the internal illustrations are all by Betty Maxey. I think this is the first time that I have been aware that 'red board' editions had Maxey illustrations in them.

I have just checked all the other Brockhampton red board editions and 'Wonderful Time' also printed in 1969 has Maxey illustrations, but all others have the original Soper illustrations.

[Anita Bensoussane]

I read a few of the English versions of Evelyne Lallemand's Secret Seven books some years ago. The best story (of the ones I read) was this one - The Secret Seven and Father Christmas. I don't think I took much notice of the illustrations at the time but they're not bad at all.