One of the books on my bedside table is a volume on book design. It is without doubt one of the most detailed histories of the book that I have ever read, and I have read hundreds, all resting comfortably in our private library in the knowledge that they will not be shunted over into the book business. When I am done reading this book, I will share it with you in a musing. Reading it last night, I started to think about some interestingly designed books that would be a fascinating item for a musing. A book popped into mind – well illustrated with an intriguing border on every page.
Earlier today, I started the hunt for it. Moving books around I came across the subject of tonight’s musing. I had forgotten all about this little gem. Between the library and the book business we have some 6,000 books in the house. And, true confession, I have forgotten about many of them. The positive side of this is that it is like Christmas when I come across a forgotten tome!
I know the other book is around there somewhere. It will be featured eventually.
Today’s featured book does not fit into any of my collections, other than it is illustrated. I have mentioned this before in my musings about building a collection. Sometimes you come across a volume that just strikes you as being worthy of being purchased, either because it is very underpriced, or it just calls out your name. This one yelled out my name and it wasn’t cheap. In 2008, I walked into a shop in Halifax, saw this book and knew I had to have it. Not even a hardcover. I have mentioned before that “quirky” translates into desirable in my brain. But, I also knew that this item had to be very rare. And it is. And it is Canadian although the story is very British. And, how about a quirky book that is military in nature!
Drum roll followed by a couple of photos, please.
Gremlins on the Job; by Judy Varga; story based entirely on R.A.F. legend; this book is dedicated to Sgt. Pilot Bernt Barge, to the 34 S.F.T.S. (Service Flying Training School located in Medicine Hat, Alberta) of the R.A.F., and to all those pilots who know….; copyright 1943 by The London Printing & Lithographing Company Limited, London, Canada.
The Oxford dictionary describes a gremlin as “an imaginary mischievous sprite regarded as responsible for an unexplained problem or fault, especially a mechanical or electronic one.” Also “an imaginary little creature that gets inside things, especially machines, and makes them stop working”.
Searching Wikipedia some more here are some other attributes – “The Gremlins are the titular main antagonists of the franchise of the same name. They are based very loosely on the mythological creatures said to vex aircrafts. These monsters were notable for being mischievous and chaotic, obsessed with destruction and cruel practical jokes.”
Here’s the result of searching for the origins of the word - Some claim "gremlin" derives from the Old English word “germian” meaning “to vex.” This term originates from Royal Air Force slang in the 1920s among pilots stationed in Malta, the Middle East and India.
If they were discovered by the lustrous pilots of the R.A.F. then they must be so.
And just who is the author/artist? Not a lot is known about her, but we do know that Judy Varga studied art in Budapest in 1936 when Hitler was becoming more and more powerful. She joined an underground resistance organization and then in 1939, when martial law was proclaimed in Hungary, she left her native country and ended up in Canada where she worked on poster art for Canada's WWII war efforts.
There are a number of illustrated children’s books produced by a “Judy Varga” post-war years.
Hats off to our unknown heroine who created this delightful book.
Enjoy
