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Timmy the Tug
A literary the publication of a recently discovered and specially illustrated Ted Hughes poem for children, lost for over fifty years. Timmy was a paddle-boat, sound as a gong,
Not a worm in his timbers, fresh paint all over.
He was hale as a whale and twice as strong,
And he sailed on the peaceful river.
So begins the tale of Timmy the Tug and his subsequent adventures as he escapes his moorings and explores the high seas. Timmy struggles to be helpful but doesn’t always succeed despite his best efforts. However, by trying and trying and trying again, he at last saves a beautiful ship in distress and so rediscovers his sense of pride.
Originally written in the mid-1950s and only recently rediscovered, this lyrical poem by Ted Hughes, created to accompany a story that was conceived and delightfully illustrated in watercolor by his friend Jim Downer, is presented here as a facsimile of the original manuscript. Illustrated in color throughout
Not a worm in his timbers, fresh paint all over.
He was hale as a whale and twice as strong,
And he sailed on the peaceful river.
So begins the tale of Timmy the Tug and his subsequent adventures as he escapes his moorings and explores the high seas. Timmy struggles to be helpful but doesn’t always succeed despite his best efforts. However, by trying and trying and trying again, he at last saves a beautiful ship in distress and so rediscovers his sense of pride.
Originally written in the mid-1950s and only recently rediscovered, this lyrical poem by Ted Hughes, created to accompany a story that was conceived and delightfully illustrated in watercolor by his friend Jim Downer, is presented here as a facsimile of the original manuscript. Illustrated in color throughout
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 14, 2017
‘Timmy the Tug’ was written (for the most part) and beautifully illustrated by Jim Downer in the early 1950’s. Downer was part of a social circle including Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath, Peter O’Toole and others and he produced this children’s story with accompanying illustrations with the hope and aim of impressing his prospective wife. The lovely illustrations here are very much in an early 1950’s style (think Festival of Britain etc).
At the initial time of writing, Downer was somewhat dissatisfied with the verse he had written to accompany the illustrations, he therefore asked Ted Hughes to see whether he could make some improvements. It was many years later and only after Ted Hughes death, that Hughes amended version of Downers original verse were discovered and subsequently published in this edition.
This is a beautifully presented book and the illustrations are lovely. The verse however, despite Hughes intervention, does not scan particularly well and does feel somewhat clumsy.
At the initial time of writing, Downer was somewhat dissatisfied with the verse he had written to accompany the illustrations, he therefore asked Ted Hughes to see whether he could make some improvements. It was many years later and only after Ted Hughes death, that Hughes amended version of Downers original verse were discovered and subsequently published in this edition.
This is a beautifully presented book and the illustrations are lovely. The verse however, despite Hughes intervention, does not scan particularly well and does feel somewhat clumsy.
August 12, 2025
“So the captain quit with the cook and the cat
And a whole six months rum ration”
картінки мені сподобалися, прикольна шиза, вірші — неприкольна шиза 😐.
And a whole six months rum ration”
картінки мені сподобалися, прикольна шиза, вірші — неприкольна шиза 😐.
December 14, 2020
Timmy was a paddle-boat, sound as a gong,
Not a worm in his timbers, fresh paint all over.
He was hale as a whale and twice as strong,
And he sailed on the peaceful river.
A heart-warming tale of a steam paddleboat called Timmy. Frustrated with his lot, Timmy breaks his moorings and goes to explore the Ocean waves. Always wanting to be helpful Timmy tries his luck but often gets beaten to the punch. Can he find use for himself?
Not a worm in his timbers, fresh paint all over.
He was hale as a whale and twice as strong,
And he sailed on the peaceful river.
A heart-warming tale of a steam paddleboat called Timmy. Frustrated with his lot, Timmy breaks his moorings and goes to explore the Ocean waves. Always wanting to be helpful Timmy tries his luck but often gets beaten to the punch. Can he find use for himself?
July 6, 2016
O livro é um poema ilustrado. Ou ilustrações para as quais um poema foi reescrito, produto do trabalho de dois amigos, jovens artistas em Londres nos anos 50. A vida passou, nunca mais voltaram ao assunto. Mais de cinquenta anos depois, o original (Timmy the Tug) é redescoberto e então publicado, com reprodução fac-similar, em 2008.
Só até aí a história já é ótima. Mas o posfácio de Jim Downer é extraordinário! Ele fala daqueles anos e dos amigos com quem convivia, incluindo a poeta Sylvia Plath – que se casou com Ted Hughes - e o ator Peter O'Toole, entre muitos outros. O texto é excelente!
O poema é traduzido, mas vem ao final no original em inglês. A tradução é de Alípio Correia de Franca Neto. Excelente edição em português, de 2010, em tamanho grande e capa dura, com apresentação na quarta capa de Leonardo Fróes.
A edição muito bem cuidada sob todos os aspectos é uma marca da Cosac Naify, importante casa que revolucionou o mercado editorial brasileiro. Infelizmente, anunciou o encerramento de suas atividades ao final de 2015. Então, os títulos tendem a se esgotar com o tempo e não serem reimpressos. Assim, é aconselhável adquiri-los enquanto estão disponíveis.
Só até aí a história já é ótima. Mas o posfácio de Jim Downer é extraordinário! Ele fala daqueles anos e dos amigos com quem convivia, incluindo a poeta Sylvia Plath – que se casou com Ted Hughes - e o ator Peter O'Toole, entre muitos outros. O texto é excelente!
O poema é traduzido, mas vem ao final no original em inglês. A tradução é de Alípio Correia de Franca Neto. Excelente edição em português, de 2010, em tamanho grande e capa dura, com apresentação na quarta capa de Leonardo Fróes.
A edição muito bem cuidada sob todos os aspectos é uma marca da Cosac Naify, importante casa que revolucionou o mercado editorial brasileiro. Infelizmente, anunciou o encerramento de suas atividades ao final de 2015. Então, os títulos tendem a se esgotar com o tempo e não serem reimpressos. Assim, é aconselhável adquiri-los enquanto estão disponíveis.
February 10, 2010
This book is a delight from all perspectives; design, illustration and literary content. The poem itself is the best overt children's poem I've read by Hughes (although I have not read a high proportion of his output in this area); it is fun to read about Timmy's adventures. The illustrations are often from unusual, interesting perspectives and are an integral part of the book as is made clear in a short memoir at the back which explains how Timmy the Tug came to be. Personally, I'm glad it has finally made it to the shelves.
April 12, 2015
Some great, if atypical, illustrations - masculine and in a similar style to old navigational charts. Very much suits the subject matter. The poem itself is well written, the only downside being that it may contain some words/concepts that would be unknown to the modern child. Probably, therefore, best suited to an older child than the typical picture book age or perhaps an adult fan of Hughes.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews