After You Mr. Lear

By Maldwin Drummond

SAIL, July 2008:

“The subtitle of Maldwin Drummond’s new book—“In the Wake of Edward Lear in Italy”—tells us what to expect from its entertaining words and lavish illustrations. Drummond, his wife, Gilly, and nephew Maurice sailed their wooden sloop, GANG WARILY, across the English Channel and down through the French canals to the Mediterranean, where their two-year voyage along the French and Italian coasts ended in Salerno. Their odyssey was planned to retrace the places visited by the English poet, writer, and artist Edward Lear 150 years earlier. While Lear is best known for his nonsense verse, he was also a painter of French and Italian landscapes.

The combination of sailing narrative, Lear biography, and travel journal is hard to resist. If you’ve cruised the Med, are (or even are not) a sailor, or simply enjoy well-written prose describing some of the most beautiful places on the planet and the life of a most interesting man, then you’re in for a treat.”

Soundings, March 2008:

“Edward Lear was best known for his limericks and other nonsensical poetry, but he was also a celebrated topographical artist, compared to John Audubon. After You Mr. Lear is the account of Maldwin Drummond and his wife, Gilly, who in 1996 set out in their yacht, Gang Warily, to reach the French and Mediterranean scenes painted by Lear. Mixed in with Drummond’s voyages are details of Lear’s voyages, who advocated 'green tourism,' wandering on foot with a sketchbook to capture the countryside and enjoy the people.

The 240-page book, paintings, photos, and maps –– from both the author and Lear –– as well as a brief chronology of Lear’s extensive travels.

Maldwin Drummond is and English sailor and farmer, and co-author of The Yachtsman’s Naturalist. ”

Royal Naval Sailing Association, Winter 2007

“Edward Lear (1812-88) is best known for his nonsense poems, the most famous being the Owl and the Pussy Cat. What is less known, he was a most accomplished professional artist whom Queen Victoria invited to be her drawing master.

Maldwin and his wife Gilly spent nine years in research for this publication. Based on the route in Lear’s diaries, the Drummonds sailed their yacht through the French canals to the Mediterranean. They then continued east down the Italian west coast stopping off where Lear had sketched. Lear had a home in Riviera and had spent much of his life drawing in southern France and Italy.

The book contains a unique collection of Lear’s artistic work both from Maldwin’s own archive and from many other famous collections including the Tate. These topographical landscapes are compared with present day photographs taken from the same place.  Maldwin was in a unique position to write his cruise report-cum-Lear biography as the Drumond family archive holds a collection of Lear’s very personal letters – his grandfather had been both Lear’s friend and banker. Each chapter has a selection of Lear’s famous nonsense poems enhanced with comical illustrations.

This beautifully presented book is a real tour de force ”

Midwest Book Review, November 2007:

“Maldwin Drummond is a sailor and a farmer who got an idea. He is cruised under sail with the specific goal of following in the wake of artist and nonsense poetry writer Edward Lear (1812-1888). The result is After You Mr. Lear: In the Wake of Edward Lear in Italy which relates Maldwin Drummond’s nautical and land-based adventures as a result of his unusual quest.  Profusely illustrated with cartoons, paintings, photos and maps, After You Mr. Lear is an intrinsically interested account of a modern-day cruise which was embarked upon a voyage of discovery to the appreciation of armchair travelers and land-bound sailors.  Drummond’s deftly written accounts of leaving from the Isle of Wight aboard his yacht Gang Warily and crossing the English Channel, then navigating the rivers and canals of France all the way to the Mediterranean, then sailing down the coast of Italy and Calabria, will hold the reader’s rapt attention from first page to last.

After You Mr. Lear is a highly recommended addition to personal reading lists and community library collections.”

• For more information, see After You Mr. Lear in our catalog.

• For similar titles, please visit the Other Books of Interest page in our catalog.