BOND, Michael

“Please look after this bear.”

Thomas Michael Bond is perhaps best known for his series of books about the well-mannered and well-meaning Paddington Bear.  Bond grew up in Reading, Berkshire and frequently visited the railway station to watch the trains go through on their way from Paddington to the West coast – his life long love of trains undoubtedly had an influence on the naming of his most famous fictional character.  He started writing shortly after the end of WWII, and succeeded in having various short stories published.  In 1958 Collins agreed to publish his first book, entitled A Bear Called Paddington and engaged Peggy Fortnum to provide the illustrations.  Initially published in small numbers, the book became very popular and Paddington went on to have further adventures for the next 50 years.  Bond also wrote for an adult audience, including a series of comic detective novels in the Monsieur Pamplemousse series, but he will probably forever be associated with a furry bear in a battered hat.    

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