Gentleman Jim

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The way they attempt to acquire the trappings for these various exotic lifestyles is both hilarious and almost unbearably poignant. This is marketed as a children's book, but the tale of a suburban dreamer mired into a very British labyrinth of bureaucracy is more likely to resonate with adults. No tiene la profundidad de 'Cuando el viento sopla' compartiendo el mismo esquema: persona inocente que choca con el mundo real, pero el personaje es igualmente tierno y se lee con agrado. Raymond Briggs may have switched his target audience to adults, but it is not apparent from the cover that this is not a children’s picture book. It's a bit existential as well as VERY British (I have a feeling anyone who's lived in England will be laughing over the many domestic regulations suffered by Jim!

Jim is one of his most engaging characters - not especially bright, and with only a limited understanding of the world around him, but a romantic idealist who means well despite his behaviour. He's pretty passive, as his supportive wife, who encourages him to follow dreams inspired by comics and adventure stories, to become a cowboy and other far-fetched schemes. If it were not for the gentle humour which continues even through these final panes, and the stoic, upbeat, “make the best of it” attitude of these two endearing characters, the pathos would be well-nigh unbearable. A new printing of a 1980 book by Briggs, a famed children's author, Gentleman Jim is a quaint, but interesting book about a toilet cleaner who pursues his dream of becoming a Robin Hood-esque "highwayman.

Jim knows that his lack of education holds him back, but he has imagination - and surely that is enough? Considering what he along with Hilda would endure two years later makes this an interlude to tragedy. At the point Raymond Briggs produced Gentleman Jim he was combining careers as an illustrator of children’s books, occasionally his own, with lecturing at Brighton School of Art. Interesting introduction about whether Raymond Briggs was passed over as the first "graphic novel" creator. They are by turns sad and funny, full of a quiet sorrow, all lifted by a pervading optimism through their main characters who are unable to cope with reality, which will give you a rueful smile.

The ultimate conflict and the resolution are a bit on the outlandish side, but, eh, I think Briggs was still working out the kinks in what was a pretty dang new format at the time. He daydreams of a more interesting life, and his attempts to make it a reality brings him into repeated conflict with the authorities. His imagining of being a cowboy then a highway man were just too simple-minded to be believable, not funny to me but rather I thought he was a sad man to think he might understand more about the world if he could get a modern education. Inspired by the superhero comics he reads, and with the help of his dedicated wife Hilda, he nonetheless tries to accomplish his dreams. Jim Bloggs is dissatisfied with his station in life, and devotes his time to fantasising and imagining a wonderful world beyond his confines.

Jim’s greatest wish is to escape from his humdrum life, and to start out again with Hilda at his side. Or perhaps it is even “Fungus the Bogeyman”, from 1977, which tells of one day in the life of a working class Bogeyman with the rather boring job of scaring human beings.

His walls are lined with books like "Out in the Silver West," "The Boys' Book of Pirates," and "Executive Opportunities," which provide fodder for his ruminations on career change. English illustrator Raymond Briggs is best known in Britain for his 'books without words', told entirely though full color illustrations. The characters anchor this story, and it's well worth reading "Gentleman Jim" to get acquainted with them.Books such as “The Snowman” “Father Christmas”, and “Fungus The Bogeyman” have all led to his categorisation as a children’s author. If you, or your children, have seen or, ideally, read the Snowman than I can pretty much garuntee you will like this book. Briggs is best known for his 1978 work 'The Snowman' and won the 1966 and 1973 'Kate Greenaway Medals' for his illustrations.