Antarctic Bookshelf 5: Letters From a Lost Uncle by Mervyn Peake
December 23, 2012
My latest Long View blog post features a write-up of Mervin Peake’s Letters From a Lost Uncle. The book recounts the fictional exploits of a polar adventurer through the letters he writes to his nephew in England. The tale of drama and perseverance centers on the improbable quest for the legendary White Lion — Emperor of the Snows.
Letters from a Lost Uncle is the first humorous book I’ve featured in this series and perhaps not the last. First published in 1948, Peake’s imaginative yarn warranted a high-quality reprint in 2001, the first to reproduce his wonderfully collaged words and text in 4 colors. Photos of this edition are included in my post, the fifth to my Antarctic Bookshelf series covering notable polar-themed books.
