Opie collection of children's games & songs

Opie, Iona (6 of 6) Cathy Courtney Oral History Collection

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  • Type

    sound

  • Duration

    00:40:41

  • Shelf mark

    C968/139

  • Recording date

    1989-11-10

  • Recording locations

    interviewee's home

  • Interviewees

    Opie, Iona 1947- (speaker, male)

  • Interviewers

    Wright, Elizabeth (speaker, female)

  • Abstract

    Part 6: [Starts at 00:00:55] Discussion of PO dying; continuing ‘The Singing Game’ after PO’s death; mourning. Reverting to the person she was before marriage. PO’s need for a daily routine and framework; IO’s lack of routine after PO’s death. IO’s books since PO’s death: ‘The Book of Narrative’ and ‘The Singing Game’, 1985. Discusses collaborating with Moira Tatem for ‘A Dictionary of Superstitions’. Working late into the night with PO. Discusses ‘Superstitions’ as a departure from child lore. PO’s interest in the bibliographical history of each book. Discusses ‘The Classic Fairy Tales’; origins of text and pictures. Discussion of Joan Hassall and her work on ‘The Oxford nursery rhyme book’. Mentions Kaye Webb and an approach to do ‘The Puffin Book of Nursery Rhymes’; describes how PO chose the illustrator Pauline Baynes. IO’s researching for the games book. Discusses Nicola Bailey, illustrator for ‘Tail Feathers from Mother Goose’; using all of Walker Books illustrators to contribute to the book; mentions Anthony Browne. Brief discussion of ‘The Treasures of Childhood’. RO’s desire to get to know the toy collection. Brief discussion of IO’s children’s adult life Leticia, IO and RO. Briefly discusses PO’s dislike of holidays and previous travel experiences. Discusses recent trips to New York to publicise ‘Tail Feathers’; staying at the Algonquin; mentions Leonard Marcus. Describes another trip in May 1989; keeping up to date with children’s’ world in New York. Possible future travels. Brief mention of Toe Rhymes.

  • Description

    Life story interview with Iona Opie (1923-2017), folklorist.

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