Like most, I was charmed by the videos that appeared of Queen Elizabeth having tea with Paddington Bear. While I've never been a big reader of the Paddington books, I knew exactly who he was and what he was meant to represent. As a result, I spent July 4th, the much chyped American birthday celebration, immersed in this book about that very British icon Paddington Bear. It wasn't quite what I expected, which I guess was a focus/recap of the books but it turned out to be much more. It was an intriguing look at how an immigrant, a refugee bear from Peru, became such a part of the British culture.
It's an intriguing look at not just the character of Paddington but a peek behind the scenes of the man who created him, the times, and the forces that helped shape one of the best known British icons of children's literature anywhere. Maybe more important, it helps explain why Paddington matters. He was, of course, an immigrant, so there is much talk about immigration, refugees, and their acceptance and treatment. Heck, even his famous marmalade gets a section as an import, showing the depth of research. The discussion of the Good Immigrant and the role they were expected to fall into, is discussed at length, showing where Paddington tended to fall into that category. Politeness and manners, especially kindness, also take the spotlight. The British are usually portrayed as endlessly polite and well-mannered, so Paddington had s steep slope to travel to meet all the requirements to not only be accepted but beloved. I honestly think I would have grasped this topic better given the frequent nods to the various books and shows had I had a better background in all things Paddington but they still made sense to me, so don't let a sparse knowledge of his "life" stop you from picking up this one.
Bottom line, a very well written and timely book that, gasp, made me think not just about a fictional bear but the world in general. I did take some notes as I went along but will opt to simply say you'll learn a great deal. Seriously, one section sorta builds on another and we learn not just about fictional characters and their creator's background that helped shape his work, but bits of history and social patterns, too. For a little bear inspired by a lonely looking teddy bear bought as a stocking stuffer, this Peruvian bear has certainly lead an amazing life, lending support to the idea that children's books aren't just for children. They matter.
Finally, as I had the audio version, I'll note that the narrator quite impressed me. I sometimes feel non-fictional works would be a tough narration but Clare Staniforth does it well, breathing life into the story and occasionally seeming to enjoy the wit of the author's observations and references, especially to marmalade. Even to my American ear, her narration was easy to understand even when I experimented at increasing the pace. The chapters flowed smoothly and what seem to be chapter titles were read at the start of each chapter, giving you the focus of material to come. Much thanks to #HighbridgeAudio for allowing me this early listen. There's a great deal to ponder here in what I once expected to be a simple, fun read. Kudos to all who produced this work and especially to the authors and narrator. I am definitely going to have to put my hands on some Paddington books soon. Getting to know him has been a delight.
