The Natural Talent of Edward Lear

I’ve been a fan of Edward Lear, and Nonsense in general, for a long time. The inspired silliness, the inventive wordplay, the ruthless humor and satire all heavily influenced my first book for kids, Neversink: A Puffin Saga. So when I learned just a few years ago that Lear, as a teenager, had been a brilliant natural history artist, on a par with John J. Audubon, I felt like I had to know more. What I learned convinced me that Lear, long overshadowed by Lewis Carroll, was long overdue for a biography aimed at kids. More to come, but in the meantime, I’ve included links to some of Lear’s brilliant artistry.

Click the image to see more of Edward Lear’s early artwork.